Quarter-Pole Grades

I've tried doing different formats before, but this time I'll keep it simple, with letter grades.

Daniel Alfredsson - A+
Hopefully I made my thoughts quite clear in the article entitled "Daniel Alfredsson is the best player in the NHL". Accordingly, he's also the best player on the best line on the best team in hockey. Alfredsson is unequivocally the most valuable player on the Senators, the heart and soul of this team, and his contributions are irreplaceable. Powerplay, penalty kill, even strength, playmaking, sniping, defending, leading his team - he does it all, and he does it better than anybody else in the league. Alfredsson has been on a tear for nearly a full calendar year now, and though the recent groin injury kept him out of a game, he seems cleared for Wednesday and should be all systems go to lead his team back to invincibility.

Dany Heatley - A
Alfredsson aside, Heatley has been Ottawa's most consistent and reliable forward by far. He seems determined this year to flesh out his game, to evolve beyond his limited role as Spezza's triggerman. While he's hardly perfect, and there is still room for improvement, he has shown improved skating, physical play, take-charge leadership on the ice, and playmaking. His defensive game at even strength has lacked focus, but he has adapted well to a newfound role on the penalty kill. Often overlooked is that he is in the top tier of leaders in ice time, and that he can play 26 minutes or more per night without wearing down. Without really understanding Heatley's game, he can look a little indolent on the ice, but his offensive contributions are incomparable. The sniper, playmaker, or simply the body on the ice who draws attention and creates room for his linemates - Heatley's role on this team is underestimated and I think we'd have almost as difficult a time finding wins without him as we do without Alfredsson and Redden. Fortunately, Heatley has not missed a game since early 2004, so it's not a plight the Senators are familiar with.

Spezza - A-
Unfortunately, the world-beating Spezza we saw in preseason downgraded to the merely elite Spezza once the season began. He's had a journey of a season to start, beginning with his seemingly endless quest to find a goal, then an ever extending injury, then something of a slump (2 mediocre games is a slump for Spezza, isn't it?), then a seemingly endless quest to find his second goal (the third one didn't take quite as long to obtain, it turns out). There hasn't been much development on the Spezza front, sadly. The improvements he displayed in the preseason - improved skating, speed and agility - seem to have fallen by the wayside, though it's still early days and the groin injury surely had an impact. Even the commitments from late last season - better defensive awareness, a pride in being reliable in his own zone, a willingness to shoot and keep defenders honest, avoiding the pass-only mentality- have not been present in his game of late, at least not to the degree I'd find favourable. However, this takes nothing away from what he is bringing to the table. After a couple games adjustment upon return from injury, Spezza began to make his impact. The anemic powerplay began not only generating momentum, but offense (finally!). Heatley ended his scoring drought, conveniently, when Spezza returned. Spezza and his linemates singlehandedly won us a game against Montreal; he and his linemates also kept us in games against Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It is no secret that the team has learnt to function without Spezza, but no one can replace his offensive zone wizardry.

Fisher - B
Inevitably I'll feel I'm being unfairly harsh, but here goes. Fisher is our second line centre. Who cannot generate offense unless he has one of the best players in the NHL on his line. What gives? I'm all for spreading offense, and love the chemistry Fisher has with Alfredsson, and with Heatley, going so far as to advocate he play with the latter full-time. But all the players mentioned but Fisher can generate on their own. Even Vermette and Kelly have had the majority of their goals come either through individual effort, or opportunities with fellow third liners. We can't really say the same about Fisher. He is on pace for 18 goals. The other stuff - the intensity, physical and defensive play, it's usually there on a consistent basis, and that's why he's receiving a favourable grade. But for our second line pivot to be practically incapable of generating offense on his own accord - it's slightly worrying.

Vermette - B
Most of my issues with Vermette are merely with his use. He is perhaps our most creative forward outside of the big three. He is defensive responsible, almost to fault in the eyes of the coaching staff, apparently. He can play any forward position, can slide in on any line, though he has made it clear he would like more offensive responsibility. And yet Paddock sees fit to play Robitaille in Vermette's stead on the second power play unit. Paddock is enough a fan of Vermette's offensive abilities that he is the team's first choice shootout option, but he won't allow Vermette to work that creativity on the powerplay. Eaves, Fisher, Robitaille, Neil, and McAmmond have all received first unit power play time with Heatley and Spezza at some point over the past season. Why not Vermette?

Kelly - B
The hands of stone make my nights awfully frustrating with infuriating regularity, but other than that, Kelly is money. Kelly plays smart, safe, and effective.

Neil - C
Robitaille - C
Donovan - B
McAmmond - B
McGrattan - B
Schubert - C

Phillips - A
Volchenkov - A
Redden - B+
Meszaros - B+
Corvo - C
Richardson - C

Gerber - A
Emery - C-

Explanations to follow.