golffuul
Registered User
- Oct 24, 2011
- 4,923
- 2,784
Larkin = A Can't ask for anything more than what he has done for the team. If he's not on the team, this year, we are down with Toronto in the standings.
Zetterberg = B I'm a little critical of our "stars" because I expect them to be our best players night in and night out. I am less critical of Zetterberg because he has been a steady offensive player, but a much more improved defensive player this year.
Datsyuk = C- Non-existent offensively, so far, but his defense has been really good over the last 10-15 games. Father Time has not treated him kindly and he has lost at least a step, offensively, if not 2.
Nyquist = C+ His effort is there night in and night out, and I think the line-swapping has caused him issues. He is a player that requires a great deal of consistency, in terms of linemates, because he tends to fit in where the other 2 forwards aren't.
Tatar = B Always been a streaky player, so I don't care as much about his offensive production drops as most. He has been giving solid defensive efforts all season long and that is more important for him, for the long run.
Ericsson = C- His foot speed and laziness have been on display far too often, this year, for my liking. For being only 31, you would have thought he was closer to 40, at times.
Green = B Our best 2-way defenceman, night in and night out, this year. Waiting for him to get unleashed offensively, but we continue to load up left-hand shots on our left side of the PP for God knows what reason.
Kronwall = C- Too inconsistent for my liking. Most nights, he looks like he should be a 2nd or 3rd pair d-man, and then he shows up with all kinds of speed, on some nights, like he did against Edmonton in the OT.
DD = C+ Seems to have lost something moving from Babcock to Blashill. Can't quite put my finger on it. He's great some nights, and utterly forgettable on others.
Smith = C Has taken WAY too long to get to where he should have been 3 years ago. So much so that I think his time is better served elsewhere. He'll be 27 in a couple of weeks. By the time he develops fully in our system, he'll be retired.
Mrazek = A Our best player, period. Has done everything asked of him and come up big at times when other goalies wouldn't have.
Howard = C Has done well considering what has gone on, since last year, but also not a number one goaltender. He parlayed a good year into an overpaying contract. I expect him to be traded over the summer, because Mrazek's contract is up.
Sheahan = C+ Sheahan has been more good than bad, this year, which is saying a lot considering how many different line combinations he has had to center.
Richards = B Easily one of the best offseason "risks" we have picked up in some time. He has played amazing for us.
Quincey = Too small a sample to give a grade.
Helm = C- Not sure who has been more inconsistent, this year. Helm or Nyquist.
Marchenko = A- The biggest "surprise" for me this year, which is really no surprise. He comes as advertised and has even shown some offensive flourish in the past 5-10 games that has surprised me.
Kindl = F Our worst defenceman
Jurco = F Our worst forward
Glendenning = B Every team needs a Glendenning. Great as defensive zone faceoffs, a tireless forchecker/pk guy who can give you added offense from time to time. Easily shows why he was captain of his UMich team.
Miller = A Another guy that every team needs. Amazing PK'er and grinder. You can count on his minutes, every night.
Andy = D+ Easily the guy who gets nothing out of his game for the effort he puts in. Pretty sure his 15 minutes of fame were up several seasons ago. Has not been the same player since Sheahan took his spot, 2-3 years ago.
Blashill = C Didn't manage the goaltender situation well, at the beginning of the year, which resulted in needless losses, and he cobbles the lines a bit much for my liking. But when the players don't give you enough to keep lines together, on a nightly basis, it's hard to fault his thinking. And as long as we are #1 in the league in 1-goal games, he is doing his job just fine. A few rookie mistakes, but otherwise has done a solid coaching job. Another year or so under his belt will give him the confidence to deal with the roster, at the NHL level.
Zetterberg = B I'm a little critical of our "stars" because I expect them to be our best players night in and night out. I am less critical of Zetterberg because he has been a steady offensive player, but a much more improved defensive player this year.
Datsyuk = C- Non-existent offensively, so far, but his defense has been really good over the last 10-15 games. Father Time has not treated him kindly and he has lost at least a step, offensively, if not 2.
Nyquist = C+ His effort is there night in and night out, and I think the line-swapping has caused him issues. He is a player that requires a great deal of consistency, in terms of linemates, because he tends to fit in where the other 2 forwards aren't.
Tatar = B Always been a streaky player, so I don't care as much about his offensive production drops as most. He has been giving solid defensive efforts all season long and that is more important for him, for the long run.
Ericsson = C- His foot speed and laziness have been on display far too often, this year, for my liking. For being only 31, you would have thought he was closer to 40, at times.
Green = B Our best 2-way defenceman, night in and night out, this year. Waiting for him to get unleashed offensively, but we continue to load up left-hand shots on our left side of the PP for God knows what reason.
Kronwall = C- Too inconsistent for my liking. Most nights, he looks like he should be a 2nd or 3rd pair d-man, and then he shows up with all kinds of speed, on some nights, like he did against Edmonton in the OT.
DD = C+ Seems to have lost something moving from Babcock to Blashill. Can't quite put my finger on it. He's great some nights, and utterly forgettable on others.
Smith = C Has taken WAY too long to get to where he should have been 3 years ago. So much so that I think his time is better served elsewhere. He'll be 27 in a couple of weeks. By the time he develops fully in our system, he'll be retired.
Mrazek = A Our best player, period. Has done everything asked of him and come up big at times when other goalies wouldn't have.
Howard = C Has done well considering what has gone on, since last year, but also not a number one goaltender. He parlayed a good year into an overpaying contract. I expect him to be traded over the summer, because Mrazek's contract is up.
Sheahan = C+ Sheahan has been more good than bad, this year, which is saying a lot considering how many different line combinations he has had to center.
Richards = B Easily one of the best offseason "risks" we have picked up in some time. He has played amazing for us.
Quincey = Too small a sample to give a grade.
Helm = C- Not sure who has been more inconsistent, this year. Helm or Nyquist.
Marchenko = A- The biggest "surprise" for me this year, which is really no surprise. He comes as advertised and has even shown some offensive flourish in the past 5-10 games that has surprised me.
Kindl = F Our worst defenceman
Jurco = F Our worst forward
Glendenning = B Every team needs a Glendenning. Great as defensive zone faceoffs, a tireless forchecker/pk guy who can give you added offense from time to time. Easily shows why he was captain of his UMich team.
Miller = A Another guy that every team needs. Amazing PK'er and grinder. You can count on his minutes, every night.
Andy = D+ Easily the guy who gets nothing out of his game for the effort he puts in. Pretty sure his 15 minutes of fame were up several seasons ago. Has not been the same player since Sheahan took his spot, 2-3 years ago.
Blashill = C Didn't manage the goaltender situation well, at the beginning of the year, which resulted in needless losses, and he cobbles the lines a bit much for my liking. But when the players don't give you enough to keep lines together, on a nightly basis, it's hard to fault his thinking. And as long as we are #1 in the league in 1-goal games, he is doing his job just fine. A few rookie mistakes, but otherwise has done a solid coaching job. Another year or so under his belt will give him the confidence to deal with the roster, at the NHL level.
