Year-End Grades: Lil Mess and Feser

Marcus Messier: C

Again, I don't like to give rookies a low grade just because they're rookies, but I'm not going to inflate anything either (heh). Marcus isn't bad, just has some learning to do. And hopefully some growing. He's listed at 5'8" 145 lbs., which may be generous. Kid should eat some cheeseburgers. But he is quick and persistent. I awarded him "most tenacious". He's fought to get ice time and with so much depth on the team, that wasn't easy. Injuries helped him a little bit but he was still a healthy scratch many nights. And that's part of being a rookie--paying your dues.

Little Mess has some talent just waiting to bloom. With not a lot of playing time it's hard to say what he'll look like next season, especially if he gets some size over the summer. He's determined to make the lineup and play hard so I figure if he wants it bad enough, he'll figure out how to make that happen best he can.

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Justin Feser: A-

Did you know Justin had racked up 63 points in the regular season (26g 37a)?  I didn't either.  Talk about being not very flashy.  He spent so much time improving his defensive game--even playing D when on the eastern road swing--and improving his play away from the puck, that I overlooked his offensive contributions.  Interestingly, he had exactly 10 fewer goals than last season, but the exact same amount of assists.  Players have to be willing to sacrifice lots o' goals to make their all-around game better.

Feser was paired with Patrick Holland and like last season they kept that chemistry going and were very effective at being a good shut-down pairing.  All the line shuffling coach did throughout the season, those two pretty much always stayed together.   I don't imagine the upcoming season will be much different for Feser and Holland and their role(s).  If it ain't broke and whatnot.