Hello and welcome back to Geek of the Week! In this article, I will be taking a look at power play metrics. I will highlight some sleepers who are getting great power play opportunities, but who are being slept on. In multicategory leagues, power-play points and maybe even power-play goals are usually included. Power play opportunities don't just help in these categories, but point to success in shots on goal and points as well. If a player is on a strong team's first unit, he should probably be rostered.

Matthew Knies – 46% rostered on Yahoo

With Auston Matthews' injury, Knies has found himself in a great spot on the team's first power play unit, a unit that has been absolutely firing lately. In his last 3 games, Knies has commanded 70% of the teams PP TOI share and has picked up 3 PPP. Knies seems to have found chemistry alongside Toronto's superstars and his production and ice time is showing it. Matthews might return next game, but prior to his injury, there were some split unit power play unit experiments and Knies was still getting a healthy amount of power-play time (playing with Mitch Marner and Matthews).

This season, Knies has received a bump in even strength TOI, up to 14 minutes per game, but has received a whole 2 extra minutes of TOI on the power play per game. Aside from all of this offensive opportunity, Knies has kept his Hit/60 consistent, picking up a solid 2.5 Hits per game. If Knies can keep his current role, he can continue his strong play throughout the season playing alongside Toronto's superstars. Knies is currently on pace for 15 PPP and 36 goals while shooting 22%. I can see him finishing the season with 30 goals, 10 PPP, 160 shots, and 200 hits.

Artturi Lehkonen – 61% rostered on Yahoo

Lehkonen was given a prime spot alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen after returning from injury this week. He held onto this spot on the first power-play unit commanding 86% of the power play share, not to mention an ATOI of 24:35 per game! Colorado leads the league in PPG per game with 1.2. Lehkonen was able to pick up 1 PPG in his first three games. He should get plenty more with his current deployment.

There are some question marks on this Avalanche team, though. Valeri Nichushkin is set to return from his suspension next week, while Jonathan Drouin and Ross Colton returning from injury also pose questions for Lehkonen's spot in the lineup. It is entirely possible that Lehkonen gets dropped down to the second unit when everyone is healthy, but I would be grabbing Lehkonen now in case he holds onto his role. You can still enjoy his production for at least another few games. An entire season of Lehkonen's current role can bring a 70-point, 20 PPP pace player. Lehkonen is also no slouch in SOG or Hits, making him a potential multicategory stud. Go grab Lehkonen if he's available and re-evaluate when everyone is healthy.

Josh Norris – 24% rostered on Yahoo

Norris is no stranger to power play production, picking up 16 PPG in just 66 games in the 2021-2022 season. This year, Ottawa is amongst the league leaders in PP production with 1 PPG per game. Norris has secured himself a spot on Ottawa's top unit and commands 60% of the PP ice timeshare (Ottawa gives its second unit a healthy amount of PP TOI). Norris has already picked up 4 PPP in 14 games, good for a pace of matching his career high of 23. I think the Senators' first unit (consisting of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Jake Sanderson, and Norris) is pretty secure and may even find more ice time moving forward.

One interesting stat for Norris is his current Individual Points Percentage (IPP) on the power play of 40%, meaning that he has gotten a point on only 40% of the goals scored with him on the ice. This number has been 75%, 64%, and 87.5% in his previous seasons. I'd expect this number to climb and bring his power-play assist rate up. As with the players above, Josh Norris can fill other categories as well, averaging 1.86 SOG per game, and 2.36 Hits per game.

Honourable Mentions – A few other players with prime first-unit opportunities in the last few weeks and their PPTOI% share.

Casey Mittelstadt – 84% (while supplies last)
Things will get crowded once Nichushkin, Drouin, and Colton return.

Uvis Balinskis – 70%
Florida seems committed to keeping Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling away from the top power play.

Cole Sillinger – 69%
Has no PPP to show for it! He's bound to get in on some PPPs.

Conor Garland – 68%
Great chance to hold onto this spot while Brock Boeser is injured.

Stefan Noesen – 65%
Was given the opportunity and has shined with 4 PPPs this season.

Kirby Dach – 64%
Also playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield at even strength.

Pavel Dorofeyev – 62%
Crushing the opportunity with 4 PPGs already this season.

Dylan Cozens – 62%
Exposure to Tage Thompson, JJ Peterka, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch.

Alex Laferriere – 61%
Has held onto his first power play role even while playing on the Kings' third line. 2 PPPs to show for it.

Connor McMichael – 58%
McMichael is on absolute fire at even strength. Only a matter of time before he shines on the power play as well.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s breakdown!

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