Points Per 60 Leaders

It's really a lot of fun to wander over to Behind the Net every once in a while and take a look at what the various numbers are saying about players in the NHL.  Please note that this is not about scientific  or rational analysis.  Its about names and numbers that jump out at me, and any kind of narrative that happens to show up (possibly in my mind) while doing that.

After the jump, a look at the leaders in P/60.

First off, lets get some fandom stuff out of the way - These are the top 30 5v5 point generators so far this season who have played at least 10 games. (Sorry, Sidney Crosby doesn't qualify here yet).  Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth not only make the list, but both of them are in the top 10.  In the league.  HUZZAH!  Will it continue?  No one knows, but after years without anyone getting a sniff at this list, I really don't care!  Sure hope so though.

Next - Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel #1 and #4 respectively on this list.  I really don't know if that trade will ever pay off for Toronto, but I do know that both teams have ended up with some very good players, and both organizations can make any argument they want about who won it.  Bottom line is that having both players playing so well just makes the debates stronger and helps the NHL create both hype and tension between two storied franchises.  Not fun if you don't like them, but overall good for hockey.

Lots of Flyers, Hawks and Bolts on here, but two names that stuck out a mile for me were Stephen Weiss of the Panthers and Matt Read from Philly.  Weiss is a player that I have liked for a while now, and I'm  happy to see him leading his team here.  Sure wish the Oilers would have traded for him.  Great player.   Very neat to see Florida finding success with Tallon at the helm.  If you didn't know, Florida is currently 3rd in the east (ahead of Washington) with 25 pts and a +9 goal differential.

I'd never heard of Matt Read, but he seems to be quite the player.  Signed as a free agent after his NCAA season ended last year, he played 11 games for the Phantoms in the AHL and as a rookie who's never played pro hockey in an unfamiliar organization, he put up 13 points.  This season he made the Flyers out of camp, and through 17 games has 14 points , is plus 7, and has 6 points in his last 4 games.  He's older ('86) but based on his play so far he seems like a contender for the Calder this year, if he keeps this up.  He's a smaller player (5"10') so he may have trouble posting these numbers consistently, but considering his age and his offense to date, it looks like he knows how to use his size effectively.

Other Oilers of note:

The views in this FanPost do not necessarily express those of the staff.