Mid-season Grades - Thoughts on 1st half

[Mel]

Well we're at, or just about past the NHL mid-season point with each team now logging 41-45 games. Here are some of my thoughts on some teams. What are yours?

Flyers: I will give credit where credit is due. They had scoring questions coming in and they now hold the 3rd highest goals-for average in the East, and 1st place in the Atlantic division. They also got this far enduring some injury problems. There were big concerns about their penalty killing and their GAA, but they've improved noticably on both recently. GRADE A

Rangers: This is my team so I'm biased, but they really basically came out of nowhere. They missed the playoffs for 7 years, and then blew up the organization to re-build it, but all the sudden here they are! This group (with an unusually high amount of Czech players) lead by Jagr, has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. But what nobody expected is they'd do it with good old fashioned blue collar hard work ethic. Even Jagr has finally bought into a team system and likes his coaches and the Ranger brass. He's happy as a clam right now and the NHL's #1 scorer. This team has the 3rd best GAA in the NHL. 5th best PK in the NHL (slipped a bit recently). Oddly enough, a really weak PP, but when you consider pre-season expecations. This team gets an A for sure. GRADE A

Devils: Hanging tight in 3rd Atlantic despite some major losses to their roster and some very un-Lou-like moves in the off-season. GRADE B

Pittsburgh: Won't waste time explaining. GRADE F

Ottawa: Recent injury problems but beyond that downright scary. GRADE A+

Buffalo: Another surprise. Excellent special teams. Tied with NYR for 3rd overall in the East. GRADE A

Boston: Another unexplainable Pittsburgh-like disaster. Pretty ugly there. I pegged them to win the NE pre-seaon. GRADE D

Carolina: It's time to recognize that this team is for real. GRADE A+

Atlanta: Don't look now but my pre-season adopted team, after a god-awful start, is turning it around and scoring like crazy led by Kovalchuk. GRADE C

Detroit: Great team with great numbers - #1 PP in the NHL. but they are 13-1-0 in their pathetic division, which means they're 16-11-2 to the rest of the league. They are obviously benefiting from the increase in divisional play. GRADE B-

Nashville: see Detroit. 11-1-1 in division. GRADE B

Northwest Division: The only division where all 5 teams have a winning record and positive Goal differential. Hard to judge. But I'll give it a whirl...

Calgary GRADE A
Edmonton GRADE A
Colorado GRADE B
Vancouver GRADE B
Minny GRADE C+

Dallas: Tied w/ Detroit for most wins in the west. GRADE A

Los Angeles: Great season so far, but I'm knocking off points for 1) losing streaks 2) Jeremey Roenick 3) Sean Avery. GRADE B-

Any thoughts?

[a4l]

I agree with your grades so far but, how would you rate the Leafs, Islanders and good old Chicago?

[swflyers25]

I would say Ottawa is an A, not A+.

[BURY]

I would say Ottawa is an A, not A+.

I'd go further and say A-

The Sens have blown out team but each time they faced adversity, they couldn't come out with a win. I sincerely think, except for our goaltending, we are a worse team than during the last season.

P.S.: I want Hossa back :burning:

[charlio lemieux]

A+
Carolina - Totally over acheived, currently tied for first overall.
Buffalo - Getting where they are, with what they have, is above and beyond.

A
Philadelphia - Battled through injuries to be in a tie for first.
Ottawa - Had some injuries and have cooled off as of late, cost them the A+.
Dallas - Leading their division, 1 point behind Detroit for first in the East.

A-
Detroit - Leading the west. As is usually expected. Still should have more points.
NY Rangers - Kids, say thank you Mr. Jagr. Now say thank you Mr. Lundquist.


B+
Edmonton - Fought hard to maintain a playoff position, not far out of first in the NW.
Phoenix - They where supposed to be doormats. 44pts in 44 games is a success.
Nashville - Are making it a race in the Central. But it's only a two dog show.
LA Kings - Sitting in a playoff spot. Second in the Pacific.

B
Colorado - Goalie issues aside, they weren't supposed to be good without Forsbeg.
Toronto - These guy were wrote off at the start of the year. Tons of injuries.
Atlanta - Not quite where they want to be but they are in a playoff spot.

B-
Minnisota - Going without Gaborik's scoring wasted some excellent goaltending.
Washington - 13 wins at the Halfway point. Honestly, who would have thought?

C+
Calgary - On pace for 100 points. More is expected from them now.

C
Florida - Have been playing better as of late, still you can't expect much.
St. Louis - 10 wins is about what most people projected. Not bad considering.
Anaheim - Ehh. Not a pushover probably won't make the playoffs. No surprise.
New Jersey - How much was really expected? No Scott's or Elias.

C-
Montreal - Injuries ruined a great start. Out of the playoffs is unacceptable
Chicago - They weren't supposed to that good but still under acheived.

D+
San Jose - A disasterous start then a Robbery of a trade, and fortunes have turned.

D
Vancouver - Way more was expected. Goaltending and Bertuzzi are issues.
Tampa Bay - Not the kind of season you want in defense of a Championship.

D-
Columbus - Underacheived all around. A healthy Nash has started to help.
NY Islanders - The Axe has fallen....sort of.

F
Pittsburg - U-G-L-Y! It's like Ranger syndrome has moved to Pittsburg.
Boston - This was bad. Real Bad.

[leaferfan87]

I'd go further and say A-

The Sens have blown out team but each time they faced adversity, they couldn't come out with a win. I sincerely think, except for our goaltending, we are a worse team than during the last season.

P.S.: I want Hossa back :burning:

You really think so? I'd agree with you that the Senators have shown weakness with alot of injuries, but when they're healthy they are spectacular.

As for my Leafs I'll give them a B. They're better than expected, but there's still work to be done. The defense is weak and if it were even a little better I don't know how many of those one-goal losses could have been turned into victories.