Super 16: Panthers, Kings among teams with positive NHL EDGE metrics

Statistics matter. They tell a story, especially when it comes to a weekly power rankings, like the Super 16. They give us an indication beyond the eye test for why a team is having success or, in the case of a handful of teams this season, consistently failing to live up to higher expectations.

This week, the Super 16 examines stats for each team garnered from NHL EDGE that provide at least a glimpse, or rather an underlying reason into why the team is ranked where it is.

As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the 15 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the NHL EDGE edition of the Super 16:

NOTE: The advanced metrics below are prior to games Wednesday.

1. Minnesota Wild (19-5-4)

Total points: 233

Last week: No. 1

Wild starter Filip Gustavsson has had greater than a .900 save percentage in 17 of his 21 appearances (81.0 percent) this season, the highest rate among qualifying goalies. He also leads the NHL in midrange saves (179). Minnesota is tied for the second-most long-range shots on goal (213) behind the Seattle Kraken (228). Forward Kirill Kaprizov, who's in the thick of the Hart Trophy race as the most valuable player, is tied for fifth in high-danger goals (10) and ranks fourth among forwards in total skating distance at even strength (85.57 miles). -- Troy Perlowitz

2. Washington Capitals (19-6-2)

Total points: 217

Last week: No. 3

Despite the absence of goal-scoring forward Alex Ovechkin (broken fibula; injured Nov. 18), the Capitals rank among the League leaders in goals from high-danger (48; tied for sixth) and midrange (35; tied for third) areas. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun, acquired by Washington from the Ottawa Senators in the offseason, leads his position in midrange goals (six). Goalie Logan Thompson (acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in offseason) leads the NHL in midrange save percentage (.946). -- Pete Jensen

3. Winnipeg Jets (21-9-0)

Total points: 201

Last week: No. 2

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who won the second Vezina Trophy of his career last season, ranks in the top 10 in save percentage from both high-danger (.832; 10th) and midrange (.918; tied for seventh) areas this season. Winnipeg is the only team with two players having double-digit totals in high-danger goals: Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi (10 each; tied for fifth in NHL). The Jets also lead the NHL in long-range goals (13). Defenseman Josh Morrissey ranks second at his position in total skating distance (111.15 miles) behind Cale Makar (112.51) of the Colorado Avalanche. -- Jensen

4. Vegas Golden Knights (18-7-3)

Total points: 200

Last week: No. 4

The Golden Knights are tied for second in the League in high-danger goals (50) behind only the Florida Panthers (52). Vegas' top performer from high-danger areas has been center Tomas Hertl, who is tied for ninth in the NHL in high-danger goals (nine) and ranks seventh in high-danger shots on goal (39). Defenseman Shea Theodore ranks 10th at his position in midrange shots on goal (18). -- Perlowitz

5. Florida Panthers (18-9-2)

Total points: 163

Last week: No. 9

In terms of offensive zone time percentage at all strengths, the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (44.2 percent) are tied for second behind only the Carolina Hurricanes (47.6). Center Sam Bennett is Florida's leader in high-danger goals this season (10; tied for fifth in NHL). Forward Sam Reinhart, who ranked second in high-danger goals (34) in the NHL last season, is tied for second in midrange goals (nine) this season behind Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers. -- Jensen

6. Carolina Hurricanes (18-9-1)

Total points: 158

Last week: No. 7

Seven of the NHL's top nine players in terms of offensive zone time percentage play for the Hurricanes, including each of the four best in the category: defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (52.9) and forwards Sebastian Aho (51.4), Andrei Svechnikov (50.8) and Seth Jarvis (50.2). Forward Martin Necas, a surprise contender for the Art Ross Trophy, has the top skating speed (24.49 miles per hour on Dec. 5) in the entire League. -- Perlowitz

7. Los Angeles Kings (17-8-3)

Total points: 139

Last week: No. 10

The Kings rank fifth in the NHL in shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (53.0), and, per NHL EDGE stats, are allowing the fourth-fewest high-danger shots on goal per game (6.43). Goalie Darcy Kuemper, who recently returned from injury, ranks third in high-danger save percentage (.855) behind Cam Talbot of the Detroit Red Wings and Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens (each at .857). -- Jensen

8. New Jersey Devils (18-10-3)

Total points: 134

Last week: No. 8

The Devils lead the NHL in high-danger shots on goal (282) and rank fifth in high-danger goals (49). New Jersey has three of the League's top 10 in high-danger shots on goal: Stefan Noesen (42; tied for third), Nico Hischier (41; fifth) and Timo Meier (37; tied for eighth). The Devils also lead the League in midrange goals (38), with wing Jesper Bratt among the top performers in the category (seven; tied for sixth). Center Jack Hughes ranks second in the NHL in total skating distance (114.55 miles) behind Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche (114.83). -- Perlowitz

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-9-2)

Total points: 131

Last week: No. 5

Goalie Anthony Stolarz is among the League leaders in high-danger save percentage (.835; tied for sixth) and has been perfect against long-range shots (101 saves on 101 long-range shots faced). The other part of Toronto's strong tandem is Joseph Woll, who's among the best in midrange save percentage (.951; 99th percentile). The Maple Leafs rank third in team save percentage (.911) behind the Minnesota Wild (.917) and Winnipeg Jets (.913). -- Perlowitz

10. Dallas Stars (17-10-0)

Total points: 129

Last week: No. 6

The Stars have excelled in high-danger areas on both ends of the ice; they rank eighth in the NHL in high-danger goals (47), and goalie Jake Oettinger ranks ninth in high-danger saves (121). -- Jensen

11. Vancouver Canucks (14-8-5)

Total points: 75

Last week: No. 11

The Canucks have the best shooting percentage from high-danger areas (24.5) and second-best shooting percentage on midrange shots (16.4) behind the Capitals (17.1). Vancouver forward Jake DeBrusk is tied for second in high-danger goals (11) behind Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (12). -- Perlowitz

12. Edmonton Oilers (16-10-2)

Total points: 74

Last week: No. 12

The Oilers lead the NHL in 90-plus mph shot attempts (43), and defenseman Evan Bouchard (25) ranks second in the League behind Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning (26) in the category. Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm are also among the defenseman shot location leaders; Ekholm is among the high-danger shots on goal leaders at the position (eight; tied for fifth) and ranks highly in long-range shots on goal (39; sixth in League), while Bouchard is fourth among defensemen in midrange shots on goal (23). The Oilers have two of the top 10 players in offensive zone time percentage in center Connor McDavid (49.8; fifth) and Bouchard (49.6; eighth). -- Jensen

13. Colorado Avalanche (17-13-0)

Total points: 64

Last week: No. 14

The Avalanche lead the NHL in 20-plus mph speed bursts (932), 163 more than the next-closest team (Edmonton Oilers, 769). Colorado's new-look goalie tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood (acquired from the San Jose Sharks) and Scott Wedgewood (acquired from the Nashville Predators) has excelled in high-danger save percentage; Blackwood ranks fifth among qualifying goalies in the category (.844; 90th percentile), while Wedgewood has been even better (.909; 97th percentile). -- Jensen

14. Tampa Bay Lightning (14-10-2)

Total points: 54

Last week: No. 13

Led by Hedman's aforementioned prowess in 90-plus mph shots, the Lightning have the third-most attempts as a team in that category (38) behind the Oilers (43) and Capitals (41). Center Brayden Point is also tied for second in high-danger goals (11) behind Draisaitl. -- Perlowitz

15. Boston Bruins (15-12-3)

Total points: 38

Last week: NR

The Bruins are tied for sixth in high-danger shots on goal (227) but scoring on only 17.2 percent of those shots (below League average of 19.7 percent). Elite right wing David Pastrnak is among the shot location leaders; he's tied for sixth in midrange shots on goal (38) and leads all forwards in long-range shots on goal (22). -- Perlowitz

16. Calgary Flames (14-10-5)

Total points: 20

Last week: No. 15

The Flames are among the NHL leaders in long-range shots on goal (208; fourth) and long-range goals (10; tied for fifth). MacKenzie Weegar is among the leaders in long-range goals (three; tied for third) and long-range shots on goal (38; tied for seventh), while Rasmus Andersson is among the top defensemen in midrange goals (four; tied for fifth). Forward Martin Pospisil ranks fifth in max skating speed (24.06 mph). -- Jensen

Others receiving points: New York Rangers 4, St. Louis Blues 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1, Philadelphia Flyers 1, Utah Hockey Club 1

Dropped out from last week: Rangers (No. 16)

Enterprise Team of the Week: The Kings moved up three spots to No. 7 this week because they keep getting it done. They have won six in a row, including 4-1 against the No. 1 Wild on Saturday and 3-1 against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the start of a seven-game road trip that will last until the holiday break. In the win streak, the Kings are scoring 3.50 goals per game and allowing 1.33. They have four players with at least three goals (Adrian Kempe, four; Kevin Fiala, Trevor Moore, Alex Laferriere three each). They have started three different goalies (David Rittich, Darcy Kuemper, Erik Portillo), who have combined to allow eight goals. The Kings have also defeated the No. 10 Stars (3-2), the Ottawa Senators (5-2), Anaheim Ducks (2-1) and the No. 3 Jets (4-1) during the streak.

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Vancouver Canucks; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Boston Bruins

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Vancouver Canucks; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. New York Rangers

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Washington Capitals; 2. Minnesota Wild; 3. Los Angeles Kings; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Winnipeg Jets; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Boston Bruins; 13. Vancouver Canucks; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Utah Hockey Club

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Florida Panthers; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Vancouver Canucks; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Calgary Flames; 15. Colorado Avalanche; 16. Boston Bruins

TOM GULITTI

1. Washington Capitals; 2. Minnesota Wild; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Vancouver Canucks; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Calgary Flames

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. Vancouver Canucks; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Edmonton Oilers; 15. New York Rangers; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Minnesota Wild; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Vancouver Canucks; 15. St. Louis Blues; 16. Boston Bruins

TRACEY MYERS

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Vancouver Canucks; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Calgary Flames

BILL PRICE

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Toronto Maple Leafs; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. Vancouver Canucks; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Colorado Avalanche; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Vancouver Canucks; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

DAN ROSEN

1. Washington Capitals; 2. Minnesota Wild; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Florida Panthers; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Vancouver Canucks; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. St. Louis Blues

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Washington Capitals; 2. Minnesota Wild; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Boston Bruins; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Vancouver Canucks; 16. New York Rangers

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Vancouver Canucks; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Vancouver Canucks; 13. Boston Bruins; 14. Calgary Flames; 15. Colorado Avalanche; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Minnesota Wild; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Florida Panthers; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Vancouver Canucks; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Boston Bruins