We've reached the quarter pole in the NHL season (hard to believe, isn't it?), but the drama already has reached midseason form as some teams impress, others falter and still others can't get out of their own way.
To wit, their grades thus far:
Atlanta Thrashers (5-11-1-1)
Has the cavalry really arrived? The team thinks so. They signed unrestricted free-agent goalie (also known as persona non grata in Boston) Byron Dafoe after one of the most horrendous starts in NHL history. Dafoe won 35 games for the Bruins last year, but wasn't asked back. He could be just what the doctor ordered for the Thrashers. He has a strong, upbeat personality, is a good leader and can stop the puck. As talented as forward Ilya Kovalchuk is, he's got the hockey passion of a cactus. Fortunately, there is plenty of talent around Dafoe such as forward Dany Heatley. The team has much to offer, regardless of their embarrassing start, and Dafoe will help lead the way. Based on results, the assessment is grim but it's looking better.
Boston Bruins (12-3-3-1)
Dafoe is gone, Bill Guerin left for Dallas, Kyle McLaren doesn't want to be there anymore. Blah, blah, blah. Chances are, the Bruins are really sick and tired of hearing all the reasons they shouldn't be winning. Fact is, they are. Get over it. They're deep, they're talented and anyone who doubted the goaltending fortitude of John Grahame is, all of a sudden, silent. Joe Thornton has jumped his game into the stratosphere and despite the absence of wonderful left wing Sergei Samsonov, due to a nagging wrist injury, they are getting contributions from everywhere. This is a team here to stay.
Buffalo Sabres (3-11-3-1)
Until recently, the franchise had no owner. Judging by the crowds, they had no fans. And judging from their production (a conference-low 39 goals through 18 games), they had no one who could hit the broad side of a barn. Heading into their game against Columbus, they had a 12-game winless streak and had the worst record in the league. They have a giant hole to dig out of and don't have a franchise-caliber goalie to help pull them out. It's going to take everyone and so far, it doesn't look very promising.
Carolina Hurricanes (8-5-4-3)
Making it to the Stanley Cup finals also makes you a target. Even if you live in a place where hockey is buried behind college sports and NASCAR, you can't hide from your opponents. The Hurricanes certainly haven't been. Prior to their 3-1 loss in Boston on Thursday, the 'Canes went 11 games with at least a point. Center Ron Francis, underappreciated his entire career, has picked up right where he left off. Arturs Irbe was vocal in his unhappiness at being shelved in favor of Kevin Weekes, but Weekes has proven it was the right call. Now, if they could only figure out what Jeff O'Neill's problem is. After scoring once in eight games to open the season, he had scored just once in nine games. This is a decent team with excellent coaching and management. Look for them to stay the course.
Florida Panthers (6-7-4-4)
The Cubs' best player never to win a World Series -- Ernie Banks -- used to have a favorite saying: "Let's play two," expressing his desire to keep the action going. Well, so do the Florida Panthers apparently. In 21 games, the Panthers went into overtime in 11 (52.4 percent), including nine overtimes in the last 13. The club had managed 20 points in their first 21 games, which coach Mike Keenan said he'd take considering the demanding schedule and young roster. Consider them a work in progress.
Montreal Canadiens (9-7-4-0)
After an improbable first-round playoff victory over the top-ranked Bruins last spring, it was presumed to be a jumping off point for the Habs. However, they've just been treading water to this point. Saku Koivu has been nothing short of inspirational during his comeback from cancer and, on the ice, he's been terrific. Only problem is, his supporting cast is just so-so. Reportedly, the club is trying to peddle forward Mariusz Czerkawski, who seems to wear out his welcome (see: Bruins, Islanders) despite his talents. Goaltender Jose Theodore, the Hart and Vezina winner last year, got off to a disastrous start. Lucky for Montreal, they had Jeff Hackett. So far, they're nothing special.
New Jersey Devils (11-5-1-0)
Coach Pat Burns has done a stellar job of righting the ship. He has done it in part by riding the skills of goaltender Martin Brodeur, who started 17 straight games. Burns is still trying to find consistency from his forwards, but they're solid as a rock defensively, a hallmark for all of Burns' clubs. Their goals for isn't remotely impressive (47 through 17 games) but their goals against is (tied with the Flyers for a league-low 36). They'll be there at the end.
New York Islanders (7-11-2-0)
Wow, what a mess. Chris Osgood has underperformed. Alexei Yashin plays when he feels like it, and Michael Peca is having a hard time staying healthy. Coach Peter Laviolette may have started the season with a full head of hair, but, at this rate, he won't have one at the end. Through 20 games, the Islanders had given up a league-high 70 goals. They were also the second most penalized team in the NHL. Frustration? Lack of discipline? A combination of both? Not a good situation no matter how you look at it.
New York Rangers (9-10-3-0)
Let's see. Their most ferocious forward -- Eric Lindros -- can't stay out of the penalty box. Their oldest forward -- Mark Messier -- is playing like a guy 10 years younger. A defenseman -- Tom Poti -- was their leading scorer through 22 games. You figure it out. The Rangers are a club in transition (as in trying to transition from missing the playoffs every year to being a contender). Though scoring well, they're still giving up way too many goals (second-worst in the league with 69). Their payroll is high, their expectations are high, but so far they haven't lived up to the hype (again).
Philadelphia Flyers (10-3-6-0)
Now, this is the team we thought we'd see last year. With John LeClair healthy, and playing the same way he did when he was scoring 50 goals, and Jeremy Roenick displaying the wild abandon he did earlier in his career, this is a force to be reckoned with. Goaltender Roman Cechmanek has been impressive recently. A few weeks ago, he had a 2.24 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. He's since reduced them to 1.96 and .919. The feeling in Flyerland is upbeat, well, as upbeat as it ever gets there.
Pittsburgh Penguins (7-5-3-3)
Mario Lemieux is having a great season, no doubt about it. The 37-year-old marvel, who was averaging two points a game through 18 (36 points total), was still watching his team struggle to stay afloat in the tight conference race. They were in the middle of a seven-game slump (0-3-1-3) after a 7-2-2 start. No one was colder than Alexei Kovalev (one goal, minus-6 during the skid) thus proving as tremendous as Lemieux is, no one player makes a team.
Ottawa Senators (9-6-2-0)
The Senators are among the league's best forechecking teams and that, along with their speed, is why they're always in the top half of the conference. Daniel Alfredsson is one of the more fun players to watch and Patrick Lalime has been the glue that has held the whole team together. Reportedly, the club is shopping center Radek Bonk, who seems to have fallen off the face of the earth in terms of production. They're balanced, they're strong and they have one of the most feared defensemen in the league -- Zdeno Chara -- who has really blossomed into a player.
Tampa Bay Lightning (11-6-2-1)
A great start does not a great finish make. The Islanders found that out last year. The Lightning are finding it out this year. Center Tim Taylor has returned to his terrific form as one of the top defensive forwards in the league and Dave Andreychuk is reaching all kinds of milestones, but the team has hit a plateau. Defenseman Pavel Kubina has been both a joke and a distraction. The franchise is continuing to build itself, but bumps in the road remain.
Toronto Maple Leafs (7-10-2-0)
Independent of the whining and diving going on in Toronto, the Leafs aren't winning and that causes more mayhem north of the border than anything else. It doesn't help that they're dinged up, too. The latest victim is defenseman Bryan McCabe, who will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with a cracked bone in his foot. Another player, forward Robert Reichel, is in a slump (one goal, five assists in 19 games). Goaltender Ed Belfour is holding his own (2.41 GAA, .917 save percentage), but the jury is still out on how far the Leafs can really go. They're a year older and other teams have improved. Now, if they could only get Darcy Tucker to channel his energies into hockey, instead of complaining. Stay tuned.
Washington Capitals (8-10-2-0)
What do you get when you pay $70 million for one player -- Jaromir Jagr -- and then spend another $25 million to find a pivotman -- Robert Lang -- to make him happy? Well, through 20 games, you get a mediocre performance. And that's after considering the rebound of goaltender Olaf Kolzig. So, what's the problem? The Capitals' defense is what the Bruins' was last season -- offensively impotent, and that's including a healthy Sergei Gonchar who led all defensemen with 26 goals last season. Through 20 games, the blueliners had contributed just three of 43 goals -- and 43 goals were second-least in the conference. Jagr and Lang may be the top scorers on the team, but it hasn't added up to success -- at least not yet.
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
