While the defensemen rankings are still being debated, I thought it would be "fun" to look at the goalies and see if we can come to a consensus.  In my opinion the most telling stat for goalies is Sv%, so most of my opinions will be based on the 3 year weighted sv% formula that's been helpful for other positions so far.  I think Goals Against Average and Shutouts can largely be influenced by the system around you.  I'll be very interested to see where Pensburgh ranks our #1 potty mouth shot-blocker.

Would you be interested in helping me figure out where Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin rank vs other defensemen in the league?  If you believe that none of is as smart as all us then I'm sure we can come up with an accurate ranking of where our favorite Pens rank.

Defensemen by nature are much harder to quantify than forwards and goalies.  Looking at point totals alone would be missing the point, but then again the bonus of a point producing defenseman cannot be overlooked.  Will Letang crack the top 10?

I know most people cringe when they see the words "Advanced stats," but I’m hoping this little exercise will help you and me see that they’re not that scary.  All of these numbers were pulled from the wonderful Behind the net website.  The categories used were influenced very heavily by the recent posts on Lowetide as he breaks down what they all mean with individual player reviews.  It’s fantastic and I highly recommend reading his blog, it may even help you understand what’s represented here.

The stats used are 5X5 P/60, which is simply even strength five on five point production per 60 minutes.  5X4 P/60, is the same as above except in five on four powerplay situations.  Qual Comp is a measure of the quality of opponents faced.  The higher the number the tougher your opposition is.  Qual Team is a measure of the quality of your teammates.  The higher the number the better your linemates are.  Corsi Rel, is something I’m not going to try to explain because I don’t understand it.  To finish off I listed Off Zone Start%, Off Zone Finish% and the difference between the two percentages.  Off Zone Start% tells us where on the ice those players started their shift when comparing offensive and defensive zone starts.  The higher the number the more advantageous for the player.  Off Zone Finish% is where that player finished their shift.  The higher the % the better.  The third one is the difference between the two, and it really shows who’s carrying the mail so to speak.

While I have lots of thoughts and opinions on what I see, I’d like for you guys to see if this information meshes with what you’ve been watching.  Is there anything that surprises you?  Do you like what you see?