LOS ANGELES – The NHL has just passed the halfway point in the season. There is much to be excited about, but just as much to be disappointed about.
The good and terrific teams have mostly come around and risen to the playoff spots they were predicted to hold. 
Care in point, is the Washington Capitals. The hangover has been alleviated and they are rolling the Metro Division. But they have the Pittsburgh Penguins in their rear view mirror and ahead in the playoffs. No amount of recent success can wipe the memory of past failures in the post season for the Caps.
The disappointing side includes the New Jersey Devils who cannot find a way up the Metro ladder.
The Dallas Stars are an enigma and the Edmonton Oilers are a disaster.
What has been proven this season is, no matter how many times you change your head coach, you need to change the basic roster before on-ice change happens.
Here are the Bartnick Takes for the NHL’s mid-season.
| LAST | RANK | TEAM | BARTNICK ‘s TAKE |
| 2 | 1 | LIGHTNING | Back-up Domingue won 14 games in net. Now All Star Goalie Vasilevskly is back. |
| 15 | 2 | FLAMES | Johnny Gaudreau is on fire. The Flames torch teams. Puns intended. |
| 3 | 3 | CAPITALS | The Champs have overcome their Cup hangover and are ready to party again. |
| 10 | 4 | PENGUINS | Matt Murray is 8-0 since injury. He and the Penguins look like Champs again. |
| 23 | 5 | GOLDEN KNIGHTS | Vegas is on such a roll even Malcolm Subban is winning games. |
| 1 | 6 | PREDATORS | The skaters have been spotty but the goaltending of Rinne and Saros has been superb. |
| 8 | 7 | BRUINS | Bruins survived plethora of injuries and remained in playoff spot. |
| 7 | 8 | SHARKS | Erik Karlsson has found his home at least until July. |
| 6 | 9 | JETS | With Big Buff and Ehlers out its time for Laine to turn it on again. |
| 4 | 10 | MAPLE LEAFS | Leafs love playing autumn style hockey. Spring hockey noT so much. |
| 18 | 11 | SABRES | Dahlen and Ristolainen anchoring the blue line on legitimate playoff team. |
| 19 | 12 | BLUE JACKETS | To paraphrase Torts, too many passengers on too many nights. |
| 19 | 13 | ISLANDERS | Barry Trotz is coach of the year. He should hand trophy to his goalie coach. |
| 16 | 14 | CANADIENS | Claude Julien is winning more games with this team than anyone expected. |
| 17 | 15 | STARS | Owner should have called out everyone because Seguin and Benn have responded. |
| 20 | 16 | WILD | Thought Wild were done, Boudreau’s team fights back. Spurgeon filling in nicely for Dumba. |
| 9 | 17 | AVALANCHE | You can’t be a one-line team no matter how great that one line is. |
| 5 | 18 | CANUCKS | The fact they’re higher than the Oilers, Ducks and Kings says a lot. |
| 14 | 19 | HURRICANES | Carolina won five in a row so now they’ll probably lose five in a row. |
| 12 | 20 | OILERS | The shine has come off Ken Hitchcock. Will he go back to coach Flyers now? |
| 25 | 21 | DUCKS | Ducks swing up and down so far and fast Randy Carlyle has motion sickness |
| 11 | 22 | BLACK HAWKS | Nobody told Patrick Kane the Hawk’s dynasty is over. He is amazing. |
| 30 | 23 | RED WINGS | Fans are coming back because this team is exciting just not winning. |
| 31 | 24 | PANTHERS | The Panthers play like they have never played together. Lots of talent no cohesion. |
| 22 | 25 | COYOTES | If this team ever catches a break watch out. Rick Tocchet is slowly building this franchise. |
| 24 | 26 | RANGERS | Why didn’t Hayes and Kreider play this good when Lungqvist was closer to his prime. |
| 21 | 27 | DEVILS | The most disappointing team in the league. Is Blackwood their goalie of the future? |
| 28 | 28 | BLUES | How does GM Doug Armsrrong always get a pass? Does he really think Berube can coach? |
| 29 | 29 | KINGS | Only Kopitar and Doughty should be safe at the deadline. |
| 27 | 30 | FLYERS | Gritty is the only one in the organization having a good year. |
| 26 | 31 | SENATORS | Their media guide is a shopping catalog for the other GMs in the league. |
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