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These rankings are based on games through October 30.
Legend:
OGVT: Offensive GVT
GGVT: Goaltending GVT
DGVT: Defensive GVT
SGVT: Shootout GVT
GVT: Total GVT
Rank Player OGVT/GGVT DGVT SGVT GVT
1. Phil Kessel, F, Toronto Maple Leafs 5.3 0.7 -0.2 5.7
Comment: Kessel continues to lead the league in goals and points, and the Leafs are third in goals-per-game, but Kessel's 26.3% shooting percentage and their team-wide 11.6% rate mean both those stats are in long-term danger.
2. Jason Spezza, F, Ottawa Senators 3.5 0.3 0.7 4.4
Comment: Given how maligned Spezza has been, it's easy to forget that he's 14th in points and GVT among all forwards since the Lockout.
3. Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia Flyers 3.6 0.8 0.0 4.4
Comment: The expectation was that trading Mike Richards and Jeff Carter would give Giroux even more room to shine. So far, so good: Giroux is second in the league with 15 points and the Flyers' 41 goals is the second-best offensive mark in the league.
4. Pascal Dupuis, F, Pittsburgh Penguins 2.2 1.8 0.0 3.9
Comment: The Penguins' incredibly good penalty-killing continues, as they have actually tied their opponents 3-3 during their 39 shorthanded episodes.
5. Thomas Vanek, F, Buffalo Sabres 3.8 0.1 0.0 3.8
Comment: Vanek now has a better team around him than at any point since 2007 when he had Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, and the speedy Maxim Afinogenov.
6. Milan Michalek, F, Ottawa Senators 2.8 0.3 0.7 3.7
Comment: Michalek's first two seasons in Ottawa were failures, but he's exhibiting some chemistry with Spezza and getting some power-play time to show what he can do.
7. Joe Pavelski, F, San Jose Sharks 3.2 0.7 -0.2 3.6
Comment: Like Ryan Kesler, Pavelski is the #2 center on his team despite being one of the top overall centers in the league.
8. Dion Phaneuf, D, Toronto Maple Leafs 2.5 1.0 0.0 3.5
Comment: It's nice to see Phaneuf succeeding, but have no illusions: he's playing as well as usual, it's just that the pucks are going in for him and his teammates.
9. Henrik Sedin, F, Vancouver Canucks 2.9 0.5 0.0 3.4
Comment: Sedin could realistically lead the league in assists for a third consecutive year, a feat only accomplished by Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Joe Thornton in the last 40 years.
10. Tyler Seguin, F, Boston Bruins 1.9 1.0 0.5 3.4
Comment: Somehow, you now get the impression that Seguin is no longer being measured uniquely by whether or not he does better than Taylor Hall. Seguin currently leads his team in goals, assists, points, shots and +/-.
Player Power Rankings: Goalies
These rankings are based on games through October 30.
Legend:
OGVT: Offensive GVT
GGVT: Goaltending GVT
DGVT: Defensive GVT
SGVT: Shootout GVT
GVT: Total GVT
Rank Player OGVT/GGVT DGVT SGVT GVT
1. Kari Lehtonen, G, Dallas Stars 10.1 -0.4 1.3 11.0
Comment: Last season, the Stars hid their weakness with some lucky shooting and good goaltending from Lehtonen. This year, Lehtonen is doing even better, so the Stars will have to find a way to win once he stops blocking 95% of the shots he faces.
2. Nikolai Khabibulin, G, Edmonton Oilers 8.7 0.1 -0.7 8.1
Comment: "Uncle Nikolai" is almost as old as any two forwards on the Oilers top line, but thanks to allowing only eight goals in seven games he leads the league in GAA and save percentage.
3. Jonathan Quick, G, Los Angeles Kings 8.0 0.1 -0.9 7.2
Comment: Quick's shutout streak ended at three games, but he's been strong even since then and might win the Vezina if the voting were held today.
4. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Pittsburgh Penguins 4.8 0.2 1.2 6.2
Comment: Fleury has been the second-best goaltender in the history of the shootout (after Henrik Lundqvist), and that success is continuing this season with a five-in-five performance so far.
5. Tomas Vokoun, G, Washington Capitals 4.3 -0.2 0.5 4.7
Comment: We've been telling you for years that all Vokoun needed in front of him is a good team to shine. It's far too early, but if you want to bet long odds on the Conn Smythe winner he wouldn't be a bad choice.
Tom Awad is an author of Hockey Prospectus.
You can contact Tom by clicking here or click here to see Tom's other articles.
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Player Power Rankings (10/25)
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