Stats aren't the sole indicator of a player's worth/value. But typically you can't have a great or "top" player without him possessing some above average stats, at least. But even then it can be deceiving, as different leagues have different playing styles or quality of competition, and translating stats is always a crap shoot.
An exception and example of this currently I believe is Granlund. I actually never took the time to look into his stats for the past year, but watching him in camp, he was head and shoulders above half the guys with the way he played. And it only takes some observing to see that he has a deadly-fast and accurate shot. A goal-scorer's touch. This is why I can see his numbers inflating in the A, and him making the team in the near future. I didn't know until someone pointed out his very average numbers in the finnish leagues that his production wasn't all that eye popping, but by my observations alone over that week, I could tell that he has the skills and shot to be a big producer in NHL someday with continued development. So because of this, I'm throwing his past production "woes" out of the equation.
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