Remember that moment of uncertainty back in school when
report cards were sent home? That moment when you were sure that you aced a
class but wondered if the teacher saw it differently? Or, conversely, that
moment when you silently hoped that D you thought you'd have to explain to your
parents might, miraculously, become a C instead?
Progress reports are always stressful, but ultimately, they
serve as equal parts validation and motivation. So we decided to hand out
report cards to all 31 teams as they head down the stretch of the season to the
trade deadline. It's time to separate the honor roll from those headed for
detention.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CHICAGO
BLACKHAWKS
Preseason over/under: 85.5
Current points pace: 72
Forwards: B
This is a class divided. The marquee stars are
soaring. Patrick Kane is
on pace for a career-high 114 points. Jonathan
Toews shrugged off any rust from last season and is on pace for
a career-high 35 goals. Alex
DeBrincat is the next sure thing. And then ... there's everyone
else. Depth is a serious concern.
Defense: D
Have there been some bright spots? Sure. Henri
Jokiharju has been a delight; Erik
Gustafsson is an offensive revelation. But Brent
Seabrook can still be a liability and -- despite a few
corrective moves to clear bad signings -- this feels like a group in
transition, waiting for the young prospects to fill in next season.
Goalies: D+
The Blackhawks warmly welcomed Corey
Crawford back, but the 34-year-old sustained his second
concussion in under a year and it's unclear when he will return. Cam Ward is
a genial guy who can still kick it at age 34, but his $3 million signing is an
overpay considering the production (.888 save percentage). Plucky
24-year-old Collin Delia is
waiting in the wings.
Special teams: C+
The Blackhawks have the league's worst penalty kill at 74.1
percent. For most of the season, their power play has been just as putrid. They
must have enlisted extra tutoring sessions after the coaching change, because
since Dec. 23, Chicago actually has the best power play in the league
(17-for-41, 41.5 percent).
Coach: INC
He's not the grizzled Hall of Famer he replaced, but Jeremy
Colliton is no substitute teacher, either. Having recently
turned 34, he has the full vote of confidence from management. We've seen
encouraging flashes, but also some stagnant play. We probably won't get our
full sense of Colliton as a coach until his first full NHL season.
GM: B-
If we were grading Bowman in the offseason, he'd get a D.
But he has been busy this season doing something few GMs do: admitting
mistakes. Erasing the Jan Rutta (regrettable)
and Brandon
Manning (even more regrettable) signings was strong work.
Buying in on Dylan Strome is
panning out already. Firing Joel Quenneville was bold, but the common theme
here is Bowman acting with conviction, a powerful trait.
Class president: Patrick Kane
Despite the Blackhawks' turmoil over the past two seasons,
the star winger has been the constant. He's not linemate-dependent; he's
producing at a spectacular rate. Unfortunately, it's all going to waste.
In danger of failing: Chris Kunitz
Bowman's band-aid signings in the summer weren't terribly
inspiring, and unfortunately, Kunitz encapsulates that theme. The 35-year-old
has had a forgettable tenure in Chicago and isn't going anywhere given his
no-move clause.
We didn't expect much from the Blackhawks after last
season's regression. Chicago is wading through an organizational transition,
and an early coaching change meant the team had to take a further step back
before it could move forward.
COLORADO
AVALANCHE
Preseason over/under: 89.5
Current points pace: 85
Forwards: B-
First line? Those guys get an A-plus. Higher than an A-plus
if possible. Nathan
MacKinnon, Gabriel
Landeskog and Mikko
Rantanen have accounted for nearly 50 percent of the team's
goals. But besides some bright spots, like 33-year-old renaissance man Carl
Soderberg, everyone else gets a D.
Defense: C
The defense, which has allowed a ninth-worst 3.22 goals per
game, still looks like a work in progress, and is prone to serious defensive
lapses. They also have a puzzling 1-7 record in overtime.
Goalies: D+
Semyon
Varlamov has showed flashes but can't sustain it.
Meanwhile, Philipp
Grubauer (who many figured would win the starting job
eventually) has looked uncomfortable with his new team and doesn't look as good
as he did in Washington, albeit in limited appearances.
Special teams: B-
The power play is dynamite (thanks largely, you guessed it,
to PP1 and that top trio). The penalty kill is fifth-worst in the league; it
doesn't help that the Avalanche have taken the most penalties (206 entering the
All-Star break).
Coach: C+
Jared Bednar has been insistent on keeping the top line
together, for better or worse. He got into a public shouting match with his
star player, MacKinnon, over when to pull the goalie, though both downplayed
the incident. It's not easy for Bednar, considering what he has to work with.
His true test will be if he can pull this team out of a slide for a playoff
return.
GM: B
Joe Sakic didn't
do much to this roster this season, preaching patience. The discipline is
admirable, but at some point, a shakeup -- even something small -- might be
exactly what this team needs to level up.
Class president: Nathan MacKinnon
The No. 1 center is building yet another MVP case. But more
than that, MacKinnon is the soul of this team. As he goes, so do the Avs.
In danger of failing: The goaltenders
Look, it's not totally dire. But the uninspired play of
Varlamov and Grubbauer, especially of late, could have the Avalanche tumbling
out of the playoff picture for good.
Let's keep things in context. This team is still ahead of
schedule. But a warm start has cooled off significantly. An uninspiring
supporting cast could cost this team a playoff spot.
DALLAS STARS
Preseason over/under: 94.5
Current points pace: 89
Forwards: C
This should be a fast, high-octane attack, freed from the
structured reins of Ken Hitchcock. Instead, this is a lackluster group that
can't get it going in the first period (a league-low 23 goals in that frame
through 49 games) and ranks 29th in the league in goals per game.
Defense: B
The Stars have been without Stephen Johns for
the entire season, and now it appears Marc Methot is
done for the season. The rotating cast of blueliners has been something to
behold. And yet, defense hasn't been a disaster. Thank the overachievers,
like Miro
Heiskanen and Taylor Fedun.
Goalies: A
Both Ben Bishop and Anton
Khudobin have been stabilizers for this team. Among goalies
with at least 20 appearances, Bishop quietly led the Western Conference into
the All-Star break with a .921 save percentage.
Special teams: A-
The power play is just OK, but the penalty kill is actually
quite good. In fact, the PK -- which ranks seventh in the league -- might be
Dallas' top asset, besides goaltending.
Coach: B-
Look, drama and injuries aside, this team is in playoff
position. That's a minor miracle considering the highest paid players
underperforming (though not as badly as the team CEO made it out to be) and the
fact that players are adjusting to a completely new scheme yet again. Jim
Montgomery told the Dallas Morning news he lost his way a bit
in December, but he seems to have settled since then.
GM: C-
The Stars whiffed on their big free-agent targets. The Valeri
Nichushkin signing was a bust. There have been a few minor
tweaks since then, but nothing too inspiring yet. Over the second half of the
season, could Jim Nill be fighting for his job?
Class president: Miro Heiskanen
In an otherwise forgettable first half (at least, a first
half the Stars would like to forget) we'll remember the play of the 19-year-old
rookie as exceptional. The Stars were bullish about drafting the Finn at No. 3
in 2017 -- ahead of Elias Pettersson -- and you can understand the
justification.
In danger of failing: Valeri Nichushkin
The Stars lured their 2013 first-round pick (No. 10 overall)
back from the KHL with a two-year, $5.9 million deal. Nichushkin was supposed
to add a scoring punch on the second line. He has yet to record a goal in 37
games. It has been a bust so far.
The Stars have been a blob of inconsistency, and off-ice
drama could have derailed the season. And yet, they're in playoff position.
That's a sure sign of resiliency, though there is plenty of room for
improvements.
MINNESOTA
WILD
Preseason over/under: 95.5
Current points pace: 90
Forwards: B-
The Wild rank 24th in the league in goals per game. Jason Zucker and Eric Staal
have crashed back to Earth, and the first line hasn't been consistent, but the
return of a healthy Zach Parise has
been crucial. Charlie Coyle is
showing slight improvements from his slump, despite toying with positions.
Defense: A-
Losing Matt Dumba in
December hurt, but Minnesota's depth has come through, even as GM Paul Fenton
picks up some bottom-pair candidates from waivers (guys he's familiar with from
his Nashville days). The Wild are among the leagues stingiest in terms of shots
allowed per game (29.2)
Goalies: B+
Devan Dubnyk is
putting together a fine season, especially turning it on of late. The Wild's
lone All-Star has a .913 save percentage and 2.57 GAA -- figures that are
improving. Expect him to get a heavy workload down the stretch. Alex Stalock isn't
the most dependable backup.
Special teams: A-
The penalty kill ranks third in the league (84.2 percent).
Minnesota misses Dumba on the power play (he had 12 power-play points, 6 goals
and 6 assists, in his first 32 games) but has maintained in his absence,
hitting at 20.9 percent, which is above league average.
Coach: B+
Putting together a successful regular season is old hat for
veteran Bruce Boudreau. Getting this team over the playoff hump is the real
challenge.
GM: B-
Paul Fenton did virtually nothing to the roster he inherited
for the first six months on the job. You can't fault that; the team is
playoff-ready. Trading Nino Niederreiter was inevitable, and the return (at
first glance) was questionable. We have a feeling he has more on the way.
Class president: Zach Parise
Parise has rebounded quite nicely, playing in his first full
season since the October 2017 back surgery. In fact, the 34-year-old is
arguably playing his best hockey since he was a New Jersey Devil a decade ago.
In danger of failing: Eric Staal
Hey, we didn't expect Staal to set a franchise record for
goals. We knew the 42 goals last season were the byproduct of a perfect storm:
right player, right situation, and right time. But his regression -- in his
overall play -- is not what he wants entering unrestricted free agency, through
which he hopes to cash in and stay with his current club.
With nearly the same roster as last season, the Wild are
about where we expected them to be: sometimes streaky, but poised for a playoff
run.
NASHVILLE
PREDATORS
Preseason over/under: 105.5
Current points pace: 101
Forwards: B-
The Preds haven't had a fully healthy roster for long, which
makes it hard to judge. But we agree with this assessment from GM David Poile,
appearing on ESPN 102.5 The Game last week: "Our first line, we're very
confident that that's one of the best lines in the league. But we're not as
confident in our second line, and that's because [Kyle] Turris has
been out a couple of times this year and there's been some inconsistencies with
some of the other players. I feel confident on the third and fourth lines,
whatever we put together."
Defense: A-
Nashville boasts one of the most talented defensive corps in
the league. Despite P.K. Subban missing
19 games, this group has showed the ability to play a structured game and shut
out other top units when they need to. Entering the All Star break, they've
allowed only 87 goals at 5-on-5, the fourth-best mark in the league.
Goalies: A-
Pekka Rinne,
unsurprisingly, looks terrific. Fresh off signing a two-year extension, his
.883 high-danger save percentage is second among all goalies with at least
1,000 minutes entering the All-Star break. Backup Juuse Saros has
struggled at times, but there's no reason to fret on the 23-year-old just yet.
Special teams: D
The power play has been brutal, ranking 30th in the league
at the break (13.14 percent); even though the Predators have been without key
pieces, we're not grading on a curve. The penalty kill is just OK, ranking 16th
in the league.
Coach: A-
That the Predators still hover atop the Central Division,
wading through a litany of injuries and suspension, is not just a testament to
roster construction, but coaching as well. Peter Laviolette has had to juggle
lines more than he has liked.
GM: B+
Poile is in maintenance mode now. He has essentially the
same roster from last season and has only had to manage call-ups due to
injuries. Poile probably made the right decision waiving Anthony
Bitetto, who was dispensable as an eighth defenseman. The real test
comes at the trade deadline.
Class president: Ryan Johansen
The first line can compete with the best in the NHL when all
three linemates are together, and so far this season, Johnasen has been the
only constant (thanks to health). The No. 1 center is on pace to match his
career high in points (71) and smash his previous high for assists (56).
In danger of failing: Kevin Fiala
His underlying numbers are OK, but the production has not
been there for the 22-year-old winger for whom management and fans have high
hopes (just seven goals and 21 assists at 5-on-5 in 52 games). Could the
impending RFA be dangled in a trade?
The Predators have weathered a bevy of injuries to big-time
players and still find themselves near the top of the Central. They might not
win the Presidents' Trophy again this season, but once healthy, they should
rack up the wins.
ST. LOUIS
BLUES
Preseason over/under: 96.5
Current points pace: 82
Forwards: C+
Jaden
Schwartz, Brayden
Schenn, Alexander
Steen and Vladimir
Tarasenko are all producing at lower levels than last season,
with Schenn especially taking a step back. Newcomer Ryan O'Reilly has delivered
for sure, but the early-season malaise especially affected the forward corps.
Defense: C-
The team's best defenseman, Alex
Pietrangelo, doesn't look like himself, with more defensive lapses
than usual. That sets the tone for the rest of the group, which has been
middling, at best.
Goalies: C+
Jordan
Binnington was the No. 4 goaltender at camp and emerged as one
of the team's true delights. The 25-year-old is keeping the group -- which
sent Chad Johnson to
waivers and has Jake Allen playing
like Jake Allen -- afloat.
Special teams: B-
The power play is serviceable, hitting at just below 20
percent. The penalty kill has looked terrific at times, and at other times has
been quite leaky.
Coach: INC
Since Craig Berube took
over, the Blues continued their struggles, and then began heating up. Overall,
their record with Berube is just above .500. GM Doug Armstrong gave him the nod
for the rest of the season.
GM: C-
Ryan O'Reilly? Absolute home run addition. David Perron has
performed, too. But the rest of the construction feels shaky, and if Armstrong
keeps it status quo, the Blues will be just that: a team left yearning for more
come spring time.
Class president: Ryan O'Reilly
Not only does O'Reilly, the big summer acquisition, lead the
Blues in goals, but he has 15 more points than the next closest St. Louis
player. He's a leader setting the tone. He just needs everyone else to follow.
In danger of failing: Doug Armstrong
Armstrong is a GM in crisis. He has threatened to make
seismic moves before, but hasn't followed through, and now he has a roster that
only shows up on some nights. Its noteworthy his name has already begun to
circulate for other GM openings, like Edmonton or Seattle, meaning others in
the league don't figure him to stay in this role very long.
It was a catastrophic start for St. Louis, a team with hefty
Cup aspirations. Coach Mike Yeo was the early fall man. The Blues have shaped
up since then, but we fear the cuts are already too deep.
WINNIPEG JETS
Preseason over/under: 106.5
Current points pace: 108
Forwards: A-
The second line has had its woes; things might have turned
out differently if Paul Stastny stayed
instead of choosing Vegas. As long as the team is committed to keeping Blake Wheeler and Mark
Scheifele together, the top line will be among the league's
elite.
Defense: B-
Dustin
Byfuglien was beginning to put together a Norris Trophy
campaign before his lower-body injury on Dec. 29 (he has not played since). The
Jets are giving up more quality scoring chances (and goals) than they did last
season.
Goalies: B
It has been a step back for Connor
Hellebuyck, a breakout star of the 2017-18 season. It has been a
giant leap ahead for Laurent
Brossoit, a relatively unknown free-agent signing who emerged as one
of the league's best backups.
Special teams: B+
The power play can look dynamite at times (and ranks fourth
in the league overall) though it had a pedestrian go from Jan. 1 until the
All-Star break, hitting on just 17.2 percent of opportunities. The penalty kill
appears decent enough.
GM: A-
The Jets' Cup window is wide open. Some of the best player
are still on entry-level contracts, the backup goalie turned out to be a
diamond in the rough, Scheifele's contract has been exposed as the league's
biggest bargain, and Wheeler is affordable too -- until his cap hit increases
by nearly $3 million next season. Securing a second-line center remains a goal,
but overall, this has been solid roster management from Kevin Cheveldayoff
& Co.
Coach: B+
Paul Maurice still has to figure out how to get the second
line clicking, but he might get some help after the trade deadline. His biggest
challenge is getting the offense to strike like it did in December, without
sacrificing defensive structure.
Class president: Mark Scheifele
Scheifele plays hard in all situations (and more than a
minute more per game than any other Winnipeg forward) and is on pace for more
than 100 points. What more could you want from your No. 1 center?
In danger of failing: Jack Roslovic
The 21-year-old is finally getting an expanded role -- he's
averaging nearly 14 minutes per game since Jan. 6 -- but he's still not
producing, with only two goals on the season and none since Dec. 2.
Overall team grade: A
The Jets entered the season with weighty expectations thanks
to last season's results. And they don't seem fazed by any of it. What's more,
it feels like they haven't even hit full stride yet.
PACIFIC DIVISION
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Preseason over/under: 94.5
Current points pace: 82
Forwards: D
A mushy soufflé of injuries, disappointments and
underwhelming returns, the Ducks' forward corps has exactly two players whose
points-per-game average is higher this season than in the entirety of last
season: Ondrej Kase,
who appeared in 30 games before a torn labrum ended his season, and Nick Ritchie,
who didn't come to terms on a new contract until Oct. 17. Corey Perry has
missed the season. Ryan Getzlaf is
the only player with more than 30 points through 51 games. Their younger
players weren't ready for prime time.
Defense: C+
Not nearly as disappointing as the forwards, but a mixed
bag. Hampus
Lindholm and Brandon
Montour have been solid, both on the positive side of goals-for
percentage at 5-on-5. Cam Fowler (limited
to 28 games) and Josh Manson have
had down years. Not a single defenseman is positive in possession metrics at
5-on-5 with more than 20 games played, and the Ducks surrender 34.1 shots per
game. Which is why.
Goalies: A
John Gibson's
back might finally be breaking after carrying the Ducks for months. But he
still has a .619 quality
starts percentage and 15.40 goals saved above average in 43 games.
Special teams: C
The Ducks' power play is ranked No. 28 (14.5 percent) and
their penalty kill is ranked No. 13 (80.7). That's down from last season, but
for Anaheim, what isn't?
Coach: C-
The Ducks have some of the least impressive numbers in the
NHL this season, measured by either traditional or advanced stats. Yet while
other coaches have been kicked off a cliff by middling teams, GM Bob Murray has
stayed loyal to his friend, Coach Randy Carlyle.
GM: B-
Murray's grade is bolstered by some shrewd signings -- Kase at
$2.6 million with RFA status is just great -- but otherwise he has been moving
the deck chairs and protecting a coach that probably has earned a pink slip.
Class president: John Gibson
He has contributed over nine points to the Ducks' total on
his own. An MVP candidate for most of the season for dragging what's left of
the Ducks to playoff contention.
In danger of failing: Josh Manson
What on earth happened here? A minus-152 in shot attempts
and a minus-8.08 in expected goals in 5-on-5 over 46 games. He started 2019
with zero points in 10 games. All of these are way off his career averages.
Honestly, we'd love to grade this Ducks team harsher, but
the fact remains that in the wacky West they're still on the wild-card bubble.
Gibson carries them to an average mark.
ARIZONA
COYOTES
Preseason over/under: 81.5
Current points pace: 82
Forwards: C-
Sigh. It wouldn't be the Coyotes if we weren't talking about
what might have been, either due to injury (free-agent signing Michael
Grabner, trade pickup Nick Schmaltz and
promising Christian
Dvorak) or underwhelming results (whither Derek Stepan?). Alex
Galchenyuk is actually on the same pace he was with Montreal
last season; it's just tough to laud that when Max Domi has 44 points in 51
games for the Habs.
Defense: B-
More injury fun, as Kevin
Connauton and Jakob
Chychrun missed time and Jason Demers could
miss the season. But Oliver
Ekman-Larsson and Niklas
Hjalmarsson have been fantastic this season. Hjalmarsson has a
52.25 scoring-chances-for percentage, best on the team. He's a rock
defensively, as evidenced by starting just 34 percent of his shifts in the
offensive zone, and the kind of defensive defenseman any team would covet.
(Like, say, Chicago ... ouch.)
Goalies: B+
This almost seems like it should be an incomplete
considering that, yet again, an injury to Antti Raanta dramatically
altered the Coyotes' season. But Darcy Kuemper (5.07
goals saved above average) has been strong, and Adin Hill has
had his moments. Bottom line: The Coyotes are ninth in goals-against average,
with 2.82.
Special teams: B+
The Coyotes have the 19th-best power play (18.2 percent) and
the best penalty kill (86.9 percent) in the NHL.
Coach: B
Do we blame Rick Tocchet for a team with an 8.5 shooting percentage?
We'd rather praise him for keeping the Coyotes in playoff contention despite
all of these injuries and an 8.5 shooting percentage.
GM: C+
John Chayka is always going to be cut some slack because of
the Coyotes' challenges: monetarily, and that lingering arena mystery. There is
also a lot to praise in his moves, including getting Ekman-Larsson locked in an
eight-year extension, and a lot to excuse due to injuries. But at some point,
the general manager's grade has to reflect his team's ability to make the
playoffs, which they haven't since 2012.
Class president: Clayton
Keller
Keller leads the team with 35 points in 50 games, a lone
offensive high spot for a team that ranks 28th in goals scored this season.
In danger of failing: Josh
Archibald
Archibald is a depth forward. He's also a team-worst
minus-114 in shot attempts at 5-on-5 and a minus-4.49 in expected goals
plus/minus. But he has had other things on his mind.
Despite all of these offensive deficiencies and massive
injuries, the Coyotes remain very much in the wild-card race.
CALGARY
FLAMES
Preseason over/under: 93.5
Current points pace: 114
Forwards: A
Johnny
Gaudreau is making a strong bid for the Hart Trophy, with 73
points in his first 51 games, good for a 1.43 points-per-game average. But he's
one of four Calgary forwards with better than a point-per-game average: Sean Monahan
(1.20), Elias
Lindholm (1.14) and Matthew
Tkachuk (1.12) are the others. The Flames have contributors
throughout their lineup, but the top line and that partnership between Tkachuk
and Mikael
Backlund are something special.
Defense: A-
Could they use some help on their bottom pairing? Sure. But
the top pairings of Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie,
as well as Noah Hanifin and Travis
Hamonic, are among the best in the NHL. Giordano and Brodie have a
plus-14 goal differential.
Goalies: B+
"Big Save" David Rittich saved
the Flames' season. He has a quality starts percentage of .704 in 30 games,
with a stellar 8.29 goals saved above average. Mike Smith,
in contrast, has a goals saved above average of minus-12.40. Yikes.
Special teams: B
The Flames are eighth on the power play, with a 23.6 percent
conversion rate. They're 21st on the penalty kill with a 79.0 percent rate.
Coach: A-
While Bill Peters has been the beneficiary of some great
goaltending from Rittich, he has also sprinkled something on this roster to
make it the second-best offensive team in hockey with a 3.73 goals-for average.
GM: A-
Outside of one misstep (see below), Brad Treliving has
constructed a team with championship potential. Peters has been a great fit as
coach. He found Rittich. The Dougie
Hamilton trade has, in the short term, worked well for Calgary,
with Elias Lindholm fitting about as perfectly onto this team as Treliving
could have imagined. Best of all? He has so many major pieces on this team
locked in through 2022.
Class president: Mark Giordano
Giordano is the current favorite for the Norris Trophy. He's
second in points (52 in 41 games) and playing outstanding defense, to the tune
of a plus-168 in shot attempts. It's time he graduated into the upper tier of
NHL defensemen, because he has been building that case for years.
In danger of failing: James Neal
With five goals in 49 games and a contract that runs through
2023, Neal remains one of the biggest free-agent flops of the past year.
The Flames' journey to the top of the Pacific Division might
be unexpected, but it's completely legitimate ... as long as Rittich doesn't
turn into a pumpkin. Their offense is good enough that they can hang with
anyone.
EDMONTON
OILERS
Preseason over/under: 89.5
Current points pace: 80
Forwards: C
Like everything else in Edmonton he's trying to drag to success
by himself, Connor
McDavid raises this grade from the failure chasm. His 73 points
in 49 games put him on pace for a career best 1.49 points per game. Leon
Draisaitl has 61 points in 50 games, which is outstanding; the
caveat being that he has not become the Malkin to McDavid's Crosby, as his
metrics take a noticeable dip without McDavid on his line. Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins has 46 points in 50 games and is finally getting
the recognition for his 200-foot game in that 'hey, maybe don't trade this
great young forward, too' kind of way. But outside of Alex Chiasson's
remarkable 17 goals, there are more busts than booms up front. Milan Lucic is
still getting $6 million per season for 12 points (thus far). Jesse
Puljujarvi is still gestating into a consistent NHL player.
Defense: D
Injuries have played a role here, as the Oilers miss Andrej Sekera's
competence and really missed Oscar Klefbom's
everything during a recent spiral in the standings. The metrics aren't kind to
the Oilers that have played this season: While Darnell Nurse has
24 points in 50 games, his expected goals plus/minus at 5-on-5 is a brutal
minus-10.44, for example. Adam Larsson has
been ordinary, recently fired GM Peter Chiarelli's scrambling acquisitions have
underwhelmed, and it remains one of the great mysteries of life how Edmonton
shipped out so many assets in the last three years without securing a single
top-tier, puck-moving defenseman.
Goalies: C-
Mikko
Koskinen has been adequate at best with a .910 save percentage,
and in Edmonton, "adequate" gets you a contract extension. Cam Talbot declined
for a second straight season, down to a .894 save percentage in 27 games.
Overall, this might be the first documented instance of Ken Hitchcock being
unable to inflate the numbers of the goalies on a team he's trying to rescue.
Special teams: C+
The Oilers are 11th on the power play at 21.1 percent and
24th on the kill at 77.3 percent. McDavid ranks ninth in power-play points with
23 in 49 games.
Coach: INC
We can't in good faith give a letter grade to either Todd
McLellan (9-10-1) or Ken Hitchcock (14-14-2) given their bodies of work, so
we'll just say that the former wasn't nearly as bad as indicated and the latter
is cooking the best meal he can with the few gourmet ingredients he has in the
cupboard.
GM: F
We do, however, have enough of a body of work this season to
flunk Chiarelli, who was a rare in-season general manager firing for the
Oilers. Even putting aside the slapdash and archaic manner in which he
constructed this team, his moves during the season were like rearranging the
deck chairs on the Titanic as it rested at the bottom of the ocean off
Newfoundland. And no partial credit for Hitchcock agreeing to work with his old
Team Canada cronies.
Class president: Connor McDavid
It's getting to the point where we need to call Seal Team 6
to extract McDavid from this franchise. Failing that, maybe the Oilers steal a
wild-card spot so McDavid can win the Hart Trophy.
In danger of failing: Tobias Rieder
Rieder was brought on to bring speedy offense and to kill
penalties. He hasn't scored a goal in 36 games and the penalty kill hasn't
exactly been bolstered by the presence of this pending RFA. Another Chiarelli
classic.
Again, it's hard to really throw the Oilers into detention
when there's still a chance they can make the playoffs. It just feels like
they're a smoldering dumpster fire of mismanagement that has surrounded the
best player in the world with mediocrity.
LOS ANGELES
KINGS
Preseason over/under: 92.5
Current points pace: 72
Forwards: D
What a difference a year makes. Anze Kopitar went
from his best offensive season to his worst (0.69 points per game). Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Adrian Kempe have
all underwhelmed, while Dustin Brown and Alex Iafallo at
least hit their marks in point production. Ilya
Kovalchuk has 22 points in 40 games but has arguably been their
worst forward defensively. The Kings' 2.26 goals per game is the worst in the
NHL.
Defense: C
The Kings' woeful season even dragged the reliable Drew Doughty down,
as he's posting the worst possession numbers of his career thanks mostly
to Derek Forbort's
bad season. Alec Martinez and
the since-traded Jake Muzzin had a steady pairing. Dion Phaneuf has
a minus-13 in goal differential in 43 games.
Goalies: C+
It hasn't gotten the spotlight, but the Kings' goaltending
has been the best thing about a bad team. Jonathan
Quick was limited to 24 games due to injury, and has mustered a
.904 save percentage with a .542 quality start percentage on a last-place
team. Jack Campbell had
a .931 save percentage in his 17 games. Even rookie Cal Petersen had
a strong run in December.
Special teams: D
The Kings have the 26th-worst power play (15.3) and the
30th-worst penalty kill (74.3) in the league.
Coach: D+
John Stevens got
a raw deal, getting fired after 13 games in a panicky move by the Kings.
Interim coach Willie Desjardins wasn't able to squeeze much out of this group,
and has made some baffling decisions during what should be his lone season
behind the Kings bench.
GM: C-
Rob Blake fired
Stevens too early and helped build a team that's clearly out of sync with where
the NHL is in 2019. But the return for Jake Muzzin was strong, and there's a
still a chance to bring this grade up higher with a few more deadline deals
like that.
Class president: Alex Iafallo
Iafallo is one of the few Kings to improve offensively year
over year and has been the best player on the ice many times this season. Which
is good, as he's 25 and it's nice for this team to have some hope for the
future.
In danger of failing: Tyler Toffoli
What happened to Tyler Toffoli? He's on track for his worst
goal and point production season. He's an unrestricted free agent in 2020, and
one wonders if he hasn't played himself out of the Kings' plans.
The worst team in the NHL this season and, without much
debate, the most disappointing.
SAN JOSE
SHARKS
Preseason over/under: 101.5
Current points pace: 103
Forwards: A-
The emergence of Timo Meier,
who leads the Sharks in primary points per 60 minutes (at 5-on-5), has
bolstered what was already a potent group. Joe Pavelski (27
goals), Tomas Hertl (22), Evander Kane (21)
and Logan Couture(19)
have all had strong offensive campaigns. Joonas
Donskoi has chipped in. And Joe Thornton keeps
chugging along with 25 points in 43 games. The Sharks go three lines deep and
aren't overly reliant on any combination to carry them.
Defense: B+
When you look at their average ice times, there's a chance
that Brent Burns
and/or Erik Karlsson will be on the ice for the Sharks for over three quarters
of the game, which is an advantage few teams enjoy. Burns leads the team with
55 points. Karlsson has been Karlsson since a first-month adjustment period.
But the defense's grade gets dragged down a bit by the inexplicable dud season
for Marc-Edouard
Vlasic, whose pairing with Justin Braun yielded
some stunningly bad results until Vlasics' injury in early January. One wonders
if a Vlasic/Karlsson duo is what's best for the Sharks (which would pair Braun
with Brenden
Dillon).
Goalies: C-
Not great, Bob. Martin Jones (.895)
and Aaron Dell (.891)
have both been underwhelming, with Jones sporting an elephantine minus-13.75
goals saved above average. By far the Achilles heel of this otherwise
championship-caliber group.
Special teams: B+
The Sharks have the No. 9 power play in the NHL at a 24.7
percent conversion rate, as one might expect with Burns and Karlsson back
there. They're 10th on the penalty kill (81.3 percent).
Coach: A-
Peter DeBoer's team is blessed with star talent, but he has
also shown he knows how to juggle this roster and manage a veteran team.
GM: A-
Doug Wilson has put nearly all the pieces in place for a run
at the Stanley Cup. And then the Sharks can worry about the fallout from some
of these bold moves, including the future of Erik Karlsson.
Class president: Joe Pavelski
Pavelski is on the best goal-scoring pace of his career,
with 27 in 52 games. And hey, would you look at that, his contract is up this
summer. What a coincidence.
In danger of failing: Martin Jones
His numbers have fallen off a cliff while the rest of the
team around him has improved. He had a nice stretch of games in January before
giving up 17 in three games.
The Sharks are keeping pace with the Flames for the lead in
the Pacific Division. This grade would be bumped up if the goaltending was
where it should have been this season.
VANCOUVER
CANUCKS
Preseason over/under: 77.5
Current points pace: 84
Forwards: B+
The arrival of Elias Pettersson was a game-changer in every
way for Vancouver: a top scorer, a top-six center and a player who can anchor a
second scoring line in support of the reliable fireworks of Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat.
The rest of the lineup has had players who have chipped in (Jake Virtanen, Nikolay
Goldobin, Loui Eriksson and Antoine
Roussel) here and there. Bottom line: a tough group to play against,
with one absolute star player.
Defense: B
Chris Tanev and Alexander
Edler have been a stabilizing force for an inconsistent group,
and by that we mean Ben Hutton and Erik
Gudbranson have a minus-18 goal differential and a minus-155 in shot
attempts together. Derrick
Pouliot and Troy Stecher have
played above expectations at times.
Goalies: C+
Jacob
Markstrom is giving the Canucks about what they expect from
him, which is a .622 quality-starts percentage and 10-game stretches in which
he's exceptional. Anders Nilsson didn't really work out as a backup. It'll be
interesting to see how much action goalie of the future Thatcher
Demko gets down the stretch, as that'll really affect their final
grade.
Special teams: C
The Canucks' special teams have been in the bottom third of
the league, with a power play at No. 21 (16.8) and a penalty kill at No. 20
(79.2).
Coach: A-
Travis Green has
made the Canucks the kind of team opponents hate to play against.
GM: B+
Jim Benning continues to make small moves that matter,
whether it's bringing in a veteran like Roussel or rescuing Josh Leivo or
collecting future assets in sell-offs. It'll be interesting to see what happens
with Edler, a pending UFA.
Class president: Elias Pettersson
Pettersson is averaging 3.02 primary points per 60 minutes
at 5-on-5, which is just extraordinary. He basically won the Calder Trophy by
November.
In danger of failing: Erik Gudbranson
I'll never quite understand how Gudbranson, an underwhelming
defender and a perennial black hole for possession, got a three-year extension
last February, but here we are.
Pettersson has shifted the trajectory of this franchise in a
post-Sedin twins world, and the vibe he has brought to the roster has lifted
the Canucks into their role as an unexpected wild-card contender -- warts and all.
VEGAS GOLDEN
KNIGHTS
Preseason over/under: 101.5
Current points pace: 98
Forwards: B+
The magic of the Jonathan
Marchessault (35 points) line last season has faded to the
point where he, Reilly Smith (27
points) and William
Karlsson (32 points, with 16 goals) have been moved around the
lineup a bit. (Their line has been together for over 500 minutes for a
disappointing 44.74 goals-for percentage.) But when they're healthy, this is a
strong group for Vegas. Max
Pacioretty has 15 goals, and Paul Stastny has 18 points in 22
games. Alex Tuch is
having a breakout season, with 40 points to lead the team. And their
checking-line duo of Pierre-Edouard
Bellemare and Ryan Reaves is
a pain to play against.
Defense: B+
Deryk
Engelland and Shea Theodore have
been strong together, with a plus-123 in shot attempts. Nate Schmidt and Brayden
McNabb have been solid offensively, while Colin Miller, Nick Holden and Jon Merrill have
had their moments. Overall, the group still lacks one defenseman to tie it all
together. You know, that Erik Karlsson type.
Goalies: A-
Marc-Andre
Fleury was recently voted as a midseason Vezina Trophy finalist
by the PHWA, which is as reputation-based a vote as you'll find. It's not that
he has been bad; with a .911 save percentage and a 3.67 goals saved above
average, Fleury has been the Knights' best player during rough stretches. But
this isn't the same dominance we saw in the inaugural year of the
franchise. Malcolm
Subban is 2-5-0 as a backup, while Fleury has played 45 games.
Special teams: B-
The Knights are a disappointing 20th on the power play
(17.9), but they're fourth on the penalty kill (83.8).
Coach: A-
As he did last season in winning the Jack Adams, Coach
Gerard Gallant helped lead Vegas through some rough injury patches and into
playoff contention.
GM: B+
George McPhee's aggressive acquisitions of Pacioretty and
Stansty are finally paying off now that they're healthy. The depth on this team
he built is considerable, but there are still flaws: Losing Schmidt for that
PED suspension at the start of the season showed there's a lack of quality
puck-movers on his blue line.
Class president: Alex Tuch
Tuch has already surpassed his previous career highs in
goals and assists, with 16 tallies and 24 helpers through just 44 games.
In danger of failing: Cody Eakin
No one on the team should be worried about flunking out at
this point, but Eakin hasn't had the season at even strength that his numbers
(13 goals and 13 assists) might indicate. He's only a plus-2 in shot attempts
on a team that's a possession monster otherwise.
Overall team grade: B+
Still a very dangerous contender with a goaltender who keeps
the team competitive nearly every night. As in, he basically plays every night.
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