As the Ottawa Senators reach the quarter mark of the season, there is plenty of work to be done. For the most part, Professor Guy Boucher is receiving strong efforts from his pupils. While several sport impressive grades, many leave plenty of room for improvement.

Let’s see who’s making the grade.

Overall Team C+

Who are the real Senators? The team that went 5-1-4 in their first ten outings or the one currently mired in a four-game winless streak, 3-5-2 in their past ten starts. Top-ten league-wide power play and penalty kill units through October are now 22nd and 20th-ranked respectively.

Slightly over a week ago, the Senators were among the NHL’s five highest scoring teams. Five goals in the past four games have seen them fall to tenth and their record drop to 8-6-6 overall. In the midst of playing 10 of 11 games away from home, the Senators will have to right the ship in short order.

Coach B-

Guy Boucher is one of the hardest working and studious coaches in the league. However, whatever buttons the Senators coach pushed in the first ten games no longer worked as well in the past ten.

Injuries caused Boucher to put his lines in a blender. But the preference of icing a roster of 11 forwards and seven defenseman on many nights removed flow from the lines and back end.

It doesn’t help that Boucher’s power play and penalty kill units are both slumping. The Senators are 0 for 14 on the PP the past four games, while the PK has allowed 10 goals on their opposition’s last 29 opportunities.

The Senators went through two four-game and one five-game winless droughts last season, and are going through their first losing streak in the 2017-18 campaign. Boucher’s first order should be to find a way to get his special teams back on track.

General Manager A

Since being named GM April 10, 2016, Pierre Dorion made it a priority to acquire a top-six forward. It took longer than most fans wished. However, Dorion held up his end of the bargain by winning the Matt Duchene Sweepstakes after it became clear potential UFA Kyle Turris wasn’t going to re-sign on the GM’s terms. So Dorion made his best play possible.

The off-season free agent signing of Nate Thompson is also paying dividends. The centre is one of the Senators top penalty killers and is one of the NHL’s best faceoff men.

Forwards

Mark Stone A+

Awarded a letter in the preseason, Stone has a near perfect mark. The 25-year old ranks fourth league-wide in goals (13), all at even strength. His plus/minus rating of plus-13 is tied for sixth in the NHL. Stone is currently streaking, picking up eight goals and four assists in the Senators’ past nine games. A restricted free agent at season’s end, the Selke Trophy candidate is in line for a large raise.

Derick Brassard A

Brassard had a hard time transitioning from New York City last season. Six weeks into his second year with the Sens, the Ottawa resident already has six goals and 16 points. Bear in mind, Brassard didn’t net his sixth marker until his 32nd game in 2016-17, and is almost halfway to his 39-point total. The 30-year old may be the Senators’ most improved performer.

Mike Hoffman A-

Hoffman is averaging one point-per-game through his past 12 outings, (4 goals, 8 assists}. He leads all Senators with 71 shots on goal, and could have more than seven goals, if it were for any luck. The winger has a penchant for hitting goal posts.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau B

Despite recording 31 shots in 20 games, Pageau has only two goals to show for his effort. However, the 25-year old centre is often called upon to line up against the opposition’s top line. This he does well. Pageau’s 22.45 average shift total per game ranks third among his Senators’ peers.

Bobby Ryan B-

Ryan is still finding his way after missing eight games with a broken right finger. Since returning to the team four games ago, the 30-year old is playing alongside newcomer Matt Duchene. While goals haven’t come, it’s not for lack of effort. However, without a goal on the season, Ryan’s confidence level may start to wane.

Nate Thompson B-

GM Pierre Dorion brought Thompson to Ottawa from Anaheim upon Boucher’s recommendation. The 33-year old is one of the team’s best penalty killers. Thompson’s 60 per cent success rate on faceoffs is second league-wide when shorthanded.

Ryan Dzingel C+

Signed in the off-season to a two-year deal, Dzingel is on pace for 20-plus goals. With injuries to Ryan and, presently Zack Smith, the 25-year old filled in capably among top-six forwards

Tom Pyatt C+

With three goals, 10 points, Pyatt is on pace to surpass career highs this season. Never one to shy away, the second-year Senator is tied for no.1 among NHL forwards, averaging 1.4 blocked shots per game.

Alex Burrows C –

The 36-year old reached the 200-goal and 400-point plateau early this season. While Burrows hasn’t played the agitator role that fans were accustomed to with the Canucks, the left winger has become a mentor for younger players.

Zack Smith C-

Smith’s season is difficult to grade. The winger missed eight games and counting with two separate injuries, and will be out at least one more week. While Smith hasn’t scored in 25 games dating back to last season, he is the ultimate complimentary player, more than capable of filling any role tasked to him.

Matt Duchene - Incomplete

Duchene has nary a point since being acquired from the Avalanche. It’s more bad luck than anything. The centre has 24 shots on goal in six games with the Senators. It’s only a matter of time before the Haliburton, ON resident heats up.

Nick Paul – Incomplete

Paul hoped to open the campaign with the Senators. However, he suffered an injury during fitness testing on the first day of training camp. The rangy winger is getting a look-see at the moment. It’s unknown where Paul goes from here.

Defense

Erik Karlsson A

The team captain missed the Senators’ first five games recovering from off-season foot surgery and didn’t skip a beat upon his return. Despite playing only 15 games, Karlsson is currently tied for tops among NHL defenseman in assists (16). The 27-year old already recorded six multi-point games early in the season. While Karlsson trailblazes offensively, defensively he’s not playing at quite the levels fans are used to seeing. However, with more reps and treatment through the season, the two-time Norris Trophy winner should return to all-star form on the defensive side of his game.

Dion Phaneuf B-

The former Maple Leafs captain continues to be a class act with the Senators, especially off the ice. The soft-spoken 32-year old acts as a mentor to his fellow d-men and is looked upon as a key leader within the room. With nine points, (3 goals, 6 assists) in 20 games, Phaneuf still adds a touch of offense and has a heavy shot. Boucher recognizes Phaneuf is more valuable when playing slightly fewer minutes. The coach reduced the veteran’s ice time from 23 minutes per game last season to a more user-friendly 20 this season.

Mark Borowiecki B-

Signed to a two-year contract extension earlier this season, the rugged d-man is currently out of the lineup after suffering a concussion Sunday in New York. The 28-year old’s contributions do not show up in point totals, although his two goals are a career high. “Boro” is a heart and soul player who will literally skate through a wall for his teammates.

Fredrik Claesson B-

Claesson never looks out of place wherever he’s slotted among defenseman pairings. A modicum of consistency, the Swede scored a goal in front of family and friends in Stockholm, his off-season home.

Chris Wideman C+

Averaging 11:13 time-on-ice per game, the defenseman’s positive 53 per cent Corsi rating five-on-five is second only to Karlsson. However, the blue-liner’s season has likely come to a sudden end after tearing his right hamstring a week ago versus the Penguins. With a glut of young blue-liners in the system, the pending UFA may have played his final game in a Senators uniform.

Cody Ceci C

The young defenseman recently played his 300th game. Ceci’s 22 minutes time-on-ice per game is second on the Senators. Turning 24 December 21, the Ottawa native is still attempting to find his way in the NHL. A restricted free agent in the off-season, Ceci’s contract status will be an interesting situation to follow.

Johnny Oduya C

Two of Oduya’s four points came on the Senators recent Stockholm trip. The veteran of 815 NHL games is on the down-slope of his career. The 36-year old is averaging a career low of 17:31 ice-time per game.

Thomas Chabot – Incomplete

The 20 year-old was recalled for his second go-round this season after Borowiecki’s injury. Chabot played 15:36 in Wednesday’s loss to the Capitals, the most in his five-game NHL career. The youngster has three assists in his four games this season. Expect Chabot to quarterback the power play with Karlsson for many years to come.

Goaltending

Craig Anderson B-

Despite allowing four or more goals in seven of 15 starts, Anderson holds a 7-6-3 record. His 2.93 Goals Against Average and .896 Save Percentage are below norms for the Senators No.1 goalie. Good news, Anderson is quite capable of reaching a higher grade sooner than later.

Mike Condon - C

With only five starts this season, Condon is yet to find his groove and showed some rink rust at crucial times. The second-year Senator’s 1-0-3 record includes two shootout losses.