This season is shaping up to be a crazy one. There’s been quite a few surprises already and one can guess it’s only going to heat up more the closer we get to Spring. Let’s go ahead and take a look at each team and grade how they played this last week.
Anaheim Ducks: A- (Previous grade: A)
The Ducks are one of the aforementioned surprises this year. They’ve already far exceeded the expectations that were set for them. They lost two out of three this week, but haven’t seem deterred at all which leads me to believe they’ll be able to rebound just fine this week.
Arizona Coyotes: C (Previous grade: C-)
The Coyotes won two of three this week, but taking down the Kraken and Predators is not something to boast about necessarily. I expected this team to be at the bottom of the league and they have been somewhat surprising. The youngsters are playing together quite well and they’ve hung around the middle of the pack.
Boston Bruins: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Despite losing to Montreal for the first time since 2019, the Bruins still look like the team to beat in the Atlantic. The only team that seems somewhat competitive with them in the entire conference is the Rangers. If that wasn’t enough for you, both Ullmark and Swayman are early season Vezina candidates.
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Buffalo Sabres: C (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Buffalo looks better than they did at the start of the season, I will give them that. But their inability to accumulate any consistent momentum is going to prevent them from gaining any ground in the division. They continue to hover around .500 despite their top guys producing rather well. The problem isn’t production offensively however, it’s stepping it up defensively.
Calgary Flames: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Flames are a mess and it’s only bound to get worse. Nikita Kucherov wants out. Markstrom is already fading from having to hold the team on his shoulders. The stars are frustrated, the coaching situation isn’t solved, and the aftermath of Darryl Sutter still looms large over this team. Brace yourself for dark days Calgary.
Carolina Hurricanes: B (Previous grade: B-)
The Canes looked much more like the Canes this week despite a loss to the streaking Panthers. The gears appear to have been lubed up and moving much more smoothly now. They’re still not close to the team they were predicted to be and they probably won’t ever reach that unless Frederik Andersen and Anti Raanta can figure out what’s going on in net.
Chicago Blackhawks: D (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Blackhawks appear to be content to just let Connor Bedard go out and do his thing for much needed publicity. What they don’t realize is eventually fans will burn out of Bedard highlights and start wanting this team to win games. Here’s hoping they have some moves planned for the deadline.
Colorado Avalanche: D (Previous grade: A-)
The Avs lost two of three this week, and their two losses were both to teams they should on paper be beating in the Kraken and the Blues. They didn’t just lose to the Blues either it was an 8-2 stomping. I’m not sure what’s happened to this team, but I can say the defense has not been playing up to par these last couple of weeks.
Columbus Blue Jackets: F (Previous grade: C-)
The Jackets have lost five in a row and despite managing to be competitive in all but one of those losses, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re still losses. This team has to find a way to turn a corner and turn those competitive losses into wins and it starts with the defense and goaltending.
Dallas Stars: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Stars are playing like a future Stanley Cup champion. Be it Jake Oettinger stopping everything that comes his way, or Joe Pavelski showing that the old man still has the moves this team is on fire. Wyatt Johnson has especially caught my eye as he has exploded to have 13 points in 14 games.
Detroit Red Wings: C (Previous grade: A-)
The Red Wings lost two of three this week, but losing to the Rangers is nothing to hang your head about and Montreal has been no slouch either. Detroit is still playing very competent hockey and have been a surprisingly fun team to watch play.
Edmonton Oilers: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Everything came to a head when the Oilers lost to the Sharks. That was the breaking point. The players are frustrated and unable to find their strides, making the fans even more frustrated. They rebounded with a decent 4-1 win over Seattle only for head coach Jay Woodcroft to be fired right after. If they think firing the coach that led this team to the most exciting playoff runs they’ve had in years is going to fix the issues they’re having, this team is in for a rough year.
Florida Panthers: A (Previous grade: C)
The Panthers have won four in a row and have found themselves in the top 3 of the Atlantic division. That being said, they’re still finding themselves overly competitive with teams like Chicago and Columbus. However, Bobvrosky’s play has much improved and the top guys are starting to find their stride. These are good signs for Florida moving forward.
Los Angeles Kings: B (Previous grade: A)
The Kings ended the week on a relatively sour note, losing two in a row to Philly and Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t change how good they have looked. Cam Talbot has looked incredibly solid in net and it’s so relieving to see Quinton Byfield finally hit his stride. Their undefeated road record is incredibly impressive as well. That being said, Phoenix Copley’s play this season is extremely concerning and it’s unknown if Talbot can carry a large workload by himself.
Minnesota Wild: F (Previous grade: D)
The Wild have lost three in a row and have no real direction on how to bounce back. This team has no idea who they are and they lack the leadership or structure to find it. What you have now is a team relying on top names to carry them to wins and it’s just not enough anymore. Fleury occasionally making a highlight reel save doesn’t excuse his .879 save percentage and Gustavsson hasn’t been any better.
Montreal Canadiens: B (Previous grade: Unchanged)
You could hear the absolute excitement the fans had when Montreal finally beat Boston for the first time since 2019. It was a great win for the Habs and they continue to impress these last few weeks. However, you still can’t shake the feeling that there’s still pieces missing and that this team will hit a wall at some point.
Nashville Predators: F (Previous grade: D-)
That’s three losses in a row for Nashville and they weren’t all to top teams. That loss to the Flames was ugly and it’s safe to say this team’s confidence is at an all time low. Changes need to be made. Jusse Saros cannot carry this team anymore and they’re falling because of it.
New Jersey Devils: D+ (Previous grade: A)
The Devils lost two of three this week. The loss to the Capitals will be especially heartbreaking as they’re not only a team in their division, but they’re a team that New Jersey will feel they should have beaten. I believe the Devils can rebound, but given the young core they could be a bit shaken.
New York Islanders: F (Previous grade: A)
The Islanders went from one of the great surprises this year to losing four in a row and finding themselves one spot away from the bottom of the division. It could just be a rough week, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s just that simple. You can excuse losses to the Hurricanes and Bruins, but that loss to the Wild is a bit of a black eye.
New York Rangers: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Who can stop the Rangers? They have a complete chokehold on their division and have won nine of their last ten games. This team is no longer just relying on Shesterkin, as Jonathan Quick appears to have turned back the clock and the defense being rock solid has certainly helped. Couple that with an offense that can cripple just about anyone and you have a solidified contender.
Ottawa Senators: C (Previous grade: D)
The Senators won two of three this week, but still can’t shake the fact that they have no real structure. This team has talent across their roster waiting to be used they just need to find the piece that’s going to bring it all together for them.
Philadelphia Flyers: C+ (Previous grade: D)
Being the Sharks first win of the season is going to be a hard stink to wash away even if you rebound with wins over the Ducks and Kings. That being said, they did win two of three this week. They just need to find a way to have consistency.
Pittsburgh Penguins: A (Previous grade: D-)
The Pens have snuck up and won four games in a row without anyone really noticing. The Penguins have been rolling this week behind the stellar play of Tristan Jarry and Magnus Hellberg. Is it to be believed though? This team didn’t magically erase all of their issues in a week.
San Jose Sharks: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Getting a couple of wins doesn’t change who you are San Jose. Especially when you follow up those wins by getting stomped on by the Ducks and Golden Knights and giving up 9 goals combined in the process. Mackenzie Blackwood has had bursts of stellar play but he’s not a goalie that can carry the weight of an entire team on his shoulders and the defense doesn’t give him any other option.
Seattle Kraken: D- (Previous grade: D+)
This team will beat the Avalanche and in the same week also lose to the Flames and Oilers. This team looks like a shell of the team that shocked everyone in the playoffs last season and who can tell if they will figure it out or not. However, Joey Daccord’s sudden play in net might be the spark this team needs.
St. Louis Blues: C+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Blues are in it. They’re winning games, they’re competing. But they lack the umph that’s needed to be a serious contender. I do expect them to be in the playoff race for most of the season especially given the stellar netminding they’ve found themselves having.
Tampa Bay Lightning: D (Previous grade: B)
That’s a rough week for the Bolts, but not one that should devastate them. They only managed to find one win this week and have found themselves slipping down the standings. That’s life in the Atlantic Division however. One bad week can ruin your entire position.
Toronto Maple Leafs: B- (Previous grade: C)
The Leafs might be the worst first period team in the entire league. That being said, they’ve at least found ways to bounce back and win regardless. It’s all through offense however. This team is going to be in a for a rude awakening come Spring and playoff time.
Vancouver Canucks: A+ (Previous grade: A)
Wow has this team been good. The Canucks are in full on beast mode so far this year and the only thing standing in their way of taking over the Pacific is Vegas. I do expect some regression from this team, but for right now they’re on top of the world and their confidence is at an all time high.
Vegas Golden Knights: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Last season no one expected this team to do much. No one knew who guys like Adin Hill and Logan Thompson were. Fast forward to one Stanley Cup championship later, both of those guys are playing like two of the best goalies in the world and this entire team is playing like the rest of the league is on rookie difficulty.
Washington Capitals: B- (Previous grade: C+)
The Caps have flown under the radar this season, but have found themselves in the top three of the division. How did this happen? Through a lot of grit and determination to compete with the top guys in their division and to stay ahead of the teams below them.
Winnipeg Jets: B- (Previous grade: C+)
Jets have won three of four and have seen themselves get better and better with each passing week. That being said, you would like to see some better play from Connor Hellebuyck though you can’t say it’s been entirely his fault.
