Mid-Season report card
We are a little more than halfway through the season, time to hand out mid-term report cards!
HV 71 - A
HV 71 has played well in front of their outstanding goalie Stefan Liv. He has been solid and fiercly competitive, especially against Frölunda. They have scoring talent and they lead the league for a reason. They will have to turn it up a notch, as the cliche goes, in the playoffs.
Frölunda - A-
They have done better than many expected, especially after losing such stellar players like Daniel Alfredsson and Henrik Lundqvist. Tommy Salo has played well and the core of the team remains. They have the league's leading scorer in Tomi Kallio.
Linköping - A
Another team with a good goalie and depth. Picked as one of the teams to win it all this year, but they have been somewhat inconsistent. Started the season well but have not been able to keep it going.
Färjestad - C-
While they are in fourth place and will definitely be in the mix in the playoffs, they have been a major disappointment. Picked to win it all by some this team has been in the finals each of the last five years. This year they have lost the scoring touch and do not appear to have the depth they have had in previous years. They lack on outstanding goaltender and their stars are aging, but they have some proven playmakers so they very well may have an excellent second half.
Luleå - B+
A bit of a positive surprise. Renberg is still impressive, but they have goalie problems, Rautio looked positively sieve-like last night for example. While they are fifth and might advance in the playoffs, they really belong to the second tier of the league.
Modo - C
A disappointment. They have had a lackluster season without much to show for it. Will go to the playoffs but they lack the excitement of a young star player which they have had the last few years, like Weinhandl, Påhlsson, or the Sedin twins. Out of the playoffs in the first round.
Mora - A
Lost their coach, lost players, yet they have become a solid playoff team. They play really, really hard every night and last night beat HV 71. Scrappy, hard working, with a loyal following of rabid fans from Dalarna, look out for them in the playoffs. They are one of those buzzsaws you do not want to face.
Timrå - C+
A dull team which will do well to hang on to its last playoff spot. They are capable of better.
Brynäs - D
Started well, looked good for this ever-popular team. But recently they have hit the skids. Coaching issues are a distraction. Will not make the playoffs and may even have to qualify to return to the league though they should stay in the Elitserien without problem.
Djurgården - C
Despite their poor record they have done much better than expected. Their money issues have led to a fire sale that gutted the team. But they still have some good players left, like Bremberg, and they play with pluck.
Södertälje - D
A major disappointment. This should be a playoff team with Anze Kopitar, the number one draft NHL pick, but he has been forgettable and the team overall has been the same. Injury issues have not helped, but they lack the will to win and appear surly.
Leksand - D-
The other hockey-mad Dalarna team. Should be better than they are. Will probably not be in the Elitserien next year unless they expand to fourteen teams. Have been somewhat better recently but still not quite Eliteserien material.
HV 71 - A
HV 71 has played well in front of their outstanding goalie Stefan Liv. He has been solid and fiercly competitive, especially against Frölunda. They have scoring talent and they lead the league for a reason. They will have to turn it up a notch, as the cliche goes, in the playoffs.
Frölunda - A-
They have done better than many expected, especially after losing such stellar players like Daniel Alfredsson and Henrik Lundqvist. Tommy Salo has played well and the core of the team remains. They have the league's leading scorer in Tomi Kallio.
Linköping - A
Another team with a good goalie and depth. Picked as one of the teams to win it all this year, but they have been somewhat inconsistent. Started the season well but have not been able to keep it going.
Färjestad - C-
While they are in fourth place and will definitely be in the mix in the playoffs, they have been a major disappointment. Picked to win it all by some this team has been in the finals each of the last five years. This year they have lost the scoring touch and do not appear to have the depth they have had in previous years. They lack on outstanding goaltender and their stars are aging, but they have some proven playmakers so they very well may have an excellent second half.
Luleå - B+
A bit of a positive surprise. Renberg is still impressive, but they have goalie problems, Rautio looked positively sieve-like last night for example. While they are fifth and might advance in the playoffs, they really belong to the second tier of the league.
Modo - C
A disappointment. They have had a lackluster season without much to show for it. Will go to the playoffs but they lack the excitement of a young star player which they have had the last few years, like Weinhandl, Påhlsson, or the Sedin twins. Out of the playoffs in the first round.
Mora - A
Lost their coach, lost players, yet they have become a solid playoff team. They play really, really hard every night and last night beat HV 71. Scrappy, hard working, with a loyal following of rabid fans from Dalarna, look out for them in the playoffs. They are one of those buzzsaws you do not want to face.
Timrå - C+
A dull team which will do well to hang on to its last playoff spot. They are capable of better.
Brynäs - D
Started well, looked good for this ever-popular team. But recently they have hit the skids. Coaching issues are a distraction. Will not make the playoffs and may even have to qualify to return to the league though they should stay in the Elitserien without problem.
Djurgården - C
Despite their poor record they have done much better than expected. Their money issues have led to a fire sale that gutted the team. But they still have some good players left, like Bremberg, and they play with pluck.
Södertälje - D
A major disappointment. This should be a playoff team with Anze Kopitar, the number one draft NHL pick, but he has been forgettable and the team overall has been the same. Injury issues have not helped, but they lack the will to win and appear surly.
Leksand - D-
The other hockey-mad Dalarna team. Should be better than they are. Will probably not be in the Elitserien next year unless they expand to fourteen teams. Have been somewhat better recently but still not quite Eliteserien material.
posted by Jeremiah at 10:31 AM
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