Player grades at 20-game mark

[DRWExaminer 0]

The Wings have reached the quarter pole and it's time for report cards. Please come and check out my player grades, and let me know your thoughts and grades at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1405-Detroit-Red...on-report-cards

Thanks,

Mike

[Konnan511 1,736]

They were decent grades I admit, but I think you were farrrrr too lenient. You only had two players marked as C, which is reserved for average play, so you're saying all out players have been above average? Nice site, I never heard of it before, but I will definitely be gazing at it frequently!

Forwards

Hossa - A+ (Obvious)

Datsyuk - A (Great, just hasn't played as good as Hossa, but great none-the-less)

Hank - A (Great, just hasn't played as good as Hossa, awesome though!)

Franzen - A- (Has played phenominal, just not on the same level as the above three though)

Sammy - B+ (He has really surprised me as he has been consitent all season, on pace for over 70 points! Still hate him though)

Hudler - B (Has really stepped it up lately, but this is for over the entire 20 games, not just recently)

Homer - B- (Started off awesome, again, this is for the whole 20 games)

Maltby - C+ (For me, he has stepped up his game and has been playing as the best 4th liner on the team)

DMac - C (Has played his role very very very well)

Draper - C (really have not been impressed by him)

Kopecky - C- (one good game does not make him good, is highly inconsistent)

Filppula - C- (This one pains me because I have the largest man crush on him, has played great defense but that big pay check needs to see some more offense)

Cleary - C- (Really the most disappoint player thus far on the team aside from Lebda; his injury is the main reason for his unproductive offense, his defense has been stellar, but with that paycheck he should be producing more.)

Defense

Kronners - B+ (Delivers crushing hits and is really producing on the offensive end)

Lilja - B (I did NOT seeing this one coming at all, has been our best PK d-men and has thrown down as well)

Lidstrom - B (Has looked slow but is still a great asset on the PP and as a first pair D-men with great ice vision)

Rafalski - B- (Great offensive playmaking skills and a reliable D-Man and PP specialist, forces a lot)

Stuart - C- (Greatly underproducing with a whopping 2 points, still hits though)

Lebda - D+ (worst +/- of all our D-Men, great speed and has shown a flash of brilliance or two, but largely disappointing)

Goalies

Conklin - A- (Has played amazing and exudes confidence and consistency of a top tier goalie)

Osgood - C+ (Has played decent, but over twenty games has not been impressive at all)

I tried to be as objective as I could, most of you will agree with a lot of the stuff I said, but I know there are a couple of curveballs in there that i didn't expect as well!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Here's mine very quick without much rhyme/reason due to time constraints, so go easy on me accordingly...

Lilja - B

Lidstrom - A-

Cleary - C+

Datsyuk - A

Meech - B-

Maltby - B

Lebda - C

Stuart - B

McCarty - B-

Hudler - A-

Rafalski - B-

Conklin - A-

Osgood - C

Draper - C-

Samuelsson - B+

Zetterberg - A

Filppula - C-

Kronwall - B

Hossa - A+

Kopecky - C

Franzen - A

Holmstrom - B+

Edited November 25, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[DRWExaminer 0]

I was worried about being too lenient Konnan511 - and your comments confirm my fear. I find it hard to be critical of players on a team that are racking up 80% of the available points, thinking they must all be playing their roles at an above average level or else the team would be average. Like your grades too though and understand your thinking. Thanks for the kind words about the site, please do come back often and as always leave your comments. Mike

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

The Wings have reached the quarter pole and it's time for report cards. Please come and check out my player grades, and let me know your thoughts and grades at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1405-Detroit-Red...on-report-cards

Thanks,

Mike

Note to all those who lost their s*** about criticism of Lids:

Even this guy realizes Lidstrom hasn't been playing at his normal level.

[VM1138 1,921]

All I can say is I'm amazed that Lilja is playing like our best or second best defenseman. I take back all the bad things I've ever said about him!

[Heaton 1]

I was worried about being too lenient Konnan511 - and your comments confirm my fear. I find it hard to be critical of players on a team that are racking up 80% of the available points, thinking they must all be playing their roles at an above average level or else the team would be average. Like your grades too though and understand your thinking. Thanks for the kind words about the site, please do come back often and as always leave your comments. Mike

Don't be. I agree with the majority of your grades and while its great to have high standards you need to realize how good this team is.

One of the major ones I disagree with Konann is about giving Stuart a C- and the only comment being about his point totals. Stuart isn't here to produce offensively, he's here to be solid defensively and physical. He started slow but has been very good lately and is a B at worst.

[Reds4Life 51]

Forwards:

Hossa - A+

Datsyuk - A

Zetterberg - A

Franzen - A

Holmstrom - B

Samuelsson - B

Hudler - B-

Draper - B-

Maltby - C

DMac - C

Filppula - D-

Cleary - E

Kopecky - E

Defence

Kronwall - A

Lidstrom - B

Stuart - B

Rafalski - B

Lilja - B

Lebda - D

Goalies

Conklin - A

Osgood - C-

Only 20 games in the season, so lots of things may (and will) change..

Edited November 25, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Echolalia 2,961]

Is everyone graded on a universal scale, or is everyone graded based on their own skill level?

(ie if Lilja has been playing phenomenal he would get an A+ for playing the best hockey of his life, but that would still be "C" worthy if it was compared to Hossa)

[uk_redwing 495]

Is everyone graded on a universal scale, or is everyone graded based on their own skill level?

(ie if Lilja has been playing phenomenal he would get an A+ for playing the best hockey of his life, but that would still be "C" worthy if it was compared to Hossa)

Id guess its graded on their roles and how well they play them. I.e Lilja has been an immense 3rd dman. Id give him three thousand A's.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

You guys are being too generous to Draper.

I know he's not a stats guy, but has he ever put up numbers like this? This is by far the worst season of his career up to date.

[VM1138 1,921]

You guys are being too generous to Draper.

I know he's not a stats guy, but has he ever put up numbers like this? This is by far the worst season of his career up to date.

I've noticed, too. Draper has been caught on the wrong side of the play and has made some big mistakes tihs season. He's looked slow and has been caught off guard a lot.

McCarty on the other hand is impressing me for what his role was last year.

The only players I'm honestly a little disappointed in is Filpulla, Cleary, and Drapes.

Kopecky is useless, but that's not a disappointment to me because I've never considered him to have any real consistent talent.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Kopecky is useless, but that's not a disappointment to me because I've never considered him to have any real consistent talent.

If Kopecky was 5'11" he wouldn't be on this team. As Babs has said: He's a big body that usually gets a hit in on every shift.

That's his role. That's what he provides.

[Guest Four]

Forwards:

Hossa - A

Datsyuk - A-

Zetterberg - A

Franzen - A-

Holmstrom - B+

Samuelsson - B

Hudler - B+

Draper - B

Maltby - B-

DMac - C+

Filppula - C+

Cleary - C

Kopecky - C+

Defence

Kronwall - B

Lidstrom - B+

Stuart - B

Rafalski - B+

Lilja - B

Lebda - C-

Goalies

Conklin - A

Osgood - B-

Edited November 25, 2008 by Four

[BeeRYCE 2]

Too many people are giving Hossa an A+. Listen, I love the guy, and I think he fits the mold of this team better than anyone else who could have possibly came in. However, you got to understand that the first 4-5 games of the season and the last 4 games, he hasn't produced enough. That's 8-9 games... Nearly half of the season worth. Now as I said, I love Hossa... But A+ would be a perfect rating, and not producing like he should for 8-9 games of this season wouldn't account for a perfect rating. Hossa gets an A, IMO.

[uk_redwing 495]

If Kopecky was 5'11" he wouldn't be on this team. As Babs has said: He's a big body that usually gets a hit in on every shift.

That's his role. That's what he provides.

Kopecky hits as hard as a sponge.

[Slave 31]

i think hank should be rated higher then hossa, not as many points but he has been a monster no just one the score board but defensively (+/- doesn't show how good he playing), and all areas of the ice, hitting, along the boards behind the net, faceoffs, the guy is playing like a hart trophy winner, which he will nevr get cuz of the team he is on but i think deserves.

[Guest Four]

Too many people are giving Hossa an A+. Listen, I love the guy, and I think he fits the mold of this team better than anyone else who could have possibly came in. However, you got to understand that the first 4-5 games of the season and the last 4 games, he hasn't produced enough. That's 8-9 games... Nearly half of the season worth. Now as I said, I love Hossa... But A+ would be a perfect rating, and not producing like he should for 8-9 games of this season wouldn't account for a perfect rating. Hossa gets an A, IMO.

I meant to give him A not A+

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Too many people are giving Hossa an A+. Listen, I love the guy, and I think he fits the mold of this team better than anyone else who could have possibly came in. However, you got to understand that the first 4-5 games of the season and the last 4 games, he hasn't produced enough. That's 8-9 games... Nearly half of the season worth. Now as I said, I love Hossa... But A+ would be a perfect rating, and not producing like he should for 8-9 games of this season wouldn't account for a perfect rating. Hossa gets an A, IMO.

Exactly what I was thinking. Hossa was invisible for the first 4 games at least - in fact, he was making a ton of mistakes and was looking disinterested overall. In the past few games, hes been trying out there, but he really hasnt been getting a lot done, excluding an empty netter. If you balance out the play of the top 3 over 20 games, Id actually give Hank the higher score than Hossa, but I'll stick with straight As for "the big 3".

[YoungGuns1340 1]

i think hank should be rated higher then hossa, not as many points but he has been a monster no just one the score board but defensively (+/- doesn't show how good he playing), and all areas of the ice, hitting, along the boards behind the net, faceoffs, the guy is playing like a hart trophy winner, which he will nevr get cuz of the team he is on but i think deserves.

I completely agree. He makes an impact on nearly every shift. Seems like every other game I'm looking at the stat sheet wondering how he didnt manage to get more goals/points. Hed be running up the charts right now if his line was actually clicking over the past 3-4 games.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Forwards:

Zetterberg: A+

Datsyuk: A

Hossa: A

Hudler: A

Franzen: A-

Holmstrom: B+

Samuelsson: B

Maltby: B

Draper: B-

McCarty: C+

Cleary: C

Kopecky: C

Filppula: C- (I was going to go "D" here, but that seems a bit harsh)

Defense:

Stuart: B+

Lilja: B+

Kronwall: B

Lidstrom: B

Rafalski: C

Meech: C

Lebda: D- (I would have gone "F" if not for the past four games or so)

Goalies:

Conklin: B

Ozzie: C+

Edited November 25, 2008 by GoWings1905

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Is everyone graded on a universal scale, or is everyone graded based on their own skill level?

(ie if Lilja has been playing phenomenal he would get an A+ for playing the best hockey of his life, but that would still be "C" worthy if it was compared to Hossa)

I went by own skill level. Universal just is impossible to judge IMO. What is the ultimate criteria if it's universal? If Zetterberg gets 105 points this year and gets an A+, does that mean Lilja or Lebda get an F with just 10-point outings this season? Too hard to judge, and unfair if it is like that.

I've noticed, too. Draper has been caught on the wrong side of the play and has made some big mistakes tihs season. He's looked slow and has been caught off guard a lot.

McCarty on the other hand is impressing me for what his role was last year.

The only players I'm honestly a little disappointed in is Filpulla, Cleary, and Drapes.

Kopecky is useless, but that's not a disappointment to me because I've never considered him to have any real consistent talent.

I'm indifferent on Kopecky and don't think he's the next coming of an all-star, but if Kopecky was useless he'd been off this roster a long time ago. And he's upped his game recently given his skill/production/game.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Kopecky hits as hard as a sponge.

That's being a little generous dont you think?

I agree mostly with the rankings. Cleary getting C's is laughable, considering his injury, should probably be INC. , I also think Lilja deserves a B+, the + is for the Hammer, otherwise known as his right hand.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Lidstromrules16 7]

That's being a little generous dont you think?

I agree mostly with the rankings. Cleary getting C's is laughable, considering his injury, should probably be INC. , I also think Lilja deserves a B+, the + is for the Hammer, otherwise known as his right hand.

I happen to think Lilja deserves a C for Cement, otherwise known as his feet. Lets be honest here, the guy gets burned WAY too easy to the outside. But I would give him a C+ because he is a shot blocking machine.

[Mikeal 60]

They were decent grades I admit, but I think you were farrrrr too lenient. You only had two players marked as C, which is reserved for average play, so you're saying all out players have been above average? Nice site, I never heard of it before, but I will definitely be gazing at it frequently!

Forwards

Hossa - A+ (Obvious)

Datsyuk - A (Great, just hasn't played as good as Hossa, but great none-the-less)

Hank - A (Great, just hasn't played as good as Hossa, awesome though!)

]

Dats starting to warm up lately but ya Hossa has been in a class of his own for sure, besides the one horrible give away last game...

Franzen - A- (Has played phenominal, just not on the same level as the above three though)

I think he probably belongs with the group above...

Sammy - B+ (He has really surprised me as he has been consitent all season, on pace for over 70 points! Still hate him though)

Hudler - B (Has really stepped it up lately, but this is for over the entire 20 games, not just recently)

Sammy, minus the passing to absolutely no one 4-5 times a game, has been better for sure. Those passes to thin air really bother me though. Hudler is a great shot, and seems stronger on the puck lately, but hes just to damn easy to push over.

Homer - B- (Started off awesome, again, this is for the whole 20 games)

Been hurt, time will tell. He's made some pretty impressive moves that show he has more talent than the "i stand in front of the net" bs the league talks about him as

Maltby - C+ (For me, he has stepped up his game and has been playing as the best 4th liner on the team)

Revival? He has really come on last 4-5 games. Starting to play like he did 3 years ago

DMac - C (Has played his role very very very well)

Love DMac, but your too slow now sorry man.

Draper - C (really have not been impressed by him)

Kopecky - C- (one good game does not make him good, is highly inconsistent)

Doing well for roll I think

Filppula - C- (This one pains me because I have the largest man crush on him, has played great defense but that big pay check needs to see some more offense)

Totally disagree I think Flip is doing amazing in the roll he is given. The guy needs more ice time, needs more talent on his line.

Defense[/u]

Kronners - B+ (Delivers crushing hits and is really producing on the offensive end)

Lilja - B (I did NOT seeing this one coming at all, has been our best PK d-men and has thrown down as well)

Lidstrom - B (Has looked slow but is still a great asset on the PP and as a first pair D-men with great ice vision)

Rafalski - B- (Great offensive playmaking skills and a reliable D-Man and PP specialist, forces a lot)

Stuart - C- (Greatly underproducing with a whopping 2 points, still hits though)

Lebda - D+ (worst +/- of all our D-Men, great speed and has shown a flash of brilliance or two, but largely disappointing)

Goalies

Conklin - A- (Has played amazing and exudes confidence and consistency of a top tier goalie)

Osgood - C+ (Has played decent, but over twenty games has not been impressive at all)

I tried to be as objective as I could, most of you will agree with a lot of the stuff I said, but I know there are a couple of curveballs in there that i didn't expect as well!