Vancouver Canucks center Manny Malhotra (R) celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks with teammate Raffi Torres (L) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Anaheim, California March 6, 2011. REUTERS/Mike BlakeMIKE BLAKE/Reuters
To follow up on the list of defensive defencemen earlier today, here's a similar one for defensive forwards.
Using some of the figures from Gabe Desjardins' terrific Behind The Net site, I rank every forward who plays in defensive situations by the quality of players they face (QCMP) and how many goals against they are on the ice for at even strength (EVGA per 60 minutes) and while shorthanded (SHGA per 60 minutes).
Again, Vancouver and Montreal players do well given these are teams with top penalty kills and with solid goaltending.
|
RK |
NAME |
TEAM |
GP |
QCMP |
EVGA |
SHGA |
|
1 |
MANNY MALHOTRA |
VAN |
72 |
0.046 |
1.68 |
4.21 |
|
2 |
BRIAN ROLSTON |
N.J |
65 |
0.085 |
2.09 |
2.39 |
|
3 |
BROOKS LAICH |
WSH |
82 |
0.029 |
1.69 |
3.72 |
|
4 |
ALEX BURROWS |
VAN |
72 |
0.076 |
2.15 |
3.08 |
|
5 |
JANNIK HANSEN |
VAN |
82 |
0.014 |
1.58 |
2.23 |
|
6 |
DANA TYRELL |
T.B |
78 |
0.027 |
2.05 |
3.20 |
|
7 |
TOM PYATT |
MTL |
61 |
0.020 |
1.53 |
5.00 |
|
8 |
JEFF HALPERN |
MTL |
72 |
0.049 |
2.21 |
4.35 |
|
9 |
ADAM BURISH |
DAL |
63 |
0.036 |
1.89 |
5.88 |
|
10 |
BRAD MARCHAND |
BOS |
77 |
0.037 |
1.92 |
5.95 |
|
11 |
DAVID MOSS |
CGY |
58 |
0.023 |
2.06 |
4.57 |
|
12 |
TOMAS PLEKANEC |
MTL |
77 |
0.063 |
2.36 |
4.53 |
|
13 |
MARTY REASONER |
FLA |
82 |
0.027 |
2.14 |
3.94 |
|
14 |
DAVID LEGWAND |
NSH |
64 |
0.031 |
2.13 |
4.80 |
|
15 |
MATT COOKE |
PIT |
67 |
0.011 |
2.01 |
3.02 |
|
16 |
GREG CAMPBELL |
BOS |
80 |
0.008 |
1.72 |
4.89 |
|
17 |
BRIAN GIONTA |
MTL |
82 |
0.023 |
2.23 |
3.47 |
|
18 |
RYAN KESLER |
VAN |
82 |
0.028 |
1.95 |
6.02 |
|
19 |
BRANDON SUTTER |
CAR |
82 |
0.024 |
1.94 |
5.89 |
|
20 |
RADEK DVORAK |
ATL |
66 |
0.015 |
1.96 |
4.95 |
|
21 |
MARTIN HANZAL |
PHX |
61 |
0.047 |
2.06 |
6.64 |
|
22 |
JOEL WARD |
NSH |
80 |
0.036 |
2.21 |
5.21 |
|
23 |
MICHAL HANDZUS |
L.A |
82 |
0.040 |
2.33 |
4.85 |
|
24 |
NATE THOMPSON |
T.B |
79 |
0.028 |
2.31 |
4.17 |
|
25 |
JONATHAN TOEWS |
CHI |
80 |
0.079 |
2.27 |
5.98 |
|
26 |
ADAM HALL |
T.B |
82 |
0.042 |
2.32 |
5.16 |
|
27 |
PASCAL DUPUIS |
PIT |
81 |
0.020 |
2.16 |
4.61 |
|
28 |
BOYD GORDON |
WSH |
60 |
0.056 |
2.18 |
6.20 |
|
29 |
MAXIME TALBOT |
PIT |
82 |
-0.025 |
1.92 |
4.01 |
|
30 |
JARRET STOLL |
L.A |
82 |
0.045 |
2.47 |
4.92 |
Honourable mentions: Anze Kopitar, Dave Bolland, Paul Gaustad, David Backes
There are a few key limitations to this list that I try and point out every time. One is that players that play with really strong teammates are rewarded, whether that be a good goaltender behind them or a strong defence. That's why you see a lot of linemates show up and why players on strong teams, like the Canucks, have a much better chance of being ranked.
Still, I think it's a fair group based only on the numbers I laid out above.