NHL Power Rankings: Choosing the Most Improved Player on Every Team
On every team in the NHL, at least one player is performing above the level he did in the 2009-10 season. Whether he has more goals or has gotten more defensively responsible, this player's improvement has paid off for his team.
As the 2010-11 regular season draws to a close, I decided to look around the league and showcase the most improved player from every team in this slideshow.
A lot went into this piece. The first, and most obvious, way I picked players to research was their point totals from last year and this year. For example, I felt it would be unfair to pick a player as most improved whose production dropped 10 points from the year before.
Since it is time consuming to compile stats for every player on an NHL roster, I had to narrow it down further. Players who played in the AHL last year or this year or missed significant time with injury were not eligible. It would be almost obvious that their stats would improve this year if they did not play as many games last year.
I made an exception in some cases, though, and did select a few players who missed significant time last year if I did not feel I could make a strong case for any of their teammates. You will be able to see the exceptions in the slideshow, and I don't want to preview too much.
So let's look and see how far some of these guys have come.
Anaheim Ducks: Corey Perry, Right Wing
1 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 76 points, six power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, two game-winning goals, even rating
2010-11 Stats: 85 points, plus-five rating, 12 power-play goals, three shorthanded goals, 10 game-winning goals
Perry played his first full season in Anaheim in 2006-07, the season the Ducks won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He had 44 points that year and he has been getting better ever since.
With seven games left on the Ducks' schedule, he is currently first in the NHL with 44 goals and fifth with 85 points. His 10 power-play goals are also tops in the league, and he is the Ducks' scoring leader.
He is leading Ducks forwards with 22:03 of ice time per game, a full minute improvement from his 21:03 total last year. He is fourth on the team with 3:28 of time on the power play.
Other Improved Players: Lubomir Visnovsky (defenseman), Toni Lydman (defenseman), Teemu Selanne (right wing)
Atlanta Thrashers: Dustin Byfuglien, Defenseman
2 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 34 points, minus seven, six power-play goals, three game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 52 points, minus three, seven power-play goals, six game-winning goals
Byfuglien was one of the casualties of the Chicago Blackhawks' salary cap issues in the offseason and was sent to Atlanta with three former teammates (Ben Eager, Andrew Ladd and Brent Sopel).
However, he has made the most of this change.
He is leading the Thrashers with 23:25 of ice time per game, playing a full seven minutes more than he did with the 'Hawks last season. He also logs 4:06 of power-play time.
Byfuglien's 52 points are second on the team in scoring; he is only behind Ladd, who has 58 points. He does lead all Atlanta defensemen in points.
Things are going so well for him in Atlanta that he is acting as an alternate captain and recently signed a five-year extension to remain with the team.
Other Improved Players: Andrew Ladd (left wing), Bryan Little (center)
Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas, Goaltender
3 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 17-18-8 with five shutouts, .915 save percentage and 2.56 goals-against average
2010-11 Stats: 31-10-8 with eight shutouts, .938 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average
Thomas won the Vezina Trophy in 2009, but things went a little south for him last year. He played in just 43 games as opposed to the 54 he played in his Vezina-winning season. He got into the Olympics for Team USA, but he was on the bench as Buffalo's Ryan Miller had starting net-minder duties.
This season, he has been one of the NHL's strongest goalies once again. He has posted the third 30-win season of his career and he is first among NHL goaltenders in save percentage and goals-against average. He has played in 51 games, as he has once again given head coach Claude Julien a reason to have faith in him.
His eight shutouts are also second in the NHL.
Other Improved Players: Gregory Campbell (center), Shawn Thornton (left wing), Milan Lucic (left wing)
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Buffalo Sabres: Drew Stafford, Right Wing
4 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 34 points, plus four, five power-play goals, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 45 points, plus nine, nine power-play goals, four game-winning goals
Stafford already matched his career high in points from the 2008-09 season, and that is despite playing in just 55 games this year. He is first on the team with 28 goals on the season, and his nine power-play goals are second.
He is averaging 16:19 of ice time this season and he is also playing just over three minutes per game on the Sabres' man advantage.
His plus-nine rating is also a career best.
Other Improved Players: Andrej Sekera (defenseman), Brad Boyes (right wing), Paul Gaustad (center)
Calgary Flames: Alex Tanguay, Left Wing
5 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 37 points, minus two, three power-play goals, two game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 58 points, minus five, three power-play goals, one game-winning goal
Tanguay's last great season was 2006-07, when he posted 81 points while playing with the Flames for the first time.
After that season, he was going downhill every year, and when he posted just 37 points with the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, it seemed like he had already peaked.
Blame playing on a bad Tampa Bay team last year, because Tanguay has completely turned things around this year.
He is second on Calgary in scoring and he is tied with captain Jarome Iginla for the team assists lead with 39.
Hopefully this season is more than a fluke.
Other Improved Players: David Moss (right wing), Cory Sarich (defenseman)
Carolina Hurricanes: Erik Cole, Right Wing
6 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 16 points, minus nine, two power-play goals, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 48 points, minus two, three power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, seven game-winning goals
This was one of those exceptions I discussed in the introductory slide. The 'Canes players I was trying to pick from all missed a decent amount of time with injuries last year, so I had to go with someone.
Ultimately, I went with Cole, who is on pace to play at least 80 games for the first time since 2008-09.
Cole has been coming through this year to win games for Carolina, and his current 48-point total is a six-point jump from when he played 80 games two years ago. He is fourth on the Hurricanes in scoring and third in goals with 23.
He averages 18:20 per game, which is almost a full two minutes more than he played last year. His ice time has also increased on the power play and penalty kill.
Other Improved Players: Patrick Dwyer (right wing), Tuomo Ruutu (right wing), Cam Ward (goaltender)
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Sharp, Left Wing
7 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 66 points, plus-24, four power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, four game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 68 points, minus-three, 12 power-play goals, two shorthanded goals, six game-winning goals
Sharp is currently out of the lineup with a knee injury. However, that cannot take away from a career year with the 'Hawks.
He is sixth in the NHL with 34 goals and his 12 power-play goals are fourth in the league. His goal totals—including his man-advantage tallies—lead the Blackhawks. He is only second in points to captain Jonathan Toews.
In addition to his successful regular season, Sharp also participated in his first NHL All-Star game. He played for Team Staal and he was named the game's MVP after posting three points.
Other Improved Players: Dave Bolland (center), Tomas Kopecky (right wing), Jonathan Toews (center)
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, Center
8 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 55 points, plus one, 10 power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, two game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 59 points, minus nine, three power-play goals, two game-winning goals
This was another tough choice. What was supposed to be a promising season in Denver turned into anything but.
However, Duchene, a nominee for the 2010 Calder Trophy, is still looking like a promising star of the future for the Avs.
After finishing third on the team last year in scoring, Duchene currently leads Colorado with 59 points. He is also the team goal-scoring leader with 26 goals on the season, six more than last year's 20-goal total.
Duchene is second among the team's forwards with 18:49 of ice time per game and he is sixth in power-play minutes with 2:54.
This year, he was named to his first NHL All-Star game and took the first penalty shot in the event's history.
He currently has 114 career points, and he is the youngest player in Avs history to reach the 100-point mark in his career.
Other Improved Players: David Jones (right wing), John-Michael Liles (defenseman), Ryan O'Byrne (defenseman)
Columbus Blue Jackets: Derrick Brassard, Center
9 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 36 points, minus-17, four power-play goals
2010-11 Stats: 43 points, minus-five, five power-play goals, three game-winning goals
Brassard improved in virtually every area this season, including getting better defensively and coming through to give the Jackets some extra help picking up some wins.
He improved for the second consecutive year, and his points total is fourth on the team. His 28 assists are also ranked fourth.
Brassard averages 16:48 of ice time per game, an improvement of 1:52 from last season. This is also the second year he has averaged more than two minutes on the power play, as his 2:57 average is up from 2:31 last year.
Other Improved Players: Marc Methot (defenseman), Jan Hejda (defenseman)
Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn, Left Wing
10 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 41 points, minus-one, two power-play goals, three game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 49 points, minus-two, five power-play goals, four shorthanded goals, three game-winning goals
Benn is just 21 years old, but he is a big reason why the Stars have stayed in the playoff hunt.
He has become a strong contributor on special teams, as his four shorthanded goals are ranked fourth in the NHL. He is getting 1:42 of ice time on the penalty kill as opposed to last year, when he barely played when the Stars were shorthanded.
He has gained an additional 2:58 of ice time, as he plays over 17 minutes a game after playing 14:42 per game in 2009-10.
Benn is currently tied with Brenden Morrow for fourth on the Stars scoring list.
Other Improved Players: Alex Goligoski (defenseman), Mike Riberio (center), Jeff Woywitka (defenseman)
Detroit Red Wings: Darren Helm, Center
11 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 24 points, minus two, three shorthanded goals, three game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 31 points, plus 10, two shorthanded goals, two game-winning goals
Helm already improved on his 24-point rookie year and he has posted his first 30-point season.
He has also become a better defensive player, as his plus-10 rating is a significant improvement over last year's negative rating of minus two. He is fourth on the Wings in that category.
Helm has also improved in the faceoff circle. He is winning 52.7 percent of his faceoffs this year after winning 51.1 percent of them in 2009-10.
Other Improved Players: Nicklas Lidstrom (defenseman), Dan Cleary (right wing)
Edmonton Oilers: Andrew Cogliano, Center
12 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 28 points, minus five, one power-play goal, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 32 points, minus 12, one shorthanded goal, three game-winning goals
Cogliano is one of few players on the Oilers that has been worth saying good things about this year.
He is third on the team in scoring and second in game-winning goals.
Cogliano has also earned more ice time this season, averaging 16:52 a game. He had a 14:10 average in the 2009-10 season. He is also playing 2:35 a game on the penalty kill.
Other Improved Players: Sam Gagner (center), Ales Hemsky (right wing)
Florida Panthers: Sergei Samsonov, Left Wing
13 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 29 points, minus 15, two power-play goals, two game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 35 points, even rating, four power-play goals, one game-winning goal
After posting 48 points in 2008-09, Samsonov struggled in 2009-10 and put up just 29 points during his last full campaign in Carolina.
He had 26 points in 58 games with the Hurricanes this year before being traded to Florida, where he has added an additional nine points.
Samsonov has had a big increase in ice time since coming to Florida and he has averaged 19:31 per game since his arrival. He was getting just 13:22 last year.
He is tied with Niclas Bergfors for fourth on the Panthers in scoring, and his 23 assists are ranked third on the team.
Other Improved Players: Dmitry Kulikov (defenseman), Marty Reasoner (center)
Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick, Goaltender
14 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 39-24-7, four shutouts, .907 save percentage, 2.54 GAA
2010-11 Stats: 33-18-3, six shutouts, .919 save percentage, 2.19 GAA
Quick has already posted his second 30-win season after a successful 2009-10 campaign in which he posted almost 40 wins playing in 72 games.
He has also increased his save percentage and lowered his goals-against average, which are crucial elements in judging a goaltender.
His six shutouts are fifth in the NHL, while his 2.19 goals-against average is ranked fourth. His 33 wins are seventh among goaltenders.
Other Improved Players: Rob Scuderi (defenseman), Jack Johnson (defenseman), Justin Williams (right wing)
Minnesota Wild: Cal Clutterbuck, Right Wing
15 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 21 points, minus-eight, one power-play goal, two shorthanded goals, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 32 points, minus-seven, four power-play goals, three game-winning goals
Clutterbuck has improved his point total for the second straight year, and his 19 goals are second on the Wild.
He has had a 1:33 time improvement in his ice time in his per game average and his power-play minutes.
In addition, Clutterbuck is one of the Wild's most physical players. His 320 hits are first on the team and in the league.
Other Improved Players: Brent Burns (defenseman), Martin Havlat (right wing)
Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price, Goaltender
16 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 13-20-5, .912 save percentage, 2.77 GAA
2010-11 Stats: 34-27-6, eight shutouts, .922 save percentage, 2.40 GAA
When Jaroslav Halak, the hero of the Canadiens' 2010 Stanley Cup playoff run, was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the offseason, many questioned if Price was ready to step up to the plate as the Habs' starter this season.
Let's just say that those doubts were put to rest.
After not posting any shutouts last season, Price is now second in the league with eight of them.
He is also second in wins and eighth in goals-against average. His 67 games played are first among NHL goaltenders.
The 23-year-old has answered the call, and in a bigger way than anyone could've ever imagined.
Other Improved Players: Jeff Halpern (center), Roman Hamrlik (defenseman), Benoit Pouliot (left wing)
Nashville Predators: Shea Weber, Defenseman
17 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 43 points, even rating, seven power-play goals, three game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 46 points, plus 13, six power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, three game-winning goals
Weber tallied 43 points last year after posting 53 points during the 2008-09 campaign.
However, he is getting back up there, as evidenced by his 46 points in 76 games. He has tied a career high with a plus-13 rating, which he also posted in the 2006-07 season.
The Predators captain is tied with Martin Erat for the team scoring lead and he plays over 25 minutes a game, which also leads the team.
In addition, he participated in his second NHL All-Star game this year, as a member of Team Lidstrom.
Other Improved Players: Kevin Klein (defenseman), Pekka Rinne (goaltender)
New Jersey Devils: Patrik Elias, Left Wing
18 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 48 points, plus 18, three power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, four game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 53 points, minus seven, seven power-play goals, five game-winning goals
Elias is the lone player on the Devils whose stats have improved from the 2009-10 season, as the two-time Cup winner with the team is bouncing back from a rough year.
After posting 78 points in 2008-09, Elias was limited to just 58 games, but his point total was still respectable considering how few games he played.
He is getting back to form this year and he currently has 53 points, good for the team scoring lead. He is second with 16 goals behind Ilya Kovalchuk's 27 tallies. However, Elias leads the Devils with 37 helpers.
He is playing 18:43 a game and he is getting over two minutes of time on the Devils' special-teams units. Although New Jersey is out of playoff contention, Elias can still consider his season somewhat of a success.
New York Islanders: Frans Nielsen, Center
19 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 38 points, plus-four, one shorthanded goal, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 42 points, plus-12, six shorthanded goals, one game-winning goal
Nielsen is one of just six Islanders who has a positive plus/minus rating on the season, and he is second on the team in the category.
However, what's more impressive are his six shorthanded goals. His total is first in the NHL.
Nielsen sees significant ice time on the Islanders special teams. In all, he averages almost 18 minutes per game.
Other Improved Players: Blake Comeau (right wing), Milan Jurcina (defenseman), John Tavares (center)
New York Rangers: Brian Boyle, Center
20 of 30
2009-10 Stats: Six points, minus six, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 33 points, plus five, four power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, two game-winning goals
Last year, Boyle was playing in his first full NHL campaign. Needless to say, he couldn't get comfortable for some reason, even though he played in 71 games.
However, he is more than settled in this season.
He has easily passed his point total from 2009-10 and he has become a better defensive player. Although he is only seeing limited power-play minutes, his four power-play goals are tied for third. His 21 goals are also third on the team.
Other Improved Players: Artem Anisimov (center), Ryan Callahan (right wing), Henrik Lundqvist (goaltender)
Ottawa Senators: Ryan Shannon, Right Wing
21 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 16 points, minus-12, one power-play goal, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 23 points, plus-three, four power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, one game-winning goal
Despite not getting as much power-play ice time as he did in 2009-10, Shannon has still managed to score four goals on the man advantage. His four power-play goals are third on the team.
He is also one of only four players who has a positive plus/minus rating for the Senators this season. His plus-three rating is second on the team.
Shannon isn't a star player, but he's also one of the only Sens not doing worse than last year.
Other Improved Players: Nick Foligno (left wing)
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux, Right Wing
22 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 47 points, minus nine, eight power-play goals, two game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 70 points, plus 17, eight power-play goals, three shorthanded goals, four game-winning goals
When you initially look at Giroux's stats from 2009-10, they aren't bad by any stretch, but it's hard to believe he posted those over a full, 82-game season.
This year, he has scored almost 25 points more than last season and completely improved his defensive game. He has also added three shorthanded goals, which puts him third in the league in shorthanded scoring.
He is also being rewarded with an additional 2:41 of ice time per game and averages 19:17 per game, with just over three minutes on the power play.
In addition to being the Flyers' leading scorer, he leads the squad with 46 assists.
I don't like the Flyers, but Giroux is one of the few players I am impressed by.
Other Improved Players: Daniel Briere (right wing), Jeff Carter (center), Andrej Meszaros (defenseman)
Phoenix Coyotes: Lauri Korpikoski, Left Wing
23 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 11 points, minus-10, one game-winning goal
2010-11 Stats: 38 points, plus-19, two shorthanded goals, four game-winning goals
Korpikoski could not break the 20-point mark in his first two seasons in the NHL, but he is finally coming through this year.
If he gets back into game action through the rest of the season, he could break the 40-point mark for the first time in his career.
He is currently fifth on the Coyotes in scoring and he is tied with Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan for the team goal-scoring lead with 18 goals on the season. He also leads the team with an 18.4 shooting percentage.
Korpikoski has improved his ice time in every scenario. He plays 15:20 a game, up from 12:18 last season, and he averages 3:04 on the penalty kill after playing 1:53 when the Coytoes were shorthanded last season.
Other Improved Players: Shane Doan (right wing), Taylor Pyatt (left wing), Keith Yandle (defenseman)
Pittsburgh Penguins: Kris Letang, Defenseman
24 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 27 points, plus one
2010-11 Stats: 48 points, plus 13, four power-play goals, two game-winning goals
Like many other players on this list, Letang is having a career year. He has set career highs in points, plus/minus and assists (40).
However, what makes Letang even more impressive is that he is second on the team in scoring and he has provided plenty of offense in captain Sidney Crosby's absence (for the record, Crosby has maintained the team scoring lead even throughout his two-month absence).
In addition to being a valuable member of the Penguins, he is sixth among NHL defensemen in scoring and first with three shootout goals.
Other Improved Players: Marc-Andre Fleury (goaltender), Tyler Kennedy (center), Chris Kunitz (left wing)
San Jose Sharks: Joe Pavelski, Center
25 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 51 points, plus one, three power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, five game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 61 points, plus one, 10 power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, four game-winning goals
Pavelski, the only Sharks player eligible for inclusion here, is second on the team in scoring with 61 points. He is three points behind Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, who are tied for the scoring lead with 64 points.
His 10 power-play goals are second on the team, and he is just one goal behind Thornton and Dany Heatley, who are tied for the goal-scoring lead on the man advantage.
Pavelski is currently fourth on the Sharks in faceoff wins and holds a 55-percent success rate in the circle. He finished fourth last year as well, though his total was slightly higher at 58.1 percent.
St. Louis Blues: Patrik Berglund, Center
26 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 26 points, minus-five, six power-play goals, four game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 46 points, minus-six, eight power-play goals, one game-winning goal
Berglund posted 47 points in his 2008-09 rookie campaign, but he had trouble last season, tallying 26 points and dropping to a minus-five rating after posting a plus 19.
He is starting to get his offensive groove back, as his 46 points mark a 28-point improvement from last year. He also has two additional power-play goals despite just a small improvement (40 seconds) in ice time on the Blues' man advantage.
He averages 17:07 of ice time per game, which is up 3:37 from his 13:30 played in the 2009-10 season.
Other Improved Players: David Backes (right wing), Alexander Steen (center)
Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman, Defenseman
27 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 20 points, minus-three
2010-11 Stats: 25 points, even rating
Hedman came into the NHL last year when he was just 19 years old and he posted a respectable 20 points, even as Tampa finished in 12th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs.
This year, he has already topped his rookie-year total. He also sits in second among Lightning defensemen in scoring (Brett Clark leads the blueliners with 28 points).
He is playing at least 20 minutes a game for the second-straight season, averaging 21:14 per game.
Other Improved Players: Sean Bergenheim (left wing), Brett Clark (defenseman)
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nikolai Kulemin, Left Wing
28 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 36 points, even rating, one shorthanded goal, three game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 54 points, plus eight, four power-play goals, one shorthanded goal, five game-winning goals
Kulemin broke into the NHL in 2008-09 with Toronto, scoring 31 points, and he has been improving ever since.
His current 54-point total is an almost 20-point improvement from last season and he is up nearly 25 points from his rookie season. He has also added valuable offense on the power play after not putting up any man-advantage goals last year.
He is third on the Leafs in scoring and he sits two points behind Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur and three points behind Phil Kessel. He is also tied with Grabovski for second in goals with 28 tallies this year.
Other Improved Players: Clarke MacArthur (left wing), Mikhail Grabovski (center)
Vancouver Canucks: Roberto Luonogo, Goaltender
29 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 40-22-4 with four shutouts, .913 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against average
2010-11 Stats: 35-14-7 with three shutouts, .927 save percentage and 2.18 goals-against average
Luongo's current save percentage and goals-against average are among the highest marks of his career. His best stats in those categories came when he was playing with the Florida Panthers in 2003-04 and posted a .931 save percentage, and in 2006-07, when he had a 2.28 goals-against average with Vancouver.
This year, he is first among NHL goaltenders in wins and third in save percentage and goals-against average.
Now if Luongo could lead the Canucks further in the playoffs, he could truly be in the conversation when it comes to naming some of the NHL's elite goaltenders.
Other Improved Players: Christian Ehrhoff (defenseman), Daniel Sedin (left wing)
Washington Capitals: Dennis Wideman, Defenseman
30 of 30
2009-10 Stats: 30 points, minus-14, two power-play goals, two game-winning goals
2010-11 Stats: 40 points, minus-20, nine power-play goals, one game-winning goal
Wideman has posted the second 40-point season of his career. The first came in 2008-09 when he had 50 points while playing with the Bruins.
He had 33 points in 61 games for the Panthers this season before being sent to the Capitals at the trade deadline. Since coming to Washington, he has had six points and a plus-six rating in 13 games.
Wideman is leading all Capitals defensemen in scoring and he is fifth on the team in points. His nine power-play goals lead the team.
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