1 Jay McClement – Nobody came near to the amount of short handed ice time McClemment experienced last season. In fact, only three players total (all defenseman) had more short handed time of ice than this center. Last season the St. Louis Blues finished first in penalty killing thanks to the effort from this Brampton Battalion alumni. Aside from his 300 plus minutes on the kill, he also contributed with 29 points– none of which same shorthanded. As far as traditional checking line players go, McClement is as genuine as they get. Not necessarily a threat but incredibly defensively aware and able to never get caught out of position. Throw in his league leading 189 shorthanded faceoffs won and we will show you the master of the kill.
2 Alexandre Burrows – Burrows shocked the world with his breakout season last year playing alongside Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. However, what most people failed to notice was his excellent work on the penalty kill. Before stardom on the first line, the French Canadian winger was known for his agitating nature and ability to throw the opposition off of their game. Last season he was able to do that quite often as he led the league in shorthanded points with seven. While statistics like shorthanded points may be volatile his effort every night remained consistent last season and should do the same once he returns to the ice. The pesky Burrows helped the Canucks finish second last season in shorthanded goals, by percentage a lone bright spot in the Canucks penalty killing.
3 Marian Hossa – Hossa could have claimed the lead in shorthanded points had he not missed 25 games. The two-way winger showed his true value as he finally became the elite player on both ends of the ice. Chicago finished fourth overall in penalty killing percentage with an impressive 85.3 while leading the league in shorthanded goals with 13. Last season seemed to be a perfect storm of sorts for the Blackhawks as they were truly one of the best teams defensively and an absolute powerhouse on offense. A threat like Hossa seems to be not only a luxury but one of the most dangerous assets to have on the ice. Worth every dollar he is paid.
4 Jordan Staal – This perennial candidate for the Selke makes the cut in the top ten thanks to racking up the time of ice on the kill. Whenever anyone talks about top defensive forwards Staal always seems to make the cut while posting close to 20 goals of his own. Last season, he registered a healthy 274:08 on the penalty kill in addition to his 118 shorthanded faceoffs won– only McClement finished with more time as a forward. Not only can Staal establish himself as a threat on the forecheck, his size and strength make him a very valuable playing at the other end.
5 Rene Bourque – One of the most consistent threats on the penalty kill. Not only does Bourque’s speed lead to many opportunities but manages to finish his opportunities every year. Over the past three years, Bourque has combined for a whopping 10 shorthanded goals. GM Darryl Sutter knew what he would be getting when he traded for Bourque and because of that let him flourish amid a defensive system. Size, skill and speed lead to this young man having a very bright future in the league after coming to the Blackhawks undrafted. His unique path from the AJHL to the University of Wisconsin and eventually the NHL taught Bourque how to play hockey the right way on both sides of the ice.
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