Fantasy - Fact or Fiction: 3 players to watch using advanced stats

Every Tuesday, we examine 3 players you should watch in your hockey pool using advanced statistics.

An effective fantasy player isn't measured solely by the sum of his stats, but also by the level of involvement in his team's offensive production based on the ice time afforded to him. 

One way to assess this is by looking at a player's IPP.

IPP, yeah you know me!

IPP stands for individual points percentage, calculated by taking a player's point total and dividing it by the number of goals scored by his team while that player is on the ice. 

To kick things up a notch, IPPP is individual primary points percentage, calculated in the same way as IPP but only considers goals and first assists.

With that in mind, here's a look at three players to consider in fantasy hockey based on their respective even-strength individual primary points percentages. 

Note: The field has been narrowed to players with at least 200 minutes played this season.

F Nazem Kadri - Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs are led offensively by Phil Kessel (22 points), James van Riemsdyk (15 points) and Tyler Bozak (15 points). While Kessel drives the bus and van Riemsdyk serves as a talented wingman, value is to be found in the middle, where young Kadri - owned in only 51 percent of Yahoo leagues - is on the edge of breaking out. 

With four goals and four primary assists at even strength through 18 games, Kadri's IPPP sits at 41.7, which, in a vacuum, isn't really much to write home about. However, with one goal and four primary assists in the same amount of games, Bozak's IPPP sits at 18.2, and that's with the benefit of serving as the team's No. 1 center. 

Based on his production while being slotted further down the lineup, Kadri has the potential to put up even bigger numbers if given the opportunity to lock down the plum assignment of playing with Kessel and van Riemsdyk.

Now imagine if he was to step up to the team's top power-play unit ...

D Erik Karlsson - Ottawa Senators

The uber-talented defenseman oozes offense, yet, somewhat surprisingly, Karlsson has registered a primary point on only 26.7 percent of Ottawa's goals scored while on the ice. This slots him 200th among all NHL players and 44th among defensemen with a minimum of 200 minutes of ice time this season.

While defensemen typically aren't as involved in the offense as forwards and therefore carry lower IPPPs, Karlsson led all players at his position in this category during his Norris Trophy season (38.8 in 2011-12), ranked second in 2013 (41.7) and seventh last season (35.2).

Karlsson, owned in 100 percent of Yahoo Leagues, and rightfully so, has recorded three goals and two primary assists from the Senators' blue line through 17 games. He's still putting up the power-play points (seven), but his overall production is being anchored at even strength. 

He obviously won't be available as a free-agent pickup, but fantasy owners may be wise to poke around with potential trade scenarios, banking on Karlsson getting more involved in Ottawa's offense sooner than later.

F Brayden Schenn - Philadelphia Flyers

The 23-year-old was recently bumped up to the Flyers' top line alongside Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, and is making good to the tune of three goals, four assists and 14 shots in six November games.

Schenn boasts an IPPP of 80, recording four goals and five primary assists in 16 games. Owned in 37 percent of Yahoo leagues, he ranks ninth in IPPP among players with at least 200 minutes played, and should continue to pile up the points on a Flyers offense averaging 3.19 goals per game.

An offensive stud in junior, Schenn's ascent to prime time has been quite slow, but he may be on the cusp and is proving to be a key cog in Philadelphia's offensive wheel.