https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6844093/2025/11/29/nhl-quarter-season-grades-report-cards/

Last week, the 2025-26 NHL season passed its quarter point. It’s still early, but with one of the big demarcation points on the league’s calendar, U.S. Thanksgiving, behind us, we are starting to get an idea of what each team is and isn’t.

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.

Anaheim Ducks: A+

You could quibble about the scoring chances the Ducks give up, but they’re playing an exciting brand of hockey and succeeding at it. Leading the division at this point was not expected. It helps to have an ace such as Lukáš Dostál covering up mistakes, but he’s out for a bit with an injury. They’re never out of the game and have high-performing veterans augmenting a starry young core leading the way. — Eric Stephens

Boston Bruins: B+

The Bruins were the NHL’s fifth-worst team last year. They didn’t add much in the offseason. Charlie McAvoy, Elias Lindholm, Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson have missed time with injuries. But they are in the playoff fight while building culture, improving defense and converting on the power play. — Fluto Shinzawa

Read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6844093/2025/11/29/nhl-quarter-season-grades-report-cards/