But after a poor start by everyone except goaltender T

The season is two weeks old and still growing. Like a puppy or kitten, in two more weeks itll be unrecognizable.So what have we learned so far? What kind of grades would we hand out for each course if we were the grading type (which, of course, we are)? Here goes:Stargazing 101Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Grade: A+ I must admit that I was skeptical McDavid was ready to hang with the games elite after missing almost half of his rookie season with a shoulder injury and then being named the youngest captain in NHL history. Never mind. The Oilers are the seasons nicest early surprise, at 6-1, and McDavid woke up Thursday morning leading the league with 11 points.Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils Grade:?B+ The Devils have quietly moved above .500 and their moribund offense is slowly rounding into form thanks to their big offseason acquisition, Hall, who has five goals and six points in six games. Whether its because hes still ticked off about being traded or not, Hall is proving hes a pivotal part of the Devils hopes.Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks Grade: C The Blackhawks have had a weird start (see below), but one of the most curious parts of the perennial Cup contenders up-and-down first few weeks has been the lack of production from its captain. Toews talked at the World Cup of Hockey last month about how much he was looking at the coming season as a chance to a start fresh. Thats not how things have worked out so far, as he has no goals and two assists through seven games.Advanced special teams (Power-play section)Nashville Predators Grade:?A+The 2-4 Preds arent nearly the team most people thought they would be early on, but its scary to think about where they would be without their smoking-hot power play, which as of Thursday had scored 10 goals on 24 opportunities. Ryan Johansen, P.K. Subban, Mike Fisher, Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg have combined for 19 power-play points. Now if only Nashville could just figure out the rest of the game.Tampa Bay Lightning Grade:?AIts no surprise that the Lightning are off to a tremendous start in the Atlantic Division and no surprise the power play is cooking at 30.4 percent efficiency, making Tampa Bay one of just three teams north of 30 percent in man-advantage productivity. Whats so impressive is that nine different Lightning players have at least two power-play points to their credit.Washington Capitals Grade:?CWhats wrong with this picture? The star-studded Capitals -- who had the most potent power play in the Eastern Conference last season, en route to a Presidents Trophy -- have managed just two man-advantage goals on 19 opportunities. Expect water to find its own level with this talented group sooner rather than later.Ottawa Senators Grade:?DThe question is: How did the Senators get to 4-2 with just one power-play goal on 15 opportunities? And how do you operate at 6.7 percent efficiency with the games most dynamic defender, captain Erik Karlsson, on your team? Inquiring minds want to know.Advanced special teams (Penalty-kill section)Florida Panthers Grade:?AAn indication of good coaching isnt just killing penalties but not taking them. The Panthers have allowed a league-low 13 opportunities through six games. Theyve allowed just two power-play goals.Minnesota Wild Grade: ARemember when coach Bruce Boudreau had Anaheim at the top of both the power-play and penalty-kill categories in Anaheim last season? The Wild remember, as Boudreaus new charges have allowed just one goal on 21 opportunities.New York Islanders Grade:?A+Hey, lets give credit where credit is due. The only team more successful early on than the Wild at killing penalties is the Islanders, who have killed 21 of 23.Chicago Blackhawks Grade:?F-Yeah, I know theres no such thing as an F-. But if there was, Chicago would be up for it given the fact that the Blackhawks have somehow allowed 14 power-play goals on 26 opportunities. I know thats not going to last, but its still interesting to look at while the perennial Cup contenders are trapped in penalty-kill hell.Pop quiz (As in, Expect the unexpected)Thomas Vanek, Detroit Red Wings Grade:?A+The erstwhile former Wild, Canadien, Islander and Sabre somehow has come alive with the red-hot Red Wings and leads the team with eight points through seven games, including chipping in four power-play assists. Go figure.Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers Grade:?B+With Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad out long term, Marchesseault has stepped nicely into the breach after signing with the Panthers in the offseason. He leads the Cats with eight points in six games.Max Domi/Anthony Duclair, Arizona Coyotes Grade:?DTough start for the Coyotes, who havent won since opening night. Last seasons rookie dynamic duo has been especially snakebit early on, combining for zero goals and three assists, all collected by Domi.Astrophysics (Study of goaltenders section)Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers Grade:?A+Have to admit that after watching Talbot get yanked in the Oilers loss to Buffalo almost two weeks ago I wondered if this would be the start of another tumble down the rabbit hole for the beleaguered franchise. Nope. Turns out this was the teams only loss to date and Talbot has been a rock, leading the league with six wins while posting a very healthy .927 save percentage. Talbot has played more minutes than any other goalie.Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings Grade:?A-Yes, Howard has played in just two games for the surprising Red Wings but hes been very, very good with a 2-0 mark and .984 save percentage. In a market where goaltenders are falling like flies, Howards early play might make him suddenly much more marketable than he was before the season.Cam Ward/Eddie Lack, Carolina Hurricanes Grade:?D-When I spoke with GM Ron Francis before the season, we talked goaltending and his belief that Ward, the longtime face of the franchise (at least in terms of goaltending), and Lack, who came to Carolina from Vancouver before last season, were the best options available to his team. So far that decision has backfired spectacularly, as the Canes duo has given up an average of four goals against per game and is tied for the most even-strength goals allowed in the league as Carolina has staggered to a 1-3-2 start.Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs Grade:?FIt seems a bit unfair to pile on the pride of Herning, Denmark, but facts are facts -- and the fact is Andersen, fresh off signing a five-year deal to backstop the Leafs into the future, has been a mess. He has a goals-against average of 4.29 and a save percentage of .851. Hell get better. Wont he? Sure he will. Unless he doesnt, in which case this is the first true test of the Leafs management team, which is enjoying an extended honeymoon with a squad that finished 30th last season and seems destined to finish near the bottom of the standings again if the goaltender of the future doesnt buck up. Vans Shoes Clearance .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Wholesale Vans Shoes Online . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.vansoutletstore.com/ . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Cheap Vans Shoes Shop . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Discount Vans Shoes . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season.CHICAGO -- Zdeno Chara saw Daniel Pailles quick shot hit the net. He didnt see Tyler Seguins nearly-perfect pass that set up the Boston Bruins overtime winner in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final. Still, Chara figured, it was "probably a good pass." It was. It was also arguably the biggest play Seguin has made in these playoffs. By recording just his sixth point in 18 games, the 21-year-old showed that even amid a goal-scoring slump he can still find a way to be relevant. "Youve seen him grow huge as a player," Paille said. "Its a bit frustrating for him right now that he hasnt scored like he has, but were not too worried about him. We know that hes a special player and we know that he can and its just a matter of time." Seguin has gotten his opportunities. In place of the injured Nathan Horton late in Game 1, Seguin was noticeable in finding scoring chances but also in not finishing them. He has just one goal in the playoffs and has been shuffled down the lineup. Saturday night, coach Claude Julien put Seguin with Paille and centre Chris Kelly, and it paid off with two Boston goals in the 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. "We were moving pretty well, we were competing,&quoot; Seguin said.dddddddddddd "Playing with more confidence out there." Its hard to blame Seguin if he lacked a bit of confidence given his struggles. But after a poor start by everyone except goaltender Tuukka Rask in Game 2, Julien singled out Seguin as "one of the guys that picked up his game." Seguins game, from a production standpoint, has nowhere to go but up. But there are other aspects of the game, including play-making, creating for linemates and back-checking, that can make him stand out. "I think its even more important to play the other parts of the game when youre not contributing offensively," Kelly said. "I think you need to pick up other aspects of your game to make them better in order to be a better all-around player." Its an ongoing process for Seguin, who is two years removed from the Bruins Cup run that including him being a healthy scratch at times. It also included some breakout games. Seguin most likely wont get healthy-scratched this time around. Hes part of Bostons core, even if hes not scoring at the pace of David Krejci (23 points), Nathan Horton (18 points) or Milan Lucic (16 points). But Game 2 was a good start. 12:54ET 16-06-13 ' ' '