Today's sports landscape uses absolute measures to dictate a player's effectiveness. For baseball, it's the WAR stat, which has been a hallmark of Mike Trout's career. It measures a player's effectiveness by comparing him to his replacement. For football, it's approximate value, which associates a player's value in a singular number to an NFL team. As for the NHL and hockey? It's the point shares.
It estimates the player's effectiveness for a team. That's done through numerous factors, whether in the net or on offense. For offensive players, it's also based on their time on the ice or their experience in the league with goals created. Goalies receive 2/7 of the defensive point shares, although that's adjusted based on where shots against were available that season. For a full explanation of the definition, click here.
So who's the best player in this regard for the Vegas Golden Knights? Is it Shea Theodore, an "Original Misfit" who's developed into a great offensive defenseman? What about Marc-Andre Fleury, a goaltender who won the Vezina Trophy in 2020-21? Could it be the Captain, Mark Stone? Here's who topped the all-time list for the Golden Knights in point shares.
Shea Theodore has the most point shares in Vegas Golden Knights history with 48.2
This might sound like a surprising statistic for some Golden Knights fans to digest. For others, not so much. But the all-time leader in point shares is Shea Theodore with 48.2. The defenseman has carved out a niche as an offensive quarterback, setting up the play and creating countless scoring opportunities. That includes the power play and even strength, where he shines brightest. In turn, it's made him into a quintessential piece for the Golden Knights, with the offense running smoothly with his presence.
Sitting in second place is Jonatha Marchessault with 48.1. Last season, the former Conn Smythe winner scored 42 goals, bringing that total up drastically. His presence will be greatly missed by the Vegas Golden Knights, leaving an offensive piece behind. Coming in third was William Karlsson with 40.7, while Marc-Andre Fleury came in fourth with 35.4. Fifth place went to Reilly Smith, who had 32.6.
The modern sports landscape loves measuring a player's effectiveness under a microscope. They look at all angles to see where a superstar stands on their team. Are they pulling their weight? Where can they improve? These are questions asked when evaluating said stars. Theodore serves a greater purpose for the Golden Knights than initially thought, as proven by being the all-time leader in point shares.