[Jiri Hrdina]

Here's one way to look at it.
Let's start with forwards

There are 84 (28*3) first line positions in the league
- There are 69 players 74 or above, so by that definition anyone 74 and above ratings is a top line player in our league. Therefore if you have someone with a 74 playing below your top line you are stronger than what an equal distribution would be

If you expand to the second line, there are 168 top 6 positions in the league
- There are 171 players 71 or above, so if you have someone with a 71 playing below your top 6 you are stronger than what an equal distribution would be

If we expand to the third line, there are 252 top 9 positions
- This takes us to 69 rated players (243 total)

If we expand to the fourth line, there are 336 top 12 positions
- This takes us to 67 rated players (344 total)

So in terms of forwards
- First line players are those 74 or above
- Second line players are 71-73
- Third line players are 69-70
- Fourth liners are 67/68

Now let’s look at D (I’ll summarize more quicky here now that the methodology is set)
- Top D pairings (56 positions in the league) are 72 and above (54 players)
- Second D pairings are 71/70 (55 playes)
- Final D pairings are 67-69 (83 players here but it doesn’t cut as cleanly)

Goalies is easy
- Starting goalies (28 positions) are 85+ (26 players in the league so not quite)
- Back-ups are 79-84 (30 players in total). You could argue that 84 rated players are more like 1Bs in our league or elite back-ups. This group includes Samsonov, Blackwood, Gibson, Driedger and Binnington so the low end of starters.

We should not be surprised that there is a slight over supply of starters because there are more NHL teams than CPHL teams and almost all NHL teams have a legit starter. This could also explain why the trade market for goalies is always soft. There is simply an over supply.