Ranked in total time on ice by positional group, grades versus expectation unless the performance was so bad even in the face of expectation that a failing grade was warranted.
C would mean basically "just met expectations," with a tinge of disappointment that they didn't exceed them.
B would mean "met expectations with circumstances that lead you to feel good about meeting them."
A would mean either surpassed expectations or met them in a way that you feel very, very good about the player.
D would mean the player was underwhelming or failed expectations leaving you wildly unsatisfied.
F is for situations so catastrophic that in every grade I gave, the player has actually already been moved since management realized how bad the situation was.
Offense
Zibanejad - A-. Fell a little short of 40 which probably would have earned him a solid A in my book.
Panarin - A. Salvaged this from being a B or C earlier in the year with a very hot end. Has to keep up.
Trocheck - B+. Wasn't expecting #1 center, didn't need #1 center, and didn't get #1 center, but a solid second liner through and through.
Kreider - B-. It wasn't reasonable to expect another 50 or even 40 goal season, but only 36 and 54 pts after a 50 goal season feels like regression to the mean.
Kakko - B-. 40 points is a nice step in the right direction, but this is a second overall pick and the improvements need to keep happening.
Lafreniere - B-. See above.
Goodrow - C-. Maybe it was his relegation to 4th line with the importing of better players but not sure I saw the impact for his near $4m salary and he should be on the chop block this offseason for the minutes he gets.
Vesey - A. Pleasantly surprised with this reclamation project, but at the end of the day he's still a 4th liner.
Chytil - B+. He was on pace at one point to be an A+ but he cooled off substantially. Like the other kids, a step in the right direction and looks like he might be a poor man's Mika someday.
Tarasenko - B. Has shown flashes but only produced like a second line forward, really, not a star. Needs to play like a star in the playoffs.
Blais - F. Worst trade in franchise history. Goes to St. Louis and stops sandbagging. Good riddance.
Gauthier - D. Just wasn't gonna work here, we can barely get our talented kids to produce, this guy is a one trick pony, maybe Ottawa has better luck.
Kane - D. Has run up some points, but looks lost, low energy. Serious buyers remorse giving up a first if this is all we get from this guy.
Kravtsov - F. No need to rehash this situation, all parties failed.
Motte - C+. The hype train is off the tracks with this guy. He's a decent fourth liner. Has chipped in a few nice goals. I like the player ok but I'd much rather younger kids like Cuylle get looks here.
Carpenter - D - Fine for AHL fodder, not sure why he was ever on the active roster over Rydahl, who at least deserved a look.
Brodzinski - C - Fine for an AHL/NHL tweener who gets a game now and then.
Leschyshyn - D - AHLer. Don't want on active roster.
Reaves - F - overpriced for how he plays in today's game. A fighter who barely fought. Can't skate. Nice guy but glad we cleared him out.
Cuylle - incomplete
Hunt - F. Don't bring him back.
Defense
Fox - A-. Almost gave a B+. His advanced stats are amazing, though. But I feel like he's seemed gassed and his production has seemed to suffer too. Is it his size? Overuse? Feels like something needs to change going forward.
Trouba - C-. Would have been a D except he has improved in recent weeks a little. Terribly overrated due to hits and terribly overpaid. He's just an ok second pair defender.
Miller - C. Did not develop as expected this year, but still has bright future (I hope). Needs to take the next step to legt first pair defender next year, or even better, starting this weekend.
Schneider - C. See above. Has his moments. Still young. Still has promise to be a good second pair defender. Needs to get better, fast.
Lindgren - A. His grade exceeding Fox's is reflective of this guy not being the better player but he leaves it all on the ice. What more can you ask for besides giving us a friendly hometown deal next contract?
Harpur - D. Our expectations of this guy not being a trainwreck have led to some warm feelings but he's really not good. Would be better buried in the AHL and only called up as a 7th D in emergencies.
Mikkola - B-. Same as above, we have expectations due to experience that our 6th Ds will be awful and Mikkola is not awful. But he's still just a bottom pairing defender.
Jones - incomplete.
Hajek - F. Can't get a foothold. Waived and sent to Hartford.
Goalies
Shesterkin - B+. Has gotten hot lately but struggled plenty relative to expectations earlier in the season.
Halak - B-. Also has had some hot streaks but had stretches where he was uninspiring. Worth bringing back as long as it's cheap enough to be affordable, but that could be tough.
