October Report Cards, Part 2

Note: Records are prior to games on November 1st.

Nashville Predators (6-5-2)
Grade: C
Would it really be Nashville Predators hockey if we weren't talking about a sputtering offense and a pretty good defense? Seems like every year the Predators insist on trying to win every game 2-1 and all anyone ever talks about is how tough they are to play against. They need to work on maintaining leads in the next few games, as they blew a 3-0 first period lead in Phoenix the other night, losing 5-4 in a shootout.

New Jersey Devils (3-5-4)
Grade: D
Hard to make an argument for a group that's lost nine of 12 games so far and is towards the bottom of the NHL in scoring while also in the bottom half in defense. Given the dearth of offensive talent on this team, the power play has been pretty good, coupled with an average penalty kill. The signing of Ryane Clowe has not worked out for this team, as I expected.

New York Islanders (4-5-3)
Grade: C-
I still believe that the Islanders are a better team than their record indicates and what they've shown so far this season. They're putting the puck in the net and have been good on special teams so far, but last night's 57-shot effort in Ottawa aside they're not winning that battle and they haven't been able to keep the puck out of their net.

New York Rangers (5-7-0)
Grade: C-
They get a bit of a pass due to all the injuries they've sustained thus far, but they still haven't been playing good hockey. The offense hasn't hit its stride yet, though that's to be expected when it has yet to be at full strength. The special teams have been pretty good so far but the Rangers are the NHL's worst team at 5 on 5 this season.

Ottawa Senators (4-6-2)
Grade: D+
Yikes, there are a number of defensive issues with this team. They were already 28th in the NHL in shot differential before last night's -26 against the Islanders. Goal scoring hasn't been a problem for the Senators and they've also been pretty good 5 on 5 and on the penalty kill, so I expect them to turn it around soon. They just have to avoid the defensive breakdowns and sustain the forecheck better.

Philadelphia Flyers (3-8-0)
Grade: F-
Yes, the Flyers get an F-, the worst possible grade on this scale. Their grade is even worse than the Sabres, Panthers, and Oilers because Philadelphia was expected to have a bounce back year. They've been beaten soundly all over the ice and some of their best players haven't shown up yet this season. Not that it factors into their grade, but last night's 7-0 loss at home to Washington is a microcosm of the laughable failure this team has suffered.

Phoenix Coyotes (9-3-2)
Grade: B+
Phoenix is looking like a serious contender out west, and the shocking thing to me is that they're tied for third in the NHL in scoring. The defense hasn't been as sharp as we're used to seeing under head coach Dave Tippett, but aside from that they are firing on all cylinders. They have the most points by defensemen in the NHL, and the trio of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Derek Morris, and Keith Yandle has combined for eight goals and 23 assists through the team's first 14 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins (9-4-0)
Grade: A-
Props to the Penguins for being the class of a bad division so far, because even with Evgeni Malkin's recent scoring drought they're still winning games. Jussi Jokinen has been on fire with six goals in October. Marc-Andre Fleury has been good, and it's really helped this team get settled in through the first month. The penalty kill has been a bit weak so far, but there's plenty of season left for that to improve.

San Jose Sharks (10-1-2)
Grade: A+
The Sharks are the NHL's best team through October, though fans in Colorado and St. Louis could easily make cases for their teams. Rookie Tomas Hertl has cooled off after his ridiculous start to the season, but now Joe Pavelski has the hot stick and it goes to show that their depth is their biggest weapon. Antti Niemi has been a brick wall in net, but I wonder if he's getting overused early on.

St. Louis Blues (7-1-2)
Grade: A
A light schedule in October has seen the Blues play just ten games (not including last night's win over Florida), but that hasn't stopped them from making quite an impression in the early going. If you haven't seen this team play yet, you need to fix that problem. Over the years I've never thought of the Blues as a particularly fun team to watch, but this season they are making me tune in regularly with their inspired play at both ends of the ice.

Tampa Bay Lightning (8-4-0)
Grade: B+
They've been impressive so far, but this is once again a stereotypical Lightning start to a season. They're always the team that comes out of the gate hot, but then as time goes on their defensive issues catch up to them and they fall back into the pack. All of their metrics look good except for the shot differential, where they've been outshot by 1.4 per game through the end of October. They need to get that number positive.

Toronto Maple Leafs (10-4-0)
Grade: A-
I had a feeling that the Leafs would be a solid team this season, but I didn't expect a 10-4 run through the first month of the season. There's a huge red flag with this team, though, and it's possession. The Leafs have been terrible in the faceoff circle and are 29th in the league in shot differential. However, they have won every game in which they outshot their opponent, and they are 4-2 in games that they have trailed after either the first or second period.

Vancouver Canucks (9-5-1)
Grade: B
This grade would be higher if John Tortorella hadn't already made their power play as horrible as he did the Rangers' during his tenure in New York. They're getting scoring from many sources, but not all at once and it has left them in the middle of the NHL in scoring. The penalty kill has been very stingy so far and Roberto Luongo is off to a nice start. They're headed in the right direction.

Washington Capitals (5-7-0)
Grade: C-
They don't deserve a higher grade than this for their play in October, but they get an A++ for their 7-0 win in Philadelphia last night (and it was without Ovechkin too). The problem for the Caps is even strength play; they're a minus in that department and it's led to their sub-.500 record even though their power play and penalty kill rank third and second, respectively.

Winnipeg Jets (5-7-2)
Grade: D
I think it's time to end things with Ondrej Pavelec. He's a bad goalie, and Al Montoya has played wonderfully in his limited playing time so far. Stands to reason that they should give Montoya more starts, right? The offense has not produced so far, the new acquisitions have not fit into the lineup well and the power play has been punchless. Their 44.1% on faceoffs is the second-worst in the league, only ahead of Calgary.

Parting Shots - Week 2

We've got some things to discuss this week, so let's get right to it.

- What the hell is wrong with the Rangers? A 1-4-0 start to the season has seen them allow the most goals per game (5, and yes, you're reading that right) in the NHL while only scoring nine total. There have been injuries, namely Carl Hagelin missing all action thus far and Rick Nash's recent concussion, but this is still a mess. The new coach and system aren't getting through to the team just yet, as there are players constantly out of position and failing to execute. GM Glen Sather tried to shake things up today by placing Arron Asham and Martin Biron on waivers, but I'm not sure that's the answer and either way, those aren't the guys who should be buried in the minors. Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt are much more deserving of that fate. With four games still to go on the Rangers' nine-game road trip, they'll do well to finish strong and open up the home slate on a win streak.

- Suspensions abound this week. Brad Stuart got three games for concussing Nash, Alex Edler got three games for a high hit on Tomas Hertl (the crown jewel of my fantasy team), and Patrick Kaleta picked up two games (and potentially more) for his high hit on Jack Johnson. In my estimation, the punishments fit the crimes, but at some point we need to find a better way to legislate these headshots out of the game. If an official feels that the head was targeted in a hit, I think there should be no less than a ten-minute misconduct, in addition to whatever Shanahan and the league office want to do about it.

- Another week in the books, and we're down to four teams that are either undefeated or have no regulation losses, all of them in the Western Conference. Colorado and San Jose (each 5-0-0) lead the way in their respective divisions, with St. Louis (4-0-0) and Calgary (3-0-2) not far behind. I don't think anyone's surprised that the Sharks and Blues are on hot streaks to start the year, but the Avs and Flames are a different story. I picked them to finish in last place in their divisions, yet here they are two weeks in and playing great hockey. If you can believe it, Colorado has been winning with defense. They have yet to allow multiple goals in a game and have conceded just four so far this season. Calgary, a team I thought would have trouble scoring, has been playing very well offensively. They've tallied at least three goals in each of their five outings this season, and have scored 18 total.

- Can we all agree now that the Flyers aren't a good team and injuries were not the sole reason for their playoff miss last year? They're 1-5-0 through six games and have scored eight goals. They have all their top players in the lineup, and they're healthy, yet the production still isn't there. The team defense has been below average as well. An average of 31.3 shots against per game (20th in the NHL) is not going to get it done when the offense isn't scoring. Their 7.4% power play (28th) isn't helping matters, either. They've already fired their head coach, but they should've fired the GM. Maybe now that wheel will start turning in the front office.

- Obligatory mention that the Sharks are outshooting their opponents by nearly 20 shots per game. I'll let that sink in for you readers and leave it there.

- And now for the fantasy league update. The hometown teams are both 2-0, with my team still leading the league in scoring and George in 2nd. Four other teams are unbeaten, with no guarantees that the number will shrink as none of the 2-0 teams face each other this week. Should be an interesting week of hockey, looking forward to enjoying it!

Parting Shots - Week 1

Every week, I'm going to bring you my thoughts and observations from the NHL action. I can't commit to a set number per week (though I'm going to aim for at least five), but I will say that quality over quantity will be the order of the day.

Without further ado, here's what I noticed this week:

- Going to start off with the big story today, the Flyers firing head coach Peter Laviolette and replacing him, at least on the interim, with assistant coach Craig Berube. The Flyers have stumbled out of the gate to an 0-3-0 start and have played poorly in doing so. They dropped their home opener to Toronto, then getting shelled at Montreal and last night losing to a rebuilding Carolina team. They have been outscored 9-3 in their outings this season and have been unable to sustain offensive pressure. The Flyers did hold the Hurricanes to two goals last night, but Carolina pretty much did whatever they wanted, outshooting Philadelphia 34-18 in the win. Neither Steve Mason nor Ray Emery has impressed in net so far, though there are still 79 games to go for the Flyers. Perhaps the coaching change is what they need to get fired up, we'll see tomorrow night when they host Florida.

- Two surprises in the Western Conference in the first week, with Colorado and Calgary getting through without a regulation loss. The Avs have looked impressive so far, spanking Anaheim and then playing a sound fundamental game in their win against Nashville. Both tilts were at home, so I can't be too sure until I've seen them play a good team on the road. The Flames are arguably the bigger surprise, picking up four points and sitting in a four-way tie for first in the Pacific Division. They went on the road and beat Columbus in a good game, and their two losses have come against Washington and Vancouver by way of shootout and overtime, respectively. The troubling situation with the Flames, however, is that they have not been able to hold leads. They blew a 3-0 lead against the Caps and a 3-1 lead against the Canucks, but luckily were still able to salvage a point from each.

- I know that Toronto's 3-0-0 start probably isn't what everyone expected considering the teams they beat (Montreal, Philadelphia, Ottawa), but I'm here to tell you that you shouldn't be surprised; this is a good hockey team. They've had the right mixture of scoring, toughness, and timely goaltending thus far and I have to think that it'll only improve once David Clarkson returns from his suspension. Mark Fraser is going to be out for a while with a knee injury and now we should see the NHL debut of Morgan Rielly. I'm interested to see how he fits into the dynamic of this team and what skills he brings to the table.

- I feel like I'm the only one who looks at the Oilers' 0-2-0 start, in which they've allowed 11 goals, and says "par for the course." I didn't jump on the bandwagon before the season started, and I haven't been given a reason to change my mind yet. Quick, who leads Edmonton in goals? If you guessed Boyd Gordon, you're correct, and you've either watched their first two games or you're a hell of a guesser. Gordon's a good player, don't get me wrong, but he isn't a goal scorer. He's a third or fourth line center who provides tough minutes, excellent faceoff skills, and shot blocking. Having him lead your team in goals is not a sustainable system. It's also a problem when your fourth line is the only one with a +/- above zero. Edmonton has continued to be terrible defensively (against Winnipeg and the John Tortorella-led Canucks, no less) and they're going to make their home at the bottom of the standings until that changes.

- Has any team looked more impressive than the St. Louis Blues so far? I say no. They chased Pekka Rinne in the opener against Nashville with three first period goals en route to a 4-2 win, and then shellacked the Panthers 7-0. Everyone is doing their part for the Blues. The forwards are driving possession, they're getting contributions from the backend on the scoresheet, and Jaroslav Halak has been solid in net. I think the key for St. Louis is that no one player is carrying the group; this is a team effort, through and through. Just look at the stats that the Blues' players have put up in their first two games. They're also 3-for-8 on the man advantage so far and their penalty kill has been perfect.

- I'd be remiss if I didn't include some notes from the Pucks for Schmucks fantasy league. We here at PfS are proud to say that the two writers on this blog won this past week, and we went 1-2 in points as well. I wasn't very happy with the team I got at the draft (which I missed because I was at work), but thanks to strong play on the waiver wire I've constructed a roster that I feel much more confident in. George's team got a big week from Marc-Andre Fleury, who has allowed only one goal so far for the Penguins. You can view our league here.

Flyers Fire Peter Laviolette

The NHL hockey season is still very young as most teams have played between one to three games. A report from NHL.com states that Peter Laviolette have been fired and they have replaced by the assistant coach Craig Berube. This is a bit shocking in that the Flyers have only player three games. Yes, they haven't won a game yet this year but the season is still young. The Flyers struggled last season with injuries to main players during the season. Laviolette did lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in the 2010 playoffs but since then, they have not made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Craig Berube will take over as the head coach. He has been the assistant coach of the Flyers for the past six season. He does not have any NHL head coaching experience but he was the head coach of the Flyers AHL affilitate in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 season.

30 Teams, 30 Days - Philadelphia Flyers

It didn't take long after the season ended for the Flyers to make changes. The embattled Ilya Bryzgalov was bought out and still has not signed elsewhere. Danny Briere was bought out and ended up in Montreal. Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble have not been offered contracts. Ray Emery was brought in to compete with Steve Mason for the starting job. They went out and got Mark Streit in free agency to give them a power play specialist. The biggest move was signing Vinny Lecavalier to a 5-year, $22.5 million contract after he had been bought out by Tampa Bay. They also locked up captain Claude Giroux with a 8-year, $66.2 million extension through the 2021-22 season. It's hard not to think that the ceiling for this team is higher than it was last year, what with all the injuries and poor defensive play, but is it enough to make the playoffs?

Projected Forward Lines:

Scott Hartnell - Claude Giroux - Jakub Voracek
Brayden Schenn - Vinny Lecavalier - Wayne Simmonds
Scott Laughton - Sean Couturier - Matt Read
Zach Rinaldo - Max Talbot - Jay Rosehill
Adam Hall - Andrew Johnston

Largely the same group from last season, but of course the notable difference is the presence of Lecavalier. The 9th ranked offense in the NHL from last year adds a piece that can still play strong minutes and be a leader on the ice. The top six should become even stronger now with Schenn shifting to left wing. Laughton will be playing his first full NHL campaign, and he looks to someday replicate the point per game success he enjoyed in the OHL. He'll be joined on the third line by Couturier and Read, making a good energy line that will chip in goals as well. The fourth unit will bang bodies and intimidate opponents with Rinaldo and Talbot leading the charge. The biggest question I have here is whether or not the guys who had horrible years last season like Hartnell and Couturier can bounce back this year.

Projected Defensive Pairings:

Andrej Meszaros - Kimmo Timonen
Braydon Coburn - Mark Streit
Luke Schenn - Nicklas Grossmann
Erik Gustafsson

The words "Philadelphia Flyers" and "defense" haven't gone together in a long time. Last year, though, it was injuries that caused the slump. Coburn missed 15 games. Grossmann missed 18 games. Gustafsson missed 21 games. Meszaros missed 37 games. It all contributed to a goals against per game average of 2.90, which was tied for 22nd in the NHL. Provided the troops stay healthy, that number has to improve this season. I don't see how they can do worse. The other dilemma for the Flyers defense is that the team has ten players signed under one-way contracts and are currently $2 million over the cap. They'll like get under once they send tow or three down to the minors, but there's an outside chance that they look to make a trade in the coming weeks.

Goaltending:

Ray Emery
Steve Mason

Next in line for the least desirable goaltending position in the NHL is Emery, who is coming off of a spectacular season as Chicago's 1B goalie behind Corey Crawford. He went 17-1-0 in 21 appearances for the Blackhawks, posting a 1.94 GAA and a .922 save percentage. He did not start in the playoffs, but his shining moments from last season were right in the thick of the Blackhawks incredible run of 24 games with at least one point to start the season. We'll see if the ghost of Hextall still haunts the Philly net. The Flyers could also go with Mason, who went 4-2-0 in seven appearances with a 1.90 GAA and a .944 save percentage. He had ten shutouts in his rookie year with Columbus, but hasn't been able to sustain good play since then. We could be looking at a 1A/1B situation here.

Special Teams:

Philadelphia pulled off a rare feat last year: they finished in the top five on both the power play and the penalty kill, and still missed the playoffs. The Flyers were #3 with the man advantage last year at 21.6%. Out of all the defensive injuries the Flyers suffered, Timonen only missed one game and so his presence was vital to their success. This year he'll have Streit with him, so the two of them should assume control of their power play units. Discipline proved to be a problem as the Flyers were shorthanded 184 times and posted a -13 differential, but they still finished fifth on the PK with an 85.9% success rate. All of the penalty killers except Briere return, but the hole that he leaves is a big one. If someone fills his shoes admirably, the Flyers should be okay there.

X-Factor:

As always, the key to success is the goalie position. Whether it's Emery or Mason in net, one of them has to emerge and play well enough to steal games when the offense isn't clicking. Those who are quick to jump on the bandwagon now that Emery is in town need to be reminded of what happened with Bryzgalov. He thrived while playing under a very defensive-minded team in Phoenix, and wound up getting exposed as a system goalie in Philadelphia when he couldn't perform under their more hectic style. In Chicago, Emery had the league's best defense in front of him, so it'll be interesting to see what happens this season. The silver lining is that Mason played well even with all the injuries to the backend, so even though it's a small sample size one can look to his numbers and have hope for this year.

The Flyers will make the playoffs if...

... someone, whether it's Emery or Mason, seizes control of the #1 job in net and plays well, the defense stays healthy, and they don't try to win every game 5-4. Flyers games are always up and down affairs, where it resembles a track meet instead of a hockey game. The high scoring is great for fans, but it causes nightmares for goalies and coaching staffs alike. They have to find a way to clamp down on opponents late in games and they have to play much better at even strength to have a chance at the playoffs this year. If they can do that, and keep the special teams numbers up, the playoffs are not out of the question for this group.

The Flyers will miss the playoffs if...

... we get the "same old Flyers" who can't stop anyone, there's another rash of injuries, and the goaltender position continues to be a black hole. Look, we know what to expect in terms of style of play from the Flyers. The question now is, can they win playing at such frantic pace? They have the skill players and offensive talent to win, but I can't help but feel that the defense will eventually wear down and crack under the pressure of always having to move the puck up ice and rushing back on turnovers. In the new Metropolitan Division, they have a few teams to climb over to get into the playoff race, like Washington, Columbus, and the Islanders. I think they'll be a bubble team. Maybe in, maybe out.