Weekly Impact Player Index
USA TODAY's impact player index takes into account a variety of factors to
rate the top player each week.
First, separate indexes are created for forwards, goalies and defensemen. Each
index weights categories based on the role that position plays in the game.
The final number, a standardized score, provides a comparison to the other positions
because the scores in each category are based on how far they are from the average.
On the index, a zero is average.
Factors and weighting were decided through statistical analysis and consultation
with USA TODAY's hockey editors and writers.
Factors for forwards and defensemen are plus-minus, goals, assists, ice time
and game-winning and game-tying goals. More credit is given for short-handed
goals and assists than even-strength goals and assists, followed by power-play
goals and assists. Plus-minus is weighted more heavily for defensemen than others.
Factors for goalies are goals-against average, save percentage, win-loss record,
minutes played and shutouts.
Elias Sports Bureau provides the raw statistics for the index, which covers
games from Dec. 17-23.