NHL Midseason Shockers: Which Teams Are Soaring and Which Are Stumbling as Playoffs Loom?
What better time to break out our red pens and hand out some grades? That’s exactly what The Athletic did this week when it asked its NHL staff to assign a grade to every team with expectations in mind. You’ll definitely want to show some of these to your parents (or general managers). Others … maybe not.
Stats collected before Friday’s NHL action.
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Anaheim Ducks: C+
The Ducks were the embodiment of exciting, high-event hockey in the early weeks, but that concoction for winning games aged quickly. Opponents adapted and slowed down their rush game, forcing them to adjust, and the offense has been harder to come by. More alarming is their inability to consistently defend well and their continued tendency to allow golden scoring chances. The youngsters are still growing, but a recent nine-game losing streak showed they’re not ready to lead, and the contributions from complementary veterans have been waning. — Eric Stephens
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