Christmas is almost upon us and we have the beautiful gift of hockey to welcome it in. As we approach the new year we have a pretty good understanding of the full capabilities of each and every team. That being said, let’s take a look at each team and grade their performance this last week.
Anaheim Ducks: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Ducks have just two wins in their last 15 games. Any hope they had put together at the start has completely fallen to the wayside as their fans are most likely back to feeling existential dread. There’s still time to get the ship righted at least slightly, but we’ll see.
Arizona Coyotes: C (Previous grade: C-)
A 2-2 week that saw them end the week by winning two in a row is a pretty accurate description of this team. They’re tough, they’ve made a lot of strides forward, but they’re not quite there yet. Don’t lose hope. They have a lot to look forward to.
Boston Bruins: D (Previous grade: C-)
The Bruins only managed one win this week and it was in a shootout against the Islanders. They’re probably not going to break the points record as they did last season, but this is still a very good team.
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Buffalo Sabres: C (Previous grade: D+)
The Sabres went 2-2 this week with an impressive win over the Knights, but the results still aren’t quite there for them. Anything short of a playoff berth was going to be disappointing for this team and right now they’re well short of that. They have time to get it together, but it looks less and less likely with each passing week.
Calgary Flames: D- (Previous grade: D+)
The Flames ended their four game losing streak at the end of the week, but will it be enough? Playoff hopes seem pretty dim at this point in the year and there doesn’t appear to be a safety net to prevent them from falling deeper.
Carolina Hurricanes: C- (Previous grade: F)
Another 2-2 week for the Canes. Their inability to create any sort of decent momentum has made this season a rather disappointing one for the team that was originally thought to be the best in the league. Forget a Cup, right now they gotta focus on even making the playoffs.
Chicago Blackhawks: F (Previous grade: C)
No victories this week for Chicago as they’ve lost four in a row. They’ve replaced the Sharks at the bottom of the league standings. They bet their entire future on one man and they’re finding out that just doesn’t work.
Colorado Avalanche: A- (Previous grade: D+)
The Avs went 3-1 this week, beating the Sabres, Sharks, and Flames which are all teams that they should beat. They lost to the Jets however and that one has to sting as they’re desperately clinging onto the top of the Central division.
Columbus Blue Jackets: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Jackets went 1-2 this week. They lost to the Devils and Panthers, but had an impressive win over the Leafs which serves as yet another reminder that this team can in fact be competitive. They just can’t seem to win games.
Dallas Stars: B- (Previous grade: D-)
The Stars went 2-1 this week, beating the Red Wings and Senators, but losing to the Blues in overtime. They’re losing traction while Winnipeg continues to gain it. Playoffs are still highly likely, but that Central division title is slipping through their fingers.
Detroit Red Wings: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Before they were one of the most consistent teams in the NHL, but not it appears they may be losing stamina. They went 1-3 this week with their only win being a close one against the Blues. They find themselves out of the top 3 of the division for the first time since the start of the season.
Edmonton Oilers: C- (Previous grade: A+)
They had their eight game winning streak snapped by a two game losing streak to the Bolts and Panthers in two games that weren’t particularly close. The Oilers are on the right path back, but those glaring issues haven’t just disappeared.
Florida Panthers: D (Previous grade: A)
It was a 1-2 week for the Cats with their only win being a relatively dominant one over the Oilers. One of their losses was being shut out by the Kraken however, so that’s just a little bit embarrassing for a team of this caliber.
Los Angeles Kings: C- (Previous grade: C)
The Kings ended their three game losing streak with a shootout win over the Kraken. Losing Copley and Gavrikov to injury is going to hurt, but this team has the depth to overcome it. Hopefully David Rittich can answer the call now that they need him.
Minnesota Wild: A (Previous grade: C)
The Wild had a 3-0 week including a very tough win over the Canucks. The long losing streak they endured seems like a long time ago now as they begin to make their own push for the playoffs.
Montreal Canadiens: D (Previous grade: C)
The Habs went 1-2 this week and while the one win was an impressive one over the Islanders, it does seem like the playoffs are a bit of a reach for this team. Injuries certainly haven’t helped them at all, but hope can be found in the fact that this team is very much on the right track.
Nashville Predators: A (Previous grade: A-)
The Predators are on a four game winning streak as they continue to make their playoff push. This is far from the position this team was expected to be in as they continue to stave off rebuild for another year.
New Jersey Devils: B- (Previous grade: A)
The Devils went 2-1 this week, but that 5-1 loss to the Ducks is not going to help their case at all. They still find themselves ranked sixth in the division, but they’re only one point out of a playoff spot so there’s plenty of hope to be had. That doesn’t change the fact that they’ve had a disappointing year.
New York Islanders: C (Previous grade: B-)
The boys in orange went 2-2 this week, losing two in a row to end the week. They beat the Leafs and Ducks, but lost to the Bruins and Habs. They’re ranked third in the division and have somehow managed to find success despite an aging core, but how high their ceiling is, is still up for debate.
New York Rangers: B+ (Previous grade: C-)
The Rangers went 2-1 this week, beating the Bruins and smashing the Ducks, but losing to the Maple Leafs. They’re first in the Metro division and first in the eastern conference, but much like the other top teams in the league they have started to show some cracks.
Ottawa Senators: F (Previous grade: B-)
The Senators are on a four game losing streak, with all four losses coming this week. It’s been a disappointing season for the Sens to say the least, given how much hope they had coming in. The build is going in the right direction, but the payoff is going to be a bit later than expected.
Philadelphia Flyers: A (Previous grade: A+)
Outside of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Predators, Philly has been perfect for their last seven games. The big surprise of the year is how good this team has been. Their ceiling is still unknown, but the rebuild is in the right direction and playoffs might not be out of the question this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins: C (Previous grade: F)
The Pens went 2-1 this week, but given their 7-0 loss to the Leafs and that the two wins were not over elite competition they don’t get anything higher than a C this week. The epitome of how the mighty have fallen, the Pens are looking at a second consecutive season of missing the playoffs.
San Jose Sharks: D+ (Previous grade: B+)
Despite a shocking win over the Jets, the Sharks still lost two out of three this week. They’re second to last in the league, and given their 9-19-3 record, it’s safe to say there’s no playoff hopes for this season or the next.
Seattle Kraken: C (Previous grade: F)
The Kraken ended their eight game losing streak with an impressive win over the Panthers. They followed it up by demolishing the Blackhawks then lost to the Kings in a shootout. Hopefully this decent week will help inspire the Kraken to better results.
St. Louis Blues: C+ (Previous grade: D-)
They started off the week losing to the Red Wings, but then rebounded and won two in a row against the Senators and Stars. It does appear as this team has run out of juice and maybe playoffs are a bit too hopeful, but with a couple of right moves they could make serious waves next year.
Tampa Bay Lightning: D (Previous grade: B)
The Bolts went 1-2 this week and while they were the team that ended the Oilers winning streak, they also lost to the Canucks and Flames. The Bolts are tired, but they’re not out of the playoff race yet.
Toronto Maple Leafs: C+ (Previous grade: A)
The Leafs went 2-2 this week, but their losses both came outside of regulation which means the Leafs are on a 9 game point streak. If there was an award for regular season success, the Leafs would have it on lock, but they have yet to translate it to playoff success.
Vancouver Canucks: A (Previous grade: B)
The Canucks went 3-1 this week with their only loss coming in a shootout to the Wild. They’re on a six game point streak and find themselves in second place in the Pacific. Playoffs are on the horizon for Vancouver if they can hold on.
Vegas Golden Knights: B- (Previous grade: A)
The Knights went 2-1 this week with the one loss being a rather sad one against Buffalo, but they’re performances these last couple of weeks have rocketed them back to first place in the rankings. Don’t be surprised if they go on another deep playoff run in an attempt to defend their title.
Washington Capitals: C- (Previous grade: C)
They may not be an offensive dynamo anymore, but the Capitals are holding their own. They cling desperately to the last wild card spot in the east, but are only two points out from a top three spot in the Metro.
Winnipeg Jets: A- (Previous grade: A)
The Jets get docked a little bit for a loss to the Sharks, but I think spectacular wins over the Kings and Avs more than make up for it. They’re pushing hard for the Central division title, and Colorado is barely holding them off. They’ll be a fun team to watch come Spring.
