Ranking the 10 Best Power-Play Forwards in the NHL in 2015-16
Spoiler alert: Alexander Ovechkin is not among the 10 best power-play forwards in the NHL in 2015-16. At least not so far.
The Washington Capitals captain and sniper isn’t even in the top 50
in power-play points this season with three goals and five points on the
man advantage. Not your typical numbers for a guy who actually leads
the league in shots on goal during the power play.
That shooting percentage will surely climb as the year goes on. But
for now, there are plenty of others having great success on the power
play at the moment.
The 10 best will follow in this slideshow, ranked based on their
contributions in goals and assists, but also earning bonus points for
things like winning faceoffs or playing out of position.
In the end, though, it’s a thin line that separates these top-end
players who excel at scoring goals and putting up points in any
situation—but especially when the ice opens up in front of them while
enjoying that man advantage.
All stats via NHL.com
The Washington Capitals captain and sniper isn’t even in the top 50
in power-play points this season with three goals and five points on the
man advantage. Not your typical numbers for a guy who actually leads
the league in shots on goal during the power play.
That shooting percentage will surely climb as the year goes on. But
for now, there are plenty of others having great success on the power
play at the moment.
The 10 best will follow in this slideshow, ranked based on their
contributions in goals and assists, but also earning bonus points for
things like winning faceoffs or playing out of position.
In the end, though, it’s a thin line that separates these top-end
players who excel at scoring goals and putting up points in any
situation—but especially when the ice opens up in front of them while
enjoying that man advantage.
All stats via NHL.com
By the numbers: Six goals, two assists, eight points, 27 shots on goal, 12 missed shots, two takeaways
Why he’s special: Steven Stamkos is just outside the
top 10 in power-play scoring so far this season but is tied for second
in goal scoring and sixth in shots on goal. He is even higher in shots
taken if you include the ones he has directed wide of the net. He is
still among the most deadly shooters on the man advantage.
Why he’s special: Steven Stamkos is just outside the
top 10 in power-play scoring so far this season but is tied for second
in goal scoring and sixth in shots on goal. He is even higher in shots
taken if you include the ones he has directed wide of the net. He is
still among the most deadly shooters on the man advantage.
By the numbers: Six goals, three assists, nine points, 30 shots on goal, nine missed shots
Why he’s special: Evgeni Malkin leads a stacked
Pittsburgh Penguins group that includes Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel
with six goals on the man advantage this season. He is tied for second
in power-play goals and sits tied for eighth in scoring among the
forward group. Malkin is also tied for third in shots on goal.
Why he’s special: Evgeni Malkin leads a stacked
Pittsburgh Penguins group that includes Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel
with six goals on the man advantage this season. He is tied for second
in power-play goals and sits tied for eighth in scoring among the
forward group. Malkin is also tied for third in shots on goal.
By the numbers: Three goals, seven assists, 10 points, nine shots on goal, six missed shots, 62 faceoff wins
Why he’s special: Henrik Sedin has a sixth sense
when it comes to putting the puck on a string and finding the holes in
the opposition’s defending strategy. He’s tied for second in power-play
helpers and is a big part of a strong possession game with his ability
to win faceoffs while enjoying the extra skater.
Why he’s special: Henrik Sedin has a sixth sense
when it comes to putting the puck on a string and finding the holes in
the opposition’s defending strategy. He’s tied for second in power-play
helpers and is a big part of a strong possession game with his ability
to win faceoffs while enjoying the extra skater.
By the numbers: Three goals, seven assists, 10 points, 16 shots, 74 faceoff wins
Why he’s special: No player has more faceoff
victories on the power play this season than Claude Giroux, and only the
Buffalo Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly has a better winning percentage among
those who take draws most frequently on the man advantage. Giroux has
half of his offensive production on the power play and is among the best
setup men in the business.
Why he’s special: No player has more faceoff
victories on the power play this season than Claude Giroux, and only the
Buffalo Sabres’ Ryan O’Reilly has a better winning percentage among
those who take draws most frequently on the man advantage. Giroux has
half of his offensive production on the power play and is among the best
setup men in the business.
By the numbers: One goal, eight assists, nine points, four shots, 21 faceoff wins
Why he’s special: Nicklas Backstrom has played the
fewest games among the top 10 on this list but is tied for the most
assists on the man advantage this season. He’s also tied for eighth in
power-play scoring despite the fact his big triggerman, Alex Ovechkin,
has just three goals with the unit so far. Others on the Washington
Capitals are benefiting from his incredible passing skills.
Why he’s special: Nicklas Backstrom has played the
fewest games among the top 10 on this list but is tied for the most
assists on the man advantage this season. He’s also tied for eighth in
power-play scoring despite the fact his big triggerman, Alex Ovechkin,
has just three goals with the unit so far. Others on the Washington
Capitals are benefiting from his incredible passing skills.
By the numbers: Five goals, six assists, 11 points, 30 shots on goal, nine missed shots
Why he’s special: Daniel Sedin is still one of the
most electrifying offensive weapons in the NHL and is tied for second in
scoring on the power play this season. He’s tied for third in shots on
goal and doesn’t miss the net often. He is tied for fifth in power-play
goals and has a unique knack for finding open ice for twin brother
Henrik to find him.
Why he’s special: Daniel Sedin is still one of the
most electrifying offensive weapons in the NHL and is tied for second in
scoring on the power play this season. He’s tied for third in shots on
goal and doesn’t miss the net often. He is tied for fifth in power-play
goals and has a unique knack for finding open ice for twin brother
Henrik to find him.
By the numbers: Eight goals, two assists, 10 points, 17 shots on goal, 29 faceoffs won
Why he’s special: Jamie Benn is a big body and
practically immovable in front of the net, which is why he scores so
frequently on the power play. He is tied for the league lead in goals on
the man advantage and doesn’t need to shoot a ton to capitalize. He
also contributes to important faceoffs.
Why he’s special: Jamie Benn is a big body and
practically immovable in front of the net, which is why he scores so
frequently on the power play. He is tied for the league lead in goals on
the man advantage and doesn’t need to shoot a ton to capitalize. He
also contributes to important faceoffs.
By the numbers: Five goals, eight assists, 13 points, 17 shots on goal
Why he’s special: Patrice Bergeron is one of the
more well-rounded scorers on this list. He makes the most of his scoring
chances despite not shooting a great deal, but also has a knack for
setting up his more physical teammates. He is tied for the lead in
power-play points this season. He also takes the majority of draws for
the team on the man advantage.
Why he’s special: Patrice Bergeron is one of the
more well-rounded scorers on this list. He makes the most of his scoring
chances despite not shooting a great deal, but also has a knack for
setting up his more physical teammates. He is tied for the lead in
power-play points this season. He also takes the majority of draws for
the team on the man advantage.
By the numbers: Three goals, eight assists, 11 points, 34 shots on goal, 16 shots missed
Why he’s special: Only Alex Ovechkin has managed to
put more pucks on opposing goalies on the power play this season. Tyler
Seguin plays as the fourth forward on the Dallas Stars’ potent top unit
and uses his big slap shot from the blue line to set up guys like Jamie
Benn in front of the net. He is tied for the lead in helpers on the man
advantage.
Why he’s special: Only Alex Ovechkin has managed to
put more pucks on opposing goalies on the power play this season. Tyler
Seguin plays as the fourth forward on the Dallas Stars’ potent top unit
and uses his big slap shot from the blue line to set up guys like Jamie
Benn in front of the net. He is tied for the lead in helpers on the man
advantage.
By the numbers: Eight goals, five assists, 13 points, 26 shots on goal, seven missed shots
Why he’s special: Patrick Kane does it all. He can
score with the best of them and is tied with Jamie Benn for the lead in
power-play goals this season. He is also the co-leader in points on the
man advantage. What sets him apart from the rest is the fact he plays
the point on the power play to perfection—a spot that is often too much
for a forward to take on because skating skills have to be top-notch for
mobility.
Why he’s special: Patrick Kane does it all. He can
score with the best of them and is tied with Jamie Benn for the lead in
power-play goals this season. He is also the co-leader in points on the
man advantage. What sets him apart from the rest is the fact he plays
the point on the power play to perfection—a spot that is often too much
for a forward to take on because skating skills have to be top-notch for
mobility.
Ranking the 10 Best Power-Play Forwards in the NHL in 2015-16
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