This is the first report card of the off-season, where I will look back at the highs and lows of each player and give them a grade, based partly on performance and partly on performance vs expectation. I put that last part in because Eric Gryba will never be Erik Karlsson, and to grade those two blueliners against each other simply isn't a fair process.
I put all the names in a random number generator and will do one report card per day. Up first is rookie sensation Mark Stone:
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION -
Coming in to the season as a 22 year old rookie with less than 25 games under his belt, Stone was expected to come in and win a spot on the roster and gain experience. Moving into the top 6 would have been a bonus for this season, with the openings available. That top 6 role was certainly an expectation a little further down the road.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
It was certainly a breakout season for Stone, who did nothing but impress. After finding success without a ton of result on the scoreboard as part of the "kid line" with Curtis Lazar and Mike Hoffman. After Paul MacLean was fired and the lineup was juggled, Stone found a home on the Senators 1/1A line alongside Kyle Turris. It was a spot he became familiar with and succeeded at down the stretch last season after he took the injured Bobby Ryan's spot for the last month or so. They picked up right where they left off and Stone became one of the hottest scorers in the league over the second half.
Not only was Stone effective in putting up points, his defensive smarts and quick stick were as impressive, as he finished tied for the league lead in takeaways and was a primary penalty killer.
Stone parlayed a strong second half into a come-from-behind Calder Trophy nomination for Rookie of the Year, and the arm injury suffered in game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens really hampered the Senators' chances in that series, especially with Bobby Ryan going though a career cold spell.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
There are so many ways to present advanced statistics that there could be a book written on each player. For this I will find a pretty comparable player on each team in the Atlantic Division, taking into account role and (wherever possible) age, and see where the Senators player in question stacks up.
THE "KEY" STATS
Stone's points per 60 minutes of 5 on 5 time (2.59) had him ranked 10th in the entire NHL, and as stated above he was tied for the league lead in takeaways (98). He finished tied for first in rookie scoring with fellow Calder Nominee Johnny Gaudreau of the Flames.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The future can only be brighter for Stone. His foot speed is still average, but he gets where he needs to go and his hockey IQ is off the charts. Those smarts make up for his lack of speed (which isn't as big an issue as it was 2 or 3 years ago), and also why it won't result in a let-down offensively. He scored 26 goals in his first full season, and I think 30 goals and 70 points would be a low-ball target or starting point when projecting the next few years. As he gets more power play time and is a go-to player for a whole season, his start will only get brighter.
GRADE: Hard to argue with anything less than an "A"
Who do I have for tomorrow's report card? Wait and find out....the only clue I will give is that you better have your whips ready....
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