Early grades: Connor McDavid is flying high, Blackhawks' penalty kill has been brought low
— -- The season is two weeks old and still growing. Like a puppy or kitten, in two more weeks it'll be unrecognizable.
So what have we learned so far? What kind of grades would we hand out for each course if we were the grading type (which, of course, we are)? Here goes:
Stargazing 101
Connor McDavid , Edmonton Oilers
Grade: A
I must admit that I was skeptical McDavid was ready to hang with the game's elite after missing almost half of his rookie season with a shoulder injury and then being named the youngest captain in NHL history. Never mind. The Oilers are the season's nicest early surprise, at 6-1, and McDavid woke up Thursday morning leading the league with 11 points.
Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
Grade:?B
The Devils have quietly moved above .500 and their moribund offense is slowly rounding into form thanks to their big offseason acquisition, Hall, who has five goals and six points in six games. Whether it's because he's still ticked off about being traded or not, Hall is proving he's a pivotal part of the Devils' hopes.
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Grade: C
The Blackhawks have had a weird start (see below), but one of the most curious parts of the perennial Cup contender's up-and-down first few weeks has been the lack of production from its captain. Toews talked at the World Cup of Hockey last month about how much he was looking at the coming season as a chance to a start fresh. That's not how things have worked out so far, as he has no goals and two assists through seven games.
Advanced special teams (Power-play section)
Nashville Predators
Grade:?A
The 2-4 Preds aren't nearly the team most people thought they would be early on, but it's scary to think about where they would be without their smoking-hot power play, which as of Thursday had scored 10 goals on 24 opportunities. Ryan Johansen, P.K. Subban, Mike Fisher, Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg have combined for 19 power-play points. Now if only Nashville could just figure out the rest of the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Grade:?A
It's no surprise that the Lightning are off to a tremendous start in the Atlantic Division and no surprise the power play is cooking at 30.4 percent efficiency, making Tampa Bay one of just three teams north of 30 percent in man-advantage productivity. What's so impressive is that nine different Lightning players have at least two power-play points to their credit.
Washington Capitals
Grade:?C
What's wrong with this picture? The star-studded Capitals -- who had the most potent power play in the Eastern Conference last season, en route to a Presidents' Trophy -- have managed just two man-advantage goals on 19 opportunities. Expect water to find its own level with this talented group sooner rather than later.
Ottawa Senators
Grade:?D
The question is: How did the Senators get to 4-2 with just one power-play goal on 15 opportunities? And how do you operate at 6.7 percent efficiency with the game's most dynamic defender, captain Erik Karlsson, on your team? Inquiring minds want to know.
Advanced special teams (Penalty-kill section)
Florida Panthers
Grade:?A
An indication of good coaching isn't just killing penalties but not taking them. The Panthers have allowed a league-low 13 opportunities through six games. They've allowed just two power-play goals.
Minnesota Wild
Grade: A
Remember when coach Bruce Boudreau had Anaheim at the top of both the power-play and penalty-kill categories in Anaheim last season? The Wild remember, as Boudreau's new charges have allowed just one goal on 21 opportunities.
New York Islanders
Grade:?A
Hey, let's give credit where credit is due. The only team more successful early on than the Wild at killing penalties is the Islanders, who have killed 21 of 23.
Chicago Blackhawks
Grade:?F-
Yeah, I know there's no such thing as an F-. But if there was, Chicago would be up for it given the fact that the Blackhawks have somehow allowed 14 power-play goals on 26 opportunities. I know that's not going to last, but it's still interesting to look at while the perennial Cup contenders are trapped in penalty-kill hell.
Pop quiz (As in, "Expect the unexpected")
Thomas Vanek, Detroit Red Wings
Grade:?A
The erstwhile former Wild, Canadien, Islander and Sabre somehow has come alive with the red-hot Red Wings and leads the team with eight points through seven games, including chipping in four power-play assists. Go figure.
Jonathan Marchessault , Florida Panthers
Grade:?B
With Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad out long term, Marchesseault has stepped nicely into the breach after signing with the Panthers in the offseason. He leads the Cats with eight points in six games.
Max Domi/ Anthony Duclair, Arizona Coyotes
Grade:?D
Tough start for the Coyotes, who haven't won since opening night. Last season's rookie dynamic duo has been especially snakebit early on, combining for zero goals and three assists, all collected by Domi.
Astrophysics (Study of goaltenders section)
Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers
Grade:?A
Have to admit that after watching Talbot get yanked in the Oilers' loss to Buffalo almost two weeks ago I wondered if this would be the start of another tumble down the rabbit hole for the beleaguered franchise. Nope. Turns out this was the team's only loss to date and Talbot has been a rock, leading the league with six wins while posting a very healthy .927 save percentage. Talbot has played more minutes than any other goalie.
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Grade:?A-
Yes, Howard has played in just two games for the surprising Red Wings but he's been very, very good with a 2-0 mark and .984 save percentage. In a market where goaltenders are falling like flies, Howard's early play might make him suddenly much more marketable than he was before the season.
Cam Ward/ Eddie Lack, Carolina Hurricanes
Grade:?D-
When I spoke with GM Ron Francis before the season, we talked goaltending and his belief that Ward, the longtime face of the franchise (at least in terms of goaltending), and Lack, who came to Carolina from Vancouver before last season, were the best options available to his team. So far that decision has backfired spectacularly, as the Canes duo has given up an average of four goals against per game and is tied for the most even-strength goals allowed in the league as Carolina has staggered to a 1-3-2 start.
Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs
Grade:?F
It seems a bit unfair to pile on the pride of Herning, Denmark, but facts are facts -- and the fact is Andersen, fresh off signing a five-year deal to backstop the Leafs into the future, has been a mess. He has a goals-against average of 4.29 and a save percentage of .851. He'll get better. Won't he? Sure he will. Unless he doesn't, in which case this is the first true test of the Leafs' management team, which is enjoying an extended honeymoon with a squad that finished 30th last season and seems destined to finish near the bottom of the standings again if the goaltender of the future doesn't buck up.