In a long season you're bound to have a few stinkers, so not going crazy, but we have some holes.
Some grades for players (IMHO only):
R. Smith --------- A+
Marchessault......A. What the hell were the Panthers thinking, but it's our gain
Karlsson............C............Kills penalties, lots of chances, does the little things, but if you're on the first line and making 6 mil, you need to score
Stone............A
Stastny.........B
Pacioretty.....D-..........very unimpressed, at least with Pirri we aren't paying him 7 mil and sitting him as soon as Tuch gets back
Glass.......welcome to the NHL, future star
Eakin.........Incomplete due to recent return
Carrier.......B+............give me some more Carriers, he's a fourth liner but plays a hard game, and drives possession
Reaves.......B.........ditto Carrier
Nosek........A-......needs a better touch to move up from fourth line, but I think our fourth line is one of the best if not the best in the league
Fleury....A....not much to say, great start
Suuuubhan..incomplete........All-Star (in the AHL)
McNabb......C........too slow, too many penalties, lots of good plays though
Holden........B......don't understand the Holden hate, yeah, he ain't a top pair defenseman, he's fine as a sixth defenseman
Theodore.....A... basically carrying the defense
Engelland.....C+....gets undressed by speedy forwards, but honestly, he mostly hasn't been bad otherwise.
Gallant-----top notch coach, but I don't think our speed is what it was two years ago (though we have more skill). It's good, but we were the fastest team in the league and that always kept other teams on the defensive with our speed, and that isn't the case all the time anymore, which is exposing our defensive holes.
