Ryan S. Clark
Kristen Shilton
Kristen Shilton
ESPN NHL reporter
Kristen Shilton is a nationwide NHL reporter for ESPN.
With a little bit greater than 25% of the 2024-25 NHL season full (by whole video games) — and all however one crew, the Vancouver Canucks, at or past the 20-game threshold — it is time to take a snapshot of every crew’s progress.
There have been some optimistic surprises — such because the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals — and a few not-so-positive shocks too, just like the sluggish begin for the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, the latter two of whom made teaching modifications inside the previous week.
Which groups have earned A’s for his or her play? Who’s falling behind? Learn on for the report playing cards for all 32 groups.
Be aware: Groups are arrayed alphabetically by letter grade. Ryan S. Clark graded the Pacific and Central Division groups, whereas Kristen Shilton graded the Metropolitan and Atlantic Division groups. Stats are by means of the video games of Nov. 24. Preseason over/unders are courtesy of ESPN BET.
Bounce to:ANA | ARI | BOS | BUFCGY | CAR | CHI | COLCBJ | DAL | DET | EDMFLA | LA | MIN | MTLNSH | NJ | NYI | NYROTT | PHI | PIT | SJSEA | STL | TB | TORVAN | VGS | WSH | WPG
A grades
Preseason over/beneath: 100.5Current factors tempo: 121.0
What’s gone proper? Properly, how a lot time do you may have? Carolina ranks within the high 10 of practically each statistical class. There have been preseason considerations (reflecting of their projected factors tempo) that the Hurricanes had been sure to take a step again with their growing old blue line and injury-plagued goaltenders. Carolina has proved its critics improper by means of powerhouse performances from Martin Necas (31 factors in 19 video games), Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho (each averaging some extent per sport), glorious defensive play (Carolina is fourth in objectives towards, first in pictures towards and pictures on web), sturdy particular groups (with a seventh-ranked energy play and eighth-best penalty kill), plus a coming-of-age goalie in Pyotr Kochetkov. Oh, and offseason signee Jack Roslovic? He is having a career-best begin, too.
What’s gone improper? One prediction that has sadly materialized for Carolina is one other long-term damage to Frederik Andersen. This time, it is knee surgical procedure. Andersen has missed important time the previous two seasons with a lower-body situation, after which blood clotting issues. Carolina is probably going mulling whether or not a commerce should be made to shore up its goaltending given the spring could possibly be a protracted one. The Hurricanes have additionally been vulnerable to turnovers at instances, and that is come again to harm them. All in all, although, the Hurricanes are powerful to nitpick. They have been constantly good.
Grade: A+. It is solely 1 / 4 manner by means of the season, however nonetheless, Carolina hasn’t misplaced consecutive video games (significantly). Even when the Hurricanes stumble, there’s an instantaneous optimistic response. It speaks to Carolina’s maturity that it will possibly stay targeted and dialed in whatever the scenario. And it is tough to be so sturdy offensively and defensively; there actually is not one space the place Carolina feels missing. If the Hurricanes can keep comparatively wholesome, it is arduous to not see them pushing to characterize the Japanese Convention within the Stanley Cup Last.
