Alright people, lets have em.
Top of the class:
Artemi Panarin - A+++++
What more really needs to be said? He won't be at the forefront of the hart discussion, but he really should be
Mika Zibanejad - A+
Last year was no fluke. PPG+ with out Panarin.
Tony DeAngelo - A
Top 5 in league scoring from the back end while being tasked with lugging around perhaps the worst player in the league at the D position.
Adam Fox - A-
Some rough spots recently but the production has already eclipsed what I expected out of him this year. Dark Horse for the Calder
Ryan Strome - A-
He was more opportunistic than good early on but he's been as responsible for his own production as anyone else has lately. Making a case to hang around long term.
Honor Roll:
Jesper Fast - B+
The production hasn't been there to put him higher but he's been excellent this year. When ever a line is struggling, plugging him in seems to be the solution to getting that line going.
Filip Chytil: B
Game has slipped a bit of late but honestly he was so good early on that he still deserves to be here. His line is not indiciative of how well hes played, he's had several gimmies beefed on by his linemates.
Henrik Lundqvist: B
He's had some ugly moments, but the team defense has been horrendous so that isn't exactly on him. Hasn't been able to bail the team infront of him out with regularity like he did in his prime, but it still happens more often than you'd expect given the overwhelming opinion of him here.
Just missed:
Alex Georgiev: B-
Pretty much the same as above with more memorable stinkers.
Chris Kreider: B-
Was complete and utter ass for half the season. Has worked himself back up to this level.
Jacob Trouba: B-
Has had games where he really shines (Colorado) and then games where nothing goes right (Vancouver.) All in all hes been about what I expected.
Brendan Lemieux: B-
Bad penalties are the only thing keeping him from being higher. Production has been solid and hes been a wonderful troll.
Middle of the class:
Pavel Buchnevich - C+
Production has really dried up. He's in the middle of alot of good things which is nice but eventually they have to turn into points. Hasn't happened for him.
Brady Skjei - C
No player on this team has been more up and down than Skjei. He is the epitome of a C player.
Ryan Lindgren - C
Loved his game early, haven't loved it as much lately.
Kaapo Kakko - C
He hasn't looked the same since that game against Pittsburgh. Flashes in some moments, but not often enough. Coaching Staff hasn't done him any favors but he hasn't put himself in a position to be moved up often enough, with the exception of that Calgary game.
Below Average
Libor Hajek - D+
Was probably asked to do too much but really struggled with the role he was given. Where is the guy we saw last year?
Brett Howden - D
Most of the time he is just "there." Hes looked better on the wing, but still hasn't really done much of anything.
Brendan Smith - D
Can we really not do any better than this on the 4th line?
Greg McKegg - D
Don't understand the love fest from Quinn for this guy. Good Wheels, but thats really it.
Coaching Staff: D.
The system sucks, the decisions on who to put out there on the PP have been baffling and the meritocracy lasted all of a week.
INC:
Haley, but who really cares
Fogerty: Same, but his line sucks.
Shesty: I mean what hes done this year collectively puts him in God tier but 2 games at the NHL level are just 2 games.
Fail:
Marc Staal: F
Arguably the worst player in the league at his position. Not an NHL level player. Sitting duck for any team that has even a sliver of team speed. Kills transition and most offensive zone possessions.
Top of the class:
Artemi Panarin - A+++++
What more really needs to be said? He won't be at the forefront of the hart discussion, but he really should be
Mika Zibanejad - A+
Last year was no fluke. PPG+ with out Panarin.
Tony DeAngelo - A
Top 5 in league scoring from the back end while being tasked with lugging around perhaps the worst player in the league at the D position.
Adam Fox - A-
Some rough spots recently but the production has already eclipsed what I expected out of him this year. Dark Horse for the Calder
Ryan Strome - A-
He was more opportunistic than good early on but he's been as responsible for his own production as anyone else has lately. Making a case to hang around long term.
Honor Roll:
Jesper Fast - B+
The production hasn't been there to put him higher but he's been excellent this year. When ever a line is struggling, plugging him in seems to be the solution to getting that line going.
Filip Chytil: B
Game has slipped a bit of late but honestly he was so good early on that he still deserves to be here. His line is not indiciative of how well hes played, he's had several gimmies beefed on by his linemates.
Henrik Lundqvist: B
He's had some ugly moments, but the team defense has been horrendous so that isn't exactly on him. Hasn't been able to bail the team infront of him out with regularity like he did in his prime, but it still happens more often than you'd expect given the overwhelming opinion of him here.
Just missed:
Alex Georgiev: B-
Pretty much the same as above with more memorable stinkers.
Chris Kreider: B-
Was complete and utter ass for half the season. Has worked himself back up to this level.
Jacob Trouba: B-
Has had games where he really shines (Colorado) and then games where nothing goes right (Vancouver.) All in all hes been about what I expected.
Brendan Lemieux: B-
Bad penalties are the only thing keeping him from being higher. Production has been solid and hes been a wonderful troll.
Middle of the class:
Pavel Buchnevich - C+
Production has really dried up. He's in the middle of alot of good things which is nice but eventually they have to turn into points. Hasn't happened for him.
Brady Skjei - C
No player on this team has been more up and down than Skjei. He is the epitome of a C player.
Ryan Lindgren - C
Loved his game early, haven't loved it as much lately.
Kaapo Kakko - C
He hasn't looked the same since that game against Pittsburgh. Flashes in some moments, but not often enough. Coaching Staff hasn't done him any favors but he hasn't put himself in a position to be moved up often enough, with the exception of that Calgary game.
Below Average
Libor Hajek - D+
Was probably asked to do too much but really struggled with the role he was given. Where is the guy we saw last year?
Brett Howden - D
Most of the time he is just "there." Hes looked better on the wing, but still hasn't really done much of anything.
Brendan Smith - D
Can we really not do any better than this on the 4th line?
Greg McKegg - D
Don't understand the love fest from Quinn for this guy. Good Wheels, but thats really it.
Coaching Staff: D.
The system sucks, the decisions on who to put out there on the PP have been baffling and the meritocracy lasted all of a week.
INC:
Haley, but who really cares
Fogerty: Same, but his line sucks.
Shesty: I mean what hes done this year collectively puts him in God tier but 2 games at the NHL level are just 2 games.
Fail:
Marc Staal: F
Arguably the worst player in the league at his position. Not an NHL level player. Sitting duck for any team that has even a sliver of team speed. Kills transition and most offensive zone possessions.
