NHL: Midseason Grades: Southeast Division

Last one's was a little lengthy again. I figured I would just highlight the important stuff this time around, but I can't really figure out how to do that. So we'll learn to deal with it one way or another.

Let me preface the whole post just by saying that the Southeast Division...lacks the quality of play most other divisions have.

1. Washington Capitals (2nd)
-The Washington Capitals made huge strides last year, going from last in the league at one point to division champions. This year they're enjoying the same spot again.

Let's start with the offense. Left winger Alex Ovechkin is extremely talented, both at goal scoring and in ordering food to Sidney Crosby's room. Last year, he led the NHL in points. He's picked up his play after a slow start (5 points in first 9 games), and currently leads the league in goals with 31. The greater surprise at the start of the season was Alex Semin, who came sprinting out of the gate with 27 points in 16 games. The party ended shortly after he remembered he remembered how injury prone he was (The NHL regular season has 82 games: Semin has yet to hit 80, and has played more than 70 games only once in four seasons). Sophomore center Nicklas Backstrom seems to be enjoying his role as Ovechkin's center with 48 points in 48 games. He's got talent, but playing with a weapon like Ovechkin always helps.

I may as well tack on defenseman Mike Green to the offense, considering his fantastic 33 points in 35 games, 12 of which you can find in the goal column. However, his fighting skills could be better:



Despite Washington's prolific offense (7th in the league), their defense is their downfall (14th in the league). It's not terrible, but if it's going to take a better defense if they plan on making a deep run into the playoffs. The penalty kill needs to be better as well (79%, 24th in the league). Flaws like that show in the playoffs, and the addition of a punishing defenseman at the trade deadline wouldn't hurt.

Along with problems on defense comes goaltending troubles. Jose Theodore has enjoyed a roller coaster of a career, going from league MVP to playing poorly to playing well to getting sick/hurt and playing poorly in last year's playoffs to, well...playing poorly. His 2.81 GAA and .898 Sv% need to improve, though he's been better as of late. Backup Brent Johnson has played well at points, but injuries have hobbled him, and it's likely they'll continue to do so. I just don't understand why they haven't gone with Brett Leonhardt full time yet. Would've been nice for him to actually play.

FINAL GRADE: B+. This offense can light it up, but the back end needs to be stronger.



2. Carolina Hurricanes (8th)
-I challenge you to find a more mediocre team than the Hurricanes. Not only are they right in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, but their atrocious 2.50 goals per game puts them 25th in the league, and their goals against per game isn't much better (2.90). Eric Staal, a man who has previously notched 100 points in a season, only has 35 points in 48 games. Rod "Rod the Bod" Brind'Amour, once renowned for his skills as a defensive forward, has only 27 points in 48 games and -29 +/- rating that just makes me want to vomit. Defensemen Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen each have 21 points a piece, and neither has managed to beat out the other as the go to guy on the powerplay. Right wing Justin Williams spent the start of the season hurt and has only managed 9 points in 23 games.

And now, I will give credit where credit is due. Ray Whitney, at 36 years old, currently leads the team in points with 39 in 48 games. Whitney has never been a particularly dynamic scorer, but he's a relatively consistent 60-70 point guy. He's chugging right along at his normal pace. So don't you pay those other players any mind, Ray Whitney; just keep doing your thing.

People often look at goaltender Cam Ward and are critical of his numbers (2.57 GAA, .911 Sv%) after considering the fact that he helped take the Hurricanes to the Cup back in 2006. However, it's possible that was just a case of him being hot at the time. Ward, a first round draft pick back in 2002, is only 24. So let's cut him a little slack; plenty of goalies aren't able to shoulder a starting job until their late 20's or early 30's. He's played fantastic as of late, and backup Michael Leighton no longer seems to be a threat to usurp the starting job.

FINAL GRADE: C-. These guys look heartless when they play. If you've noticed, there's a pattern here: the worse teams, as well as the teams I tend to criticize more, seem to play without any interest in the game before them. It's a problem.



3. Florida Panthers (9th)
-Congratulations to the Panthers, who refuse to go down without a fight. That's not sarcastic, folks. This team is enjoyable to watch, and I'd love to see them make the playoffs.

After shipping center Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, most of the questions about this team were about the offense. However, they've been able to handle the load thanks to a few young players. For quite some time, it was expected that big bad Nathan Horton could be the star of the future:



However, his 26 points in 37 games isn't good enough. He's put up back-to-back 62 point seasons, but he has yet to truly break out. Instead, it seems as though left winger David Booth (31 points in 39 games) could be taking his place at the top of the totem pole.

Props to the defense as well. They currently rank 9th in the league with 2.74 goals against per game. A squad of Jay Bouwmeester, Bryan McCabe, and Karlis Skrastins to go along with Ballard and Boynton isn't exactly sublime, but it's not a bad unit by any means. Couple that with quality play from Tomas Vokoun (2.68 GAA, .916 Sv%) and Craig Anderson (2.47 GAA, .930 Sv%), and we've got ourselves a pretty good defensive unit.

The case of Bouwmeester is an interesting one. He leads Panthers defensemen with 26 points in 46 games, but only signed a 1 year contract this past summer. It's doubtful he'll resign, so it's probable he'll be shipped at the trade deadline. They can choose to keep him for a playoff run, but then they'd be forced to lose him to free agency for nothing. My opinion? Expect him to find a new home as the deadline gets closer.

FINAL GRADE: B. Not only are they playing good hockey, but it's fun to watch. Here's to a playoff berth.



4. Tampa Bay Lightning (12th)
-I will admit, I am a moderate Tampa Bay Lightning fan. But at the start of the year, the team they put on the ice was one with almost no chemistry and no heart. The choice of Barry Melrose as coach didn't help much, and they stumbled early on and found themselves behind in the standings. Therefore, interim head coach Rick Tocchet, I give you my virtual handshake of approval. You've taken a car crash of a team and turned them around as best you could. Tampa is still in place to make a playoff run, and they're no longer sad to watch.

Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis have picked up their play after slow starts, and both will be participating in the All-Star Game in Montreal. The "picked up their play" part applies to everyone on the team, offense and defense alike. The first overall pick from last year's draft, Steven Stamkos, has alternated between games and new conditioning routines as of late. Whatever it is, it's working; he has 4 points in his last 5 games.

Monster Evgeny Artyukhin (6'5", 254) happens to be incredibly fun to watch as well:



The defense is patchwork, but ever since they shipped Dan Boyle to San Jose, there's been no offensive leader. Recent waiver wire acquisition Cory Murphy could be the solution. He recorded 3 points in his first 2 games with Tampa, and while it's doubtful he'll keep up the pace, the offense needs somebody who can start a rush and engineer a powerplay.

It's goaltender Mike Smith's first year as a starter, and his 2.50 GAA and .919 Sv% look even better considering the type of defense his playing behind. He's still young (26), and he certainly fills the net (6'4", 218). Let's see if he can keep it up for a full season.

Final Grade: C+. This could hit B range if they make the playoffs.



5. Atlanta Thrashers (14th)
-Atlanta has it easy: fire General Manager Don Waddell.

I won't bother discussing the numerous trades in which he has been robbed. That's for another time. However, this could be the second straight year in which Waddell is forced to ship a star player. Last year, it was right winger Marian Hossa. This year, it could be left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, who currently leads the team with 49 points in 48 games. Kovalchuk is a gifted sniper: his career goal totals from his rookie season to last season read 29, 38, 41, 52, 42, 52. He won't be a free agent this summer, but he will be after next season. The Thrashers have only made the playoffs once during his tenure there, and they were swept in the first round. The organization has tried to convince him to stay by naming him captain. If they don't come to terms with him on an extension soon, they may be forced to ship him.

Meanwhile, Todd White (44 points in 48 games) and Vyacheslav Kozlov (42 points in 48 games) have rebounded from down years. Rookie Brian Little was the offensive leader at the start of the season (34 points in 45 games) until Kovalchuk finally started to heat up. Meanwhile, center Rich Peverley, claimed off of waivers from Nashville, has 8 points in 5 games as a Thrasher. Defenseman Ron Hainsey is producing with 25 points in 48 games, and the Thrashers' powerplay is humming along at 12th in the NHL (20%).

As with many other teams, the problems can be seen in the goaltender's numbers. Remember, though, that goalie statistics are both reflective of the goaltender's play and the team's play. With that being said, Kari Lehtonen has a 3.19 GAA and a .904 Sv%. You can't really find any positives in that.

FINAL GRADE: D+. Please, let Don Waddell be fired.



OTHER STUFF
-Washington is essentially a lock. It's all about who else makes the cut with them.

-brett