It’s the middle of December. NHL teams are starting to hit brutal stretches in their schedules. I think it’s only appropriate that I put out my version of a “Devils Player Report Card” up until this point in the season.

So let’s get to it —

GOALTENDERS

Cory Schneider – A+

Not surprisingly, this guy has been the team’s MVP so far this season, as he’s posted a .924 save percentage and 2.17 GAA. Pretty remarkable; especially playing with such a young group of defensemen in front of him.

Keith Kinkaid – B

His numbers aren’t anything special – .903 sv.% and 2.55 GAA with 2 wins in 5 starts. However, he’s played well enough to gain the confidence of John Hynes and the rest of the Devils’ coaching staff. They won’t hesitate to give him spot starts throughout the remainder of the season, regardless of who their opponent might me.

FORWARDS

Mike Cammalleri – A

Obviously don’t want to jinx this… but he’s somehow still healthy. A healthy Mike Cammalleri is huge for this season. He’s a leader on and off the ice, and has been producing a point per game (30 points in 30 games). He also happens to have the best +/- on the team, which is impressive in itself.

Adam Henrique – A

Despite getting hurt, he’s currently tied for second on the team with 23 points. He’s easily been playing the best hockey of his young career and seems to be enjoying an increased leadership role.

Lee Stempniak – A

Who would’ve thought that a guy brought in during training camp on a tryout basis would end up playing such a critical role on a rebuilding team? Stempniak also has 23 points so far this season, including a couple big + memorable game-winning plays (OT goal against the Rangers, OT assist on a pass to Palmieri against the Red Wings). It’s hard to believe that he’ll be able to keep this up, though.

Kyle Palmieri – A

Best offseason addition, by far. He knows how to compete – plain and simple. He also seems to be having a ton of fun out on the ice, especially when he’s gotten to play the point on the power play (something he didn’t get to do too much in Anaheim). Palmieri seems to have found a “home” in New Jersey [which is ironic, considering he’s from New Jersey originally].

Travis Zajac – B

The 2 biggest knocks on Zajac have always been 1) consistency and 2) the ability to stay healthy. Both of these have been evident so far this season, as evidenced by the fact that he’s currently on Injured Reserve. The Devils have struggled to win faceoffs without Zajac in the lineup, as he was their only center with a FO% greater than 50%.

Patrik Elias – B-

He joined the lineup much later than anticipated this season due to a lingering knee injury. Since returning, he’s managed to put up 5 points in 10 games, although he’s looked noticeably slower/older on the ice. This is not the same Patrik Elias that we’re accustomed to seeing in a Devils sweater.

Jacob Josefson – C+

Honestly, I love watching Josefson play. His skating ability + vision out on the ice is incredible. However, he has struggled to produce offensively. The Devils need to find a way to get more out of him because he’s clearly talented enough to thrive in a top-6 role.

Sergey Kalinin – C+

He’s done a pretty good job making the transition from the KHL to the NHL. He still needs to find “his game,” though — whether that be as a 2nd liner or a checking forward. If he can find a way to combine his size with his offensive skillset, he can actually be one of the big difference makers for the Devils down the stretch.

Bobby Farnham – C+

I had no idea who this guy was at the beginning of the season. I’m still not really sure what his story is entirely… All I know is that he knows how to compete. He’s willing to drop the gloves, annoy the crap out of opposing players and occasionally contribute offensively (including a goal in his first game for the Devils). I think he’s a great 4th liner / role player to have on this roster.

Tyler Kennedy – C

He was signed a bit into the season, so I had a hard time coming up with a fair rating for him here. He’s played 9 games at this point and has played in various spots in the lineup. He’s another good addition as a role player, but it’ll be interesting to see what kind of numbers he puts up as the season goes on.

Brian O’Neill – C-

The Devils acquired O’Neill right before the start of the season in a no-risk trade with the LA Kings. The reigning AHL MVP has shown a few signs of life offensively, but hasn’t been able to actually produce anything at the NHL level. He has 2 points (both assists) in 22 games this season.

Jordin Tootoo – C-

Tootoo leads the team with 55 penalty minutes. He also has the worst +/- on the team (-17). I’ve always been a pretty big Tootoo fan, but so far this season I haven’t been too impressed. He’s been playing a good amount on the second PP unit, yet has only put up 6 points in 30 games.

Stephen Gionta – D

Gionta hasn’t done anything this year. He’s missed on countless scoring opportunities, has a +/- rating of -7 and has been subpar in the faceoff circle. You always have to appreciate the effort Gionta gives the team on a nightly basis, but it’s gotten to the point where the effort doesn’t really mean too much if he’s not producing. I wouldn’t expect little Gio to be a top point-producer by any means, but he’s just not doing his job as a fourth line C.

Stefan Matteau – D

He’s only played in 13 games this season, so it’s really tough to give him an accurate grade on this report card. Judging by the amount of times he’s been a healthy scratch, though, you have to assume that he’s not doing too much in practice to warrant a consistent spot in the lineup.

Jiri Tlusty – F

He scored on opening night. Since then – he’s done absolutely nothing.

Tuomo Ruutu, Reid Boucher, Joseph Blandisi – N/A

These guys haven’t played enough this season, so I’m going to refrain from giving them a grade on this report card.

DEFENSEMEN

Andy Greene – A

Shut-down defenseman. Captain. Leader on + off the ice.

Adam Larsson – A-

6 points in 30 games. He’s really come along as a top-pairing D-man.

Damon Severson – B+

Severson hasn’t looked back after being a healthy scratch for a game early on in the season. He has 10 points in 29 games and has been rock-solid in the second D pair with John Moore.

John Moore – B

He’s played extremely well for the Devils. Sometimes, you don’t even notice he’s out there. I was expecting more offensively out of Moore, but it’s nice to see that he’s not pushing it / trying to do “too much” in his role playing alongside Damon Severson.

David Schlemko – B

Early on, I thought Schlemko was going to be the next “Bryce Salvador” – meaning he’d be the one guy on the team that I’d love to hate. I was wrong, though. He’s been very reliable defensively and has done a respectable job playing the point on the second power play unit as of late.

Jon Merrill – C

He hasn’t done anything great this season.

Eric Gelinas – D+

He hasn’t contributed much offensively at all this season. I think everyone was getting excited to see what Gelinas could do with his rocket of a slapshot on the PP this season.

He hasn’t gotten much of a chance to play on the power play, though, because of his inconsistent play. Whenever he finds himself in the lineup, he always plays the fewest minutes of any defenseman on that night. There’s a reason for that.

COACH

John Hynes – A+

Who would’ve thought the Devils would be in a playoff position in the middle of December? Obviously, there’s a lot of time left in the season, but it’s encouraging to see a team lacking talent still performing at a competitive level under a rookie coach.