Kaprizov - A+. Debated giving him an A, due to his less than stellar early season play, but he more than made up for it with his dominant play down the stretch. What a delight it is to have a true superstar on the team.
Faber - A+ Superb
JEE - A His game tailed off in the las 15 games or so. I am guessing he was playing injured. He carried the team for parts of the year.
Brodin- A- The best I've seen him play this year, but have to downgrade him a bit due to his missing 21 games due to injury.
Boldy - A - Downgraded him because of his unproductive play earlier in the year, but I am excited at his development. He is a no doubt, #1 Winger, and I think he is still improving. I think he will be P/pg next year.
Middleton - B+ I thought had a really good year, and showed improvement. Provides much needed physicality and toughness to the team, and added some nice defense. Dependable. Great bang for the buck.
Rossi - B+. vg+/EXC- rookie season. Hard to complain about a 20g, 20A season. His physical limitations are still there, but he did very well considering who his wingers were for most of the season.
Zucc- B+ Has his flaws, but I'm on board with carrying a PP specialist on the team. His skill and smarts are undeniable.
Hartman - B I like having a nasty guy on the team.
MoJo - C. Disappointing season, but that's what you get for 2m/season. Not sure what people were expecting.
Freddy G - F. Oof. Was flat out bad for most of the season. His skating, which used to be a strength, wasn't there, he looked weak and non competitive in puck battles. Was a fringe NHL'er this year, as opposed to previous years where he looked like a decent 3rd liner.
Chisholm - C+. Don't know what to make of him. Seems ok, thought he'd have more points. Great add for a waiver guy, just hope he doesn't turn out to be the Sam Steel of Dmen. Nice skating, good puck skills, not too bad defensively. Limited physicality and size.
Merrill - D- Can't stand to watch this guy. Nate Prosser without the physicality and toughness.
Goligoski - D- Great career that lasted one year too long. See ya.
Letierri, Luchinni - Thanks for trying, guys. Now go away to the AHL where you belong.
Dewar - C. Sad that he was traded. Better than what is currently on our 4th line.
Duhaime - C. see Dewar comment. We are slower, less physical, and less tough with him not on the 4th line.
Bogo - B- Did well. Seems to keep it simple. We can use his handedness, size, and toughness on the team. Clumsy at times, but you can see he still has some of the tools that made him a 4oa pick.
Mermis - D. Cemented his status as a fringe NHL'er. I like him better than Merrill and Goli, but it's probably not a difference big enough to get excited about. Hunt should supplant him next year... he might go someplace where he has a shot at more NHL games, though they'd love to have him back in Iowa.
Shaw - D Nothing there. What little speed and quickness he had looks gone.
Foligno - C- I'm sad that i have to watch years more of this. Two years in a row of groin surgery is not a good sign.
Marat - C Looks like a Dewar replacement at least. Hopefully he can be more. Nice speed. Not as small/weak as I feared. Hopefully he blossoms a bit offensively.
Ohgren - C I'm optimistic, but nothing jumps out at me except his shot... he's got find ways to do it more. Part of that is on Hynes, part on him.
Wallstedt - C+
Gus - D+. Not a good year.
Fleury - C- Marginally better, I think?
Spurgeon - INC
Hynes - C+. Seems ok, and not sure what he could've done better given what he had at hand. Special teams continue to be a problem. Whose fault is the poor goaltending? The goalie coach, the HC, or are they just flawed, and Guerin is at fault for bringing them in? I'm not passionate one way or another about bringing in a new coach next year in what is likely to be another lame duck season.
Faber - A+ Superb
JEE - A His game tailed off in the las 15 games or so. I am guessing he was playing injured. He carried the team for parts of the year.
Brodin- A- The best I've seen him play this year, but have to downgrade him a bit due to his missing 21 games due to injury.
Boldy - A - Downgraded him because of his unproductive play earlier in the year, but I am excited at his development. He is a no doubt, #1 Winger, and I think he is still improving. I think he will be P/pg next year.
Middleton - B+ I thought had a really good year, and showed improvement. Provides much needed physicality and toughness to the team, and added some nice defense. Dependable. Great bang for the buck.
Rossi - B+. vg+/EXC- rookie season. Hard to complain about a 20g, 20A season. His physical limitations are still there, but he did very well considering who his wingers were for most of the season.
Zucc- B+ Has his flaws, but I'm on board with carrying a PP specialist on the team. His skill and smarts are undeniable.
Hartman - B I like having a nasty guy on the team.
MoJo - C. Disappointing season, but that's what you get for 2m/season. Not sure what people were expecting.
Freddy G - F. Oof. Was flat out bad for most of the season. His skating, which used to be a strength, wasn't there, he looked weak and non competitive in puck battles. Was a fringe NHL'er this year, as opposed to previous years where he looked like a decent 3rd liner.
Chisholm - C+. Don't know what to make of him. Seems ok, thought he'd have more points. Great add for a waiver guy, just hope he doesn't turn out to be the Sam Steel of Dmen. Nice skating, good puck skills, not too bad defensively. Limited physicality and size.
Merrill - D- Can't stand to watch this guy. Nate Prosser without the physicality and toughness.
Goligoski - D- Great career that lasted one year too long. See ya.
Letierri, Luchinni - Thanks for trying, guys. Now go away to the AHL where you belong.
Dewar - C. Sad that he was traded. Better than what is currently on our 4th line.
Duhaime - C. see Dewar comment. We are slower, less physical, and less tough with him not on the 4th line.
Bogo - B- Did well. Seems to keep it simple. We can use his handedness, size, and toughness on the team. Clumsy at times, but you can see he still has some of the tools that made him a 4oa pick.
Mermis - D. Cemented his status as a fringe NHL'er. I like him better than Merrill and Goli, but it's probably not a difference big enough to get excited about. Hunt should supplant him next year... he might go someplace where he has a shot at more NHL games, though they'd love to have him back in Iowa.
Shaw - D Nothing there. What little speed and quickness he had looks gone.
Foligno - C- I'm sad that i have to watch years more of this. Two years in a row of groin surgery is not a good sign.
Marat - C Looks like a Dewar replacement at least. Hopefully he can be more. Nice speed. Not as small/weak as I feared. Hopefully he blossoms a bit offensively.
Ohgren - C I'm optimistic, but nothing jumps out at me except his shot... he's got find ways to do it more. Part of that is on Hynes, part on him.
Wallstedt - C+
Gus - D+. Not a good year.
Fleury - C- Marginally better, I think?
Spurgeon - INC
Hynes - C+. Seems ok, and not sure what he could've done better given what he had at hand. Special teams continue to be a problem. Whose fault is the poor goaltending? The goalie coach, the HC, or are they just flawed, and Guerin is at fault for bringing them in? I'm not passionate one way or another about bringing in a new coach next year in what is likely to be another lame duck season.