Happy holidays. I hope the Holliday season has brought all of you great hockey. When the break ends and we bring in the new year the season will be much more tense as the teams battle for playoff positioning. Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves though. Let’s take a look at each team and grade how they played this last week.
Anaheim Ducks: D- (Previous grade: F)
At least they got a win this week. It can’t get much worse for the Ducks at this point, as they prime themselves for another season of missing the playoffs. At least they have hope given that they’re young core is developing rather well.
Arizona Coyotes: B- (Previous grade: C)
The Coyotes had their three game winning streak ended by Colorado at the end of the week. They currently sit in fifth place in the central division but they occupy the last wild card spot. They’re one of surprises this year and it’ll be fun to see if they can hang on to that playoff spot.
Boston Bruins: F (Previous grade: D)
The Bruins have lost four in a row and five of their last six. It’s the most games they’ve lost consecutively this year. Every good team has to face a slump
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occasionally and Boston is knee deep in theirs now. It’s better to have it now then later when playoff positioning is on the line
Buffalo Sabres: D (Previous grade: C)
Sabres went 1-2 this week and they’ve given up a lot of goals in the process. If they can’t find a way to plug those holes in the blue line and get some consistency in net they’re going to find themselves with another failed season. This one will be more disappointing given the high expectations they had going in.
Calgary Flames: B- (Previous grade: D-)
Before they lost to the Kings in what was a very entertaining game, the Flames had won three in a row. Their playoff hopes still seem very slim, but they’re doing okay enough to prevent themselves from sinking to the bottom of the rankings.
Carolina Hurricanes: D- (Previous grade: C-)
The Canes went 1-2 this week and have lost four of their last five. They no longer even find themselves in playoff position, being one point out of the last wild card spot and two points out of third place in the division.
Chicago Blackhawks: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Chicago has one win in their last seven games. There’s having slim playoff hopes and then there’s accepting your fate and preparing for the next season and Chicago is already in the latter. They bet everything on Bedard now they have to actually build a team around him.
Colorado Avalanche: B- (Previous grade: A-)
The Avs lost to Chicago this week, but outside of that they have won six of their last seven and find themselves in second place of the division tied in points with Dallas. The entire Central division is an exciting race, with Colorado, Dallas, and Winnipeg leading the charge.
Columbus Blue Jackets: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Jackets went 1-2 and have lost three of their last four. The big moves they made the last couple of seasons have not panned out at all and now they find themselves with a lot of massive contracts and no results.
Dallas Stars: A- (Previous grade: B-)
A couple weeks ago it looked like the Stars were slipping, but now they’ve won five of their last six and now hold the number one spot in the division. They still have stiff competition in Colorado and Winnipeg, but ending the slump was necessary.
Detroit Red Wings: F (Previous grade: D-)
The Red Wings have lost eight of their last ten games. They’ve fallen out of playoff position and continue to sink down the rankings, three points out of the last wild card spot and four points out of a spot in the top three of the division.
Edmonton Oilers: B- (Previous grade: C-)
The Oilers ended their three game losing streak with two straight wins, but are still struggling to work their way up the rankings. They’re five points out of the last wild card spot, and eleven points out of a top three spot in their division. That hill isn’t getting any less steep either. It’s do or die time for Edmonton.
Florida Panthers: D- (Previous grade: D)
Panthers have lost four of their last six games. They still hold on to the third place spot in the division, but they’re failing to create any separation from the rest of the pack, with Tampa only being a point away and Detroit being four points away.
Los Angeles Kings: B (Previous grade: C-)
The Kings have rebounded rather well, winning three of their last four. They hold the third place in the division by a fairly decent margin and while they’re 7 points back from Vancouver they’ve also played five less games.
Minnesota Wild: A (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Wild have won three in a row and six of their last seven. They’re pulled themselves within two points of the last wild card spot and nine points out of the third place in their division. A top three spot may seem like a steep slope to climb given how good the top three are, but a wild card spot is far from out of the question.
Montreal Canadiens: C+ (Previous grade: D)
The Habs have won three of their last four and have looked slightly better in weeks past. They still have to cover the ground they lost, but they’re only four points out of the last wild card spot. It’s going to be an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible.
Nashville Predators: C (Previous grade: A)
The Preds went 1-2 this week, but that’s starting to become more of an off week rather than just a norm. They’re sitting pretty in the first wild card spot, and are only five points away from Winnipeg for the third place spot in the division.
New Jersey Devils: D- (Previous grade: B-)
The Devils ended their three game losing streak at the end of the week. They’re four points out from a top three spot in their division and three points out of the last wild card spot. However, they may want to find some more consistency if they want to cover more ground.
New York Islanders: C+ (Previous grade: C)
The Islanders went 2-1 this week and it was a much needed source of momentum as they try to cling onto their playoff spot. The race is only going to get tighter and holding onto that spot is only going to get harder. Buckle up boys you’re in for a wild ride.
New York Rangers: A- (Previous grade: B+)
The Rangers have won four of their last five and hold a decent lead on the division. They’re six points ahead of the number two spot and given their tendency to you know, win games, it’s hard to not see them being able to hold that spot hostage for the rest of the season.
Ottawa Senators: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Senators have lost six of their last seven. They’re bottom of the division with 24 points and I think at this stage any chance of them making the playoffs is going to rely on a miracle. It’s a disappointing position to be in given the hope they had coming in.
Philadelphia Flyers: C- (Previous grade: A)
The Flyers lost two of three this week, but given the slumps they’ve busted out of already this year it’s hard to imagine it does much to stop them. They’re holding
the third spot in the division and are only one point away from the Islanders for number two.
Pittsburgh Penguins: C (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Pens aren’t the worst team in the league but they’re not very close to the best either. They won two of three this week, but they’re five points out of the second wild card spot and it’s hard to see them finding a way to be competitive in this race.
San Jose Sharks: F (Previous grade: D+)
The Sharks have lost five in a row. Chances of a playoff berth are pretty much zero. Their best possible option is to review all the things wrong this year, make some moves at the deadline and start trying to find positives to build on in the next season.
Seattle Kraken: B- (Previous grade: C)
The Kraken are on a six game point streak. They’ve won their last two including a very impressive win over the Kings. They’ve looked better, but a playoff berth still seems a ways away. They’ve got a lot of work to do and not much time left to do it.
St. Louis Blues: B- (Previous grade: C+)
Blues have won four of five and it was much needed to keep them competitive as the playoff race is primed to start heating up. They’re only a point away from the last wild card spot which is probably going to be their best chance of making the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning: B (Previous grade: D)
The Bolts have won three in a row and four of their last five. They’ve pulled themselves into the last wild card spot and while they may not win a top three spot they’re still very much gunning for yet another playoff berth.
Toronto Maple Leafs: C- (Previous grade: C+)
The Leafs lost two of three this week. They have the number two spot in the league and are tied with Florida in points. You can’t help but think the lack of depth is going to negatively affect this team as the playoff races gets hotter.
Vancouver Canucks: B- (Previous grade: A)
Canucks went 2-1 this week and moved into the number one spot in the division and in the league. Given that they were expected to hit the wall already and they still haven’t, maybe it’s time to expect this team to finish in the top three and maybe even make a decent run.
Vegas Golden Knights: D (Previous grade: B-)
The Knights have lost three in a row and for the first time this season no longer lead the Pacific Division. I don’t expect them to take that lying down however, so expect them to battle back and try to wrench that number one spot back from Vancouver.
Washington Capitals: B (Previous grade: C-)
Goals are coming a little bit easier for the Caps, but still not at a very high rate. They lost their three game winning streak but have points in their last four. They hold the first wild card spot and seem very determined to cling onto it with all their might. Their lack of offense might hold them back as the season progresses, but that’s yet to be seen.
Winnipeg Jets: A- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Jets have won four of their last five and are only a point away from Colorado and Dallas. The top three of this division is going to be a dog fight to the very end and Winnipeg is showing that they’re more than prepared for it.
