Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter isn't getting the awards buzz he usually does this time of year, but the veteran blue liner is quietly putting together a career season.
Suter leads all NHL defensemen in average ice time at 26:49 per game, and is on pace for career highs across the board.
Suter has 49 points on the season, just two away from his career high of 51 with nine games to go.
Suter still isn't scoring much -- he has six goals, including one on the power play -- but his puck-moving abilities have stood out. He matched another career high after notching his 43rd assist of the season Monday in a loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PPA |
| John Klingberg | Stars | 73 | 7 | 52 | 21 |
| Erik Karlsson | Senators | 66 | 8 | 48 | 13 |
| Drew Doughty | Kings | 73 | 9 | 45 | 15 |
| Brent Burns | Sharks | 72 | 10 | 45 | 18 |
| John Carlson | Capitals | 72 | 14 | 45 | 23 |
| Ryan Suter | Wild | 73 | 6 | 43 | 21 |
| Keith Yandle | Panthers | 70 | 6 | 41 | 16 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | Flyers | 69 | 12 | 41 | 21 |
| Victor Hedman | Lightning | 67 | 12 | 40 | 20 |
| Jake Gardiner | Maple Leafs | 72 | 4 | 39 | 10 |
Some of that offensive production is down to his increased presence on the Wild's power play. Suter has 21 power-play assists this season, his best mark since leaving the Nashville Predators in 2012, one off his career high and fifth amongst NHL defensemen.
It's hard to tie that number to any particular uptick in the Wild's power-play numbers. Minnesota currently sits near the league average at 20.5 percent.
Suter's average ice time is significant as well: He averages 27.1 shifts per game, more than three shifts and a full 60 spots off the league lead, yet leads all skaters in average ice time.
|
Player |
Team | TOI/GP | Shifts/GP |
|
Ryan Suter |
Wild | 26:49 | 27.1 |
|
Drew Doughty |
Kings | 26:43 | 30.7 |
|
Erik Karlsson |
Senators | 26:33 | 30.3 |
|
Rasmus Ristolainen |
Sabres | 26:31 | 28.9 |
|
Victor Hedman |
Lighning | 25:56 | 27.4 |
|
Alex Pietrangelo |
Blues | 25:36 | 27.9 |
|
Kris Letang |
Penguins | 25:22 | 29.9 |
|
Brent Burns |
Sharks | 25:19 | 28.0 |
|
John Carlson |
Capitals | 25:01 | 26.8 |
|
Mark Giordano |
Flames | 24:49 | 28.1 |
And while Suter remains the leader of Minnesota's defensive corps, he isn't shouldering an excessive percentage of the load either.
Suter's usual defensive partner Jared Spurgeon -- currently out with a hamstring injury -- ranks second on the team at 24:33, followed by Matt Dumba at 23:28 and Jonas Brodin at 21:20.
