The Blue Jackets are receiving outstanding contributions at even strength from their three leading players. Early in the season, the team's strong 5-on-5 performance has been widely noted. In fact, RG.org ranks three Blue Jackets players among the very top on their MVP list, based on an intriguing evaluation method.
Sergey Pryakhin's approach considers only even strength play to measure player impact. This gives the Blue Jackets an edge, as several players significantly influence their team's performance during these moments.
The metric focuses on each player's goal differential while on the ice and contrasts it with the team's performance when they are not playing. This calculation reveals the degree to which individual players affect even strength outcomes.
"At the top of Sergey's entire MVP list is Kirill Marchenko. He gets a 161 impact rating using the metric provided, which is +14 clear of second place."
These metrics provide a fresh perspective on player value and underscore the importance of even strength performance for the Blue Jackets' success.
Author's summary: The Blue Jackets' top three players excel in even strength play, with Kirill Marchenko leading a unique metric spotlighting their crucial on-ice influence.