(For the complete lists, return to the hockey introduction.)
TOP 10 FORWARDS
This collection of forwards and centres are your best bet to produce without breaking the bank. A few are genuine superstars in the making and currently helping their teams through the playoff slog. Given how strongly salary factors into the calculations, perhaps most surprising is that only two of the skaters are bona fide rookies.
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | Points | Salary | $/Point |
| 1 | Kris Versteeg | L | CHI | 53 | $490,000 | $9,245 |
| 2 | Alex Burrows | L | VAN | 51 | $525,000 | $10,294 |
| 3 | Rich Peverley | C | ATL | 44 | $475,000 | $12,329 |
| 4 | David Krejci | C | BOS | 73 | $900,000 | $12,917 |
| 5 | David Booth | L | FLA | 60 | $775,000 | $13,621 |
| 6 | Anze Kopitar | C | LAK | 66 | $899,000 | $14,286 |
| 7 | Joel Ward | R | NSH | 35 | $500,000 | $14,744 |
| 8 | David Moss | R | CGY | 39 | $575,000 | $14,744 |
| 9 | Ryan Callahan | R | NYR | 40 | $600,000 | $15,000 |
| 10 | Brandon Dubinsky | C | NYR | 41 | $635,000 | $15,488 |
Sources: NHLPA, NHL, HockeyBuzz, as of April 12, 2009
TOP 10 DEFENCEMEN
The modern NHL may highly value offensive-minded defencemen, but the bottom line never changes — they’re paid to help stop the opposition from scoring. You may find it surprising how this list breaks down, but the balance between performance and pay is there nd there’s a huge difference between a +32 and a +22. Here are the guys who do D best.
| Rank | Player | Team | +/- | Salary | TOI | $/MOI* |
| 1 | Duncan Keith | CHI | 33 | $1,600,000 | 1,968 | $813 |
| 2 | Dennis Wideman | BOS | 32 | $3,250,000 | 1,946 | $1,670 |
| 3 | Willie Mitchell | VAN | 29 | $3,500,000 | 1878 | $1,864 |
| 4 | Nicklas Lidstrom | DET | 31 | $7,450,000 | 1,936 | $3,848 |
| 5 | Rob Scuderi | PIT | 23 | $725,000 | 1,552 | $467 |
| 6 | Mike Mottau | NJD | 24 | $750,000 | 1,422 | $527 |
| 7 | Jan Hejda | CBJ | 23 | $2,000,000 | 1,835 | $1,090 |
| 8 | Brent Seabrook | CHI | 23 | $3,500,000 | 1,912 | $1,831 |
| 9 | Mike Green | WSH | 24 | $6,000,000 | 1,751 | $3,427 |
| 10 | Zdeno Chara | BOS | 23 | $7,500,000 | 2,085 | $3,597 |
* $/per minute on ice
Sources: NHLPA, NHL, HockeyBuzz, as of April 12, 2009
TOP 10 GOALIES
Established wisdom is that you build a successful team from the net out and, the Red Wings notwithstanding, it holds true. But unlike forwards and defencemen, it’s virtually impossible to do it on the cheap. So the lads below have this year missed the playoffs as often as not, but they really know how to stop a puck. Get a better five in front of them before their stock rises and they can easily be the difference between a Cup-run and golf.
| Rank | Player | Team | GAA | Salary | $/SV-$/SA* |
| 1 | Pekka Rinne | NSH | 2.38 | $575,000 | $36 |
| 2 | Scott Clemmensen | NJD | 2.39 | $500,000 | $40 |
| 3 | Jonathan Quick | LAK | 2.48 | $550,000 | $43 |
| 4 | Tim Thomas | BOS | 2.10 | $1,100,000 | $47 |
| 5 | Steve Mason | CBJ | 2.29 | $1,000,000 | $56 |
| 6 | Peter Budaj | COL | 2.86 | $800,000 | $58 |
| 7 | Mike Smith | TBL | 2.62 | $950,000 | $68 |
| 8 | Ty Conklin | DET | 2.51 | $750,000 | $73 |
| 9 | Alex Auld | OTT | 2.47 | $1,000,000 | $85 |
| 10 | Jonas Hiller | ANA | 2.39 | $1,300,000 | $95 |
* This is effectively the cost of each goal allowed.
Sources: NHLPA, NHL, HockeyBuzz, as of April 12, 2009
