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Editor's note: These rankings are based on player production in terms of Hockey Prospectus' GVT valuation metric. If you are unfamiliar with GVT and how it works, you can find out more here.
Periodically throughout the season, Prospectus will provide updated Player Power Rankings for the top 10 skaters and top five goalies in the NHL based on HP's proprietary value metric, GVT, which includes offensive, defensive and shootout components.
The 2011-12 season has passed the quarter pole, and a pair of Maple Leafs find themselves in the thick of the Hart Trophy race, but they have plenty of company from Chicago.
Meanwhile in the crease, a familiar face from Boston is again found atop the rankings.
These rankings are based on games through December 12th.
Legend:
OGVT: Offensive GVT
GGVT: Goaltending GVT
DGVT: Defensive GVT
SGVT: Shootout GVT
GVT: Total GVT
Rank Player OGVT/GGVT DGVT SGVT GVT
1. Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia Flyers 9.3 1.8 -0.3 10.8
Comment: A knee to the head by teammate Wayne Simmonds has Flyers fans and management alike holding their breath regarding the status of their MVP candidate.
2. Phil Kessel, F, Toronto Maple Leafs 8.2 1.3 -0.3 9.2
Comment: Kessel is tied with Milan Michalek for tops in goals (18) and is second to only Giroux in points (36).
3. Joffrey Lupul, F, Toronto Maple Leafs 6.4 1.6 1.0 9.1
Comment: The unassuming Lupul doesn't have any more explanations for his career-high point-per-game rate (1.14) than you or I do.
4. Jonathan Toews, F, Chicago Blackhawks 6.7 2.3 0.0 8.9
Comment: The Blackhawks' captain keeps improving every season. Currently, he's posting a career-best 3.3 shots per game.
5. Marian Hossa, F, Chicago Blackhawks 7.1 2.4 -0.5 8.9
Comment: With a month to go before he turns 33, Hossa just tallied his 400th NHL goal, fifth among active players and 85th all time.
6. Patrick Sharp, F, Chicago Blackhawks 6.8 2.1 -0.3 8.7
Comment: With his fourth game winner coming in overtime against the Sharks last week, Sharp's just one behind league leaders Giroux and Johan Franzen.
7. Daniel Sedin, F, Vancouver Canucks 7.6 1.1 0.0 8.6
Comment: Vancouver's power play (26.4 percent) is again first in the NHL with the Sedin twins tied for the lead in power-play points (16).
8. Patrick Kane, F, Chicago Blackhawks 6.2 1.7 0.5 8.6
Comment: Known as a sniper, he's building a new reputation as a playmaker; Kane is tied for second in assists with 23.
9. Tyler Seguin, F, Boston Bruins 6.6 1.8 -0.3 8.2
Comment: Last season, he had trouble getting ice time; this season, Seguin is tops in the NHL at plus-19.
10. Tomas Fleischmann, F, Florida Panthers 5.7 2.8 -0.5 8.0
Comment: Did anyone see this coming? And it's not just Fleischmann. Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss also have reached the 30-point mark.
Player Power Rankings: Goalies
These rankings are based on games through December 12th.
Legend:
OGVT: Offensive GVT
GGVT: Goaltending GVT
DGVT: Defensive GVT
SGVT: Shootout GVT
GVT: Total GVT
Rank Player OGVT/GGVT DGVT SGVT GVT
1. Tim Thomas, G, Boston Bruins 14.9 0.2 2.2 16.9
Comment: The league's best goaltender continues to put up the best statistics. Thomas is currently second in save percentage; nobody has led the league in save percentage in consecutive seasons since Dominik Hasek, who also won consecutive Vezina trophies.
2. Jimmy Howard, G, Detroit Red Wings 13.2 0.7 0.0 13.9
Comment: Last season is just a distant memory. Howard is more reminiscent of the goaltender who saved the Wings' season in 2009-10, with a .931 save percentage in 24 games, and is on pace to win 50 games.
3. Jonathan Quick, G, Los Angeles Kings 14.4 -0.2 -0.4 13.7
Comment: After starting out the season on fire, Quick has returned to his normal pace, which would be amply sufficient if his teammates weren't posting the league's worst offense.
4. Brian Elliott, G, St. Louis Blues 13.1 0.3 0.0 13.4
Comment: Elliott has the league's best GAA and save percentage but is still sharing the No. 1 role with Jaroslav Halak. He has allowed more than two goals in only one of his 15 appearances.
5. Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers 13.1 -0.2 -0.2 12.7
Comment: In his seven NHL seasons, Lundqvist has been in the top 10 of GVT six times, including this season so far. His cumulative post-lockout GVT of 174 leads the league in that time frame.
A version of this story originally appeared at ESPN Insider  .
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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