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NHL Player Rankings: Kings Kyle Clifford Makes Huge Jump Plus All New Appearances

By Matt Duscharme

Mar 9, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Jaccob Slavin (74) waits for the face off against the New York Rangers at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Jaccob Slavin (74) waits for the face off against the New York Rangers at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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NHL Player Rankings: A Few New Players Appear in the Top 10. But Who Exactly Falls Where? Well, We’re Here to Let You Know With Our Weekly Player Rankings!

Los Angeles forward Kyle Clifford makes the biggest jump this week while a whole bunch of new players making appearances in this week’s updated NHL Player Rankings!

Welcome back to our NHL Player Rankings, a compilation of lists showing you who is on top, as well as who is on the bottom in every position. We’ll also show you the best player of the week for all three zones of the ice, new players appear, while some still hold their position.

For forwards and defenseman, the main factor will be based on points-per-game averages. This statistic shows us how well a player has scored in the games they have played. When given an advanced look it lets us know how much they could end up scoring on the season and if they would lead the league or not.

Goalies will be decided by save percentage and shutouts. While goalies are obviously going to let in pucks, this stat is fundamental in watching their overall success and potential to where they could be in the league if playing for a better defensive team.

Legend:
LW = Last Week
NR = Not Ranked

**Minimum 60 Games Played** (Forwards/Defense)
**Minimum 50 Games Played** (Goalies)

Top 10 Centers:
1 (LW/+1) – Sidney Crosby (PIT) – 65GP, 40G, 40A, 80PTS, 1.23PPG
2 (LW/-1) – Evgeni Malkin (PIT) – 62GP, 33G, 39A, 72PTS, 1.16PPG
3 (LW/-) – Connor McDavid (EDM) – 71GP, 25G, 55A, 80PTS, 1.13PPG
4 (LW/+1) – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) – 71GP, 21G, 54A, 75PTS, 1.06PPG
5 (LW/-1) – Mark Scheifele (WPG) – 69GP, 28G, 43A, 71PTS, 1.03PPG
6 (LW/-) – Tyler Seguin (DAL) – 71GP, 24G, 44A, 68PTS, 0.96PPG
7 (LW/-) – Mikael Granlund (MIN) – 71GP, 25G, 41A, 66PTS, 0.93PPG
8 (LW/-) – Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) – 65GP, 14G, 45A, 59PTS, 0.91PPG
9 (LW/NR) – Leon Draisaitl (EDM) – 71GP, 24G, 39A, 63PTS, 0.89PPG
10 (LW/-1) – Joe Pavelski (SJ) – 71GP, 28G, 35A, 63PTS, 0.89PPG

Top 10 Left Wingers:
1 (LW/-) – Brad Marchand (BOS) – 71GP, 37G, 42A, 79PTS, 1.11PPG
2 (LW/-) – Jamie Benn (DAL) – 66GP, 24G, 39A, 63PTS, 0.95PPG
3 (LW/-) – Artemi Panarin (CHI) – 72GP, 24G, 42A, 66PTS, 0.92PPG
4 (LW/-) – Max Pacioretty (MTL) – 71GP, 33G, 27A, 60PTS, 0.85PPG
5 (LW/+2) – Henrik Zetterberg (DET) – 70GP, 15G, 44A, 59PTS, 0.84PPG
6 (LW/-) – Alex Ovechkin (WSH) – 71GP, 28G, 31A, 59PTS, 0.83PPG
7 (LW/+2) – Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG) – 72GP, 22G, 36A, 58PTS, 0.81PPG
8 (LW/-3) – Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) – 61GP, 15G, 34A, 49PTS, 0.80PPG
9 (LW/-1) – Mike Hoffman (OTT) – 63GP, 21G, 29A, 50PTS, 0.79PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Taylor Hall (NJ) – 61GP, 17G, 30A, 47PTS, 0.77PPG

Top 10 Right Wingers:
1 (LW/-) – Nikita Kucherov (TB) – 64GP, 33G, 38A, 71PTS, 1.11PPG
2 (LW/-) – Patrick Kane (CHI) – 72GP, 32G, 47A, 79PTS, 1.10PPG
3 (LW/+1) – David Pastrnak (BOS) – 64GP, 31G, 32A, 63PTS, 0.98PPG
4 (LW/-1) – Patrik Laine (WPG) – 64GP, 33G, 27A, 60PTS, 0.94PPG
5 (LW/-) – Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) – 71GP, 34G, 29A, 63PTS, 0.89PPG
6 (LW/-) – Phil Kessel (PIT) – 71GP, 22G, 41A, 63PTS, 0.89PPG
7 (LW/-) – Cam Atkinson (CBJ) – 71GP, 33G, 27A, 60PTS, 0.85PPG
8 (LW/+1) – Blake Wheeler (WPG) – 72GP, 21G, 39A, 60PTS, 0.83PPG
9 (LW/NR) – Mark Stone (OTT) – 63GP, 22G, 28A, 50PTS, 0.79PPG
10 (LW/-) – Jakub Voracek (PHI) – 71GP, 17G, 38A, 55PTS, 0.77PPG

Top 10 Defenseman:
1 (LW/-) – Brent Burns (SJ) – 71GP, 27G, 43A, 70PTS, 0.99PPG
2 (LW/-) – Erik Karlsson (OTT) – 70GP, 14G, 51A, 65PTS, 0.93PPG
3 (LW/-) – Victor Hedman (TB) – 68GP, 14G, 45A, 59PTS, 0.87PPG
4 (LW/+2) – Roman Josi (NSH) – 62GP, 11G, 32A, 43PTS, 0.69PPG
5 (LW/-1) – Justin Schultz (PIT) – 68GP, 12G, 35A, 47PTS, 0.69PPG
6 (LW/+1) – Duncan Keith (CHI) – 72GP, 6G, 43A, 49PTS, 0.68PPG
7 (LW/-2) – Kevin Shattenkirk (WSH) – 69GP, 11G, 35A, 46PTS, 0.67PPG
8 (LW/-) – Dougie Hamilton (CGY) – 70GP, 11G, 35A, 46PTS, 0.66PPG
9 (LW/+1) – Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) – 72GP, 12G, 35A, 47PTS, 0.65PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Torey Krug (BOS) – 71GP, 6G, 40A, 46PTS, 0.65PPG

Top 10 Goalies:
1 (LW/-) – Braden Holtby (WSH) – 55GP, 36W, .925SV%, 2.05GAA, 8SO
2 (LW/-) – Peter Budaj (TB) – 57GP, 28W, .916SV%, 2.15GAA, 7SO
3 (LW/+3) – Cam Talbot (EDM) – 64GP, 36W, .921SV%, 2.35GAA, 6SO
4 (LW/-1) – Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ) – 56GP, 39W, .931SV%, 2.04GAA, 6SO
5 (LW/-1) – Tuukka Rask (BOS) – 56GP, 33W, .912SV%, 2.32GAA, 6SO
6 (LW/-1) – Devan Dubnyk (MIN) – 58GP, 36W, .927SV%, 2.18GAA, 5SO
7 (LW/NR) – Jake Allen (STL) – 52GP, 27W, .912SV%, 2.48GAA, 4SO
8 (LW/+2) – Frederik Andersen (TOR) – 58GP, 28W, .918SV%, 2.67GAA, 4SO
9 (LW/-1) – Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) – 52GP, 23W, .907SV%, 2.90GAA, 4SO
10 (LW/NR) – Steve Mason (PHI) – 51GP, 21G, .905SV%, 2.76GAA, 3SO

We also cover the bottom ten in each position, it’s good to know who is also trending downwards for instance if you have that player in a hockey pool, you know now not to keep them around.

**Minimum 50 Games Played** (Forwards/Defense)
**Minimum 20 Games Played** (Goalies)

nhl player rankings
Feb 21, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Clifford (13) controls the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Bottom 10 Centers:
1 (LW/+1) – Vernon Fiddler (NSH) – 53GP, 2G, 2A, 4PTS, 0.08PPG
2 (LW/-1) – John Mitchell (COL) – 62GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS, 0.08PPG
3 (LW/+1) – Brendan Gaunce (VAN) – 57GP, 0G, 5A, 5PTS, 0.09PPG
4 (LW/+2) – Joe Colborne (COL) – 58GP, 4G, 2A, 6PTS, 0.10PPG
5 (LW/+4) – Michael Chaput (VAN) – 57GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.12PPG
6 (LW/+2) – Jay McClement (CAR) – 65GP, 5G, 3A, 8PTS, 0.12PPG
7 (LW/+3) – Dennis Rasmussen (CHI) – 60GP, 4G, 4A, 8PTS, 0.13PPG
8 (LW/NR) – Jayson Megna (VAN) – 52GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.13PPG
9 (LW/-2) – Lance Bouma (CGY) – 51GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS, 0.14PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Riley Sheahan (DET) – 68GP, 0G, 10A, 10PTS, 0.15PPG

Bottom 10 Left Wingers:
1 (LW/-) – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (PHI) – 71GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS, 0.10PPG
2 (LW/+4) – Andreas Martinsen (MTL) – 58GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS, 0.12PPG
3 (LW/-) – Matt Martin (TOR) – 70GP, 5G, 4A, 9PTS, 0.13PPG
4 (LW/+3) – Joakim Nordstrom (CAR) – 70GP, 5G, 5A, 10PTS, 0.14PPG
5 (LW/+5) – Kyle Clifford (LA) – 63GP, 5G, 5A, 10PTS, 0.16PPG
6 (LW/+3) – Lawson Crouse (ARI) – 61GP, 5G, 5A, 10PTS, 0.16PPG
7 (LW/NR) – Dwight King (MTL) – 71GP, 8G, 7A, 15PTS, 0.21PPG
8 (LW/NR) – Michael Raffl (PHI) – 52GP, 8G, 3A, 11PTS, 0.21PPG
9 (LW/NR) – Benoit Pouliot (EDM) – 56GP, 7G, 5A, 12PTS, 0.21PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Viktor Stalberg (OTT) – 67GP, 11G, 4A, 15PTS, 0.22PPG

Bottom 10 Right Wingers:
1 (LW/+1) – Chris Neil (OTT) – 52GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, 0.06PPG
2 (LW/+2) – Chris Thorburn (WPG) – 54GP, 3G, 1A, 4PTS, 0.07PPG
3 (LW/+2) – J.T. Brown (TB) – 56GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS, 0.09PPG
4 (LW/+2) – Jimmy Hayes (BOS) – 54GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS, 0.09PPG
5 (LW/+3) – Jack Skille (VAN) – 52GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.13PPG
6 (LW/+4) – Ryan Reaves (STL) – 69GP, 4G, 6A, 10PTS, 0.14PPG
7 (LW/-) – Dale Weise (PHI) – 53GP, 4G, 4A, 8PTS, 0.15PPG
8 (LW/+1) – Nikita Soshnikov (TOR) – 55GP, 5G, 4A, 9PTS, 0.16PPG
9 (LW/NR) – Devante Smith-Pelly (NJ) – 53GP, 4G, 5A, 9PTS, 0.17PPG
10 (LW/NR) – Adam Cracknell (DAL) – 58GP, 7G, 4A, 11PTS, 0.19PPG

Bottom 10 Defenseman:
1 (LW/-) – Mark Borowiecki (OTT) – 59GP, 1G, 1A, 2PTS, 0.03PPG
2 (LW/-) – Josh Gorges (BUF) – 56GP, 1G, 4A, 5PTS, 0.09PPG
3 (LW/+1) – Ben Lovejoy (NJ) – 71GP, 1G, 6A, 7PTS, 0.10PPG
4 (LW/+1) – Luke Schenn (ARI) – 67GP, 0G, 7A, 7PTS, 0.10PPG
5 (LW/-2) – Roman Polak (TOR) – 65GP, 4G, 3A, 7PTS, 0.11PPG
6 (LW/+2) – Yannick Weber (NSH) – 70GP, 1G, 7A, 8PTS, 0.11PPG
7 (LW/+3) – Markus Nutivaara (CBJ) – 58GP, 2G, 5A, 7PTS, 0.12PPG
8 (LW/NR) – Kris Russell (EDM) – 57GP, 1G, 6A, 7PTS, 0.12PPG
9 (LW/NR) – Connor Carrick (TOR) – 55GP, 2G, 5A, 7PTS, 0.13PPG
10 (LW/-3) – Danny DeKeyser (DET) – 70GP, 3G, 6A, 9PTS, 0.13PPG

Bottom 10 Goalies:
1 (LW/-) – Michal Neuvirth (PHI) – 26GP, 10W, 2.91GAA, 0SO, .887SV%
2 (LW/+1) – Antti Niemi (DAL) – 34GP, 11W, 3.35GAA, 0SO, .892SV%
3 (LW/-1) – Michael Hutchinson (WPG) – 23GP, 5W, 3.18GAA, 1SO, .896SV%
4 (LW/-) – Semyon Varlamov (COL) – 24GP, 6W, 3.38GAA, 1SO, .898SV%
5 (LW/+1) – Petr Mrazek (DET) – 44GP, 16W, 3.04GAA, 1SO, .899SV%
6 (LW/+1) – Kari Lehtonen (DAL) – 50GP, 17W, 2.95GAA, 1SO, .901SV%
7 (LW/-2) – Louis Domingue (ARI) – 27GP, 8W, 3.13GAA, 0SO, .903SV%
8 (LW/+1) – Cam Ward (CAR) – 55GP, 23W, 2.71GAA, 2SO, .904SV%
9 (LW/-1) – Jaroslav Halak (NYI) – 21GP, 6W, 3.23GAA, 1SO, .904SV%
10 (LW/NR) – Calvin Pickard (COL) – 41GP, 13W, 2.87GAA, 2SO, .909SV%

Next: NHL Power Rankings: Chicago Loses Top Spot.

Top Forward of the Week: Brad Marchand (BOS) – (3GP, 5G, 4A, 9PTS, +3)

Brad Marchand has been lightning hot as of late and is now just a single point behind for the NHL lead in points. If he keeps putting up weeks like this, he’s definitely going to win the Art Ross.

Top Defenseman of the Week: Jaccob Slavin (CAR) – (4GP, 3G, 3A, 6PTS, +4)

Carolina has been picking up a lot of steam down the stretch pushing some very solid teams into overtime. And in order to do so, you have to own players who will put up some very solid weeks, and Jaccob Slavin had himself a very fantastic week.

Top Goalie of the Week: Corey Crawford (CHI) – (3GP, 3W, 1.63GAA, .955SV%, 0SO)

Chicago is running for another Stanley Cup and with Corey Crawford healthy and playing top notch like we’re used to, they could make a serious run in the playoffs. They just need Crawford to put up consistent numbers like he did last week.

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