Before we close the book on the Penguins' 2017-18 season, there remains one last bit of homework to do: Report cards.
Though there were certainly many superlative performances along the way, the Penguins fell short of their quest to become the first team in over 35 years to win three straight Stanley Cup titles. They couldn't do it in large part because too many players failed to meet or exceed expectations.
Without further ado, here, alphabetically, are my final grades for the 2017-18 Penguins:
ZACH ASTON-REESE
Stat line: 4G-2A-6Pts. in 16 games. The skinny: Upon his recall in early February, Aston-Reese had a stretch where he scored four goals in as many games and showed he could be a power forward at the highest level. However, his season was dogged by two separate injuries (upper body and broken jaw/concussion). Grade: B-
DERICK BRASSARD
Stat line: 3-5-8 in 14. The skinny: Just when the Penguins' biggest trade deadline acquisition started to find his groove with his new team, he was derailed by a groin injury that hampered him through the playoffs. Brassard is signed through next season and expectations remain high for him. Grade: C+
FRANK CORRADO
Stat line: 0-0-0 in 5. The skinny: Veteran journeyman appeared in a handful of games and acquitted himself well, but Corrado remains nothing more than an organizational depth piece. Grade: Incomplete
SIDNEY CROSBY
Stat line: 29-60-89 in 82. The skinny: After winning the Rocket Richard in 2016-17, the captain scored 15 fewer goals, though he finished with the exact same point total. Played in all 82 games for the first time in his career in what was a rather ho-hum season by his standard. Remains the preeminent player in the game. Grade: A
JEAN-SEBASTIEN DEA
Stat line: 1-0-1 in 5. The skinny: Fourth-line center played fairly well in small sample. Scored first career goal, the game-winner, in Jan. 23 game against Carolina. Grade: Incomplete
CASEY DeSMITH
Stat line: 6-4-1, 2.40 GAA, .921 SV%. The skinny: Worked his way up through the organization to reach NHL and then played well enough to win audition over Tristan Jarry to serve as the backup to Matt Murray in the playoffs. At 6-foot, 181 pounds, DeSmith is on the small side for a modern NHL goalie, but is better than serviceable. Grade: B
BRIAN DUMOULIN
Stat line: 5-13-18 in 80. The skinny: Dumoulin emerged from the sizable shadow cast by defense partner Kris Letang to post career highs in goals, points and penalty minutes (30). At 26, Dumoulin is just entering the prime of his career and is developing into one of the league's better blueliners. Grade: A
JAKE GUENTZEL
Stat line: 22-26-48 in 82. The skinny: If regular-season Guentzel ever merged with playoff Guentzel, he'd be a superstar. As is, he's pretty good. Does everything well and plays a surprisingly hard game for 5-11 and 181. Just needs to find some consistency in his goal scoring. Grade: B+
CARL HAGELIN
Stat line: 10-21-31 in 81. The skinny: With his world-class speed, Hagelin is the prototype of what Mike Sullivan looks for in his forwards. Overcame a slow start and found great chemistry with Evgeni Malkin. The Swede enjoyed his best statistical season in a Pittsburgh uniform. Grade: B+
PATRIC HORNQVIST
Stat line: 29-20-49 in 70. The skinny: All you need to know about what Hornqvist means to the organization is that it gave him a five-year contract extension in-season. The Swede is one of the NHL's best net-front presences and registered a team-best 15 goals on a record-breaking power play. Grade: A
MATT HUNWICK
Stat line: 4-6-10 in 42. The skinny: The Penguins' biggest splash in free agency last summer, Hunwick suffered a concussion in October that forced him to miss 15 games and struggled mightily afterward with his positioning. Was a healthy scratch 22 times in the season and did not appear in the playoffs. Grade: D
TRISTAN JARRY
Stat line: 14-6-2, 2.77, .908. The skinny: The 23-year-old carried the load during Murray's absences and played well enough to establish himself as a legit NHL goalie. Jarry's 14 wins led all rookies but he lost the backup job for the postseason as the organization favored DeSmith's maturity. Grade: B-
JOSH JOORIS
Stat line: 0-0-0 in 9. The skinny: Acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline for organizational depth, Jooris played well in three separate recalls. Strong skater and does have some offense to his game, but his path to the NHL in Pittsburgh as a center is blocked. Grade: C+
PHIL KESSEL
Stat line: 34-58-92 in 82. The skinny: Kessel posted career highs in assists and points and led the league in power play points (42). Was a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate before his game slipped over the final third of the season due to an injury that Sullivan later called "not significant." Grade: A
TOM KUHNHACKL
Stat line: 2-6-8 in 69. The skinny: Excels as a shot-blocker on the penalty kill and is strong on the forecheck in his fourth-line role, but provides little offensive production. Didn't score a goal in final 33 games of the regular season but, to his credit, was one of the few Penguins to play well against Washington in the playoffs. Grade: C
KRIS LETANG
Stat line: 9-42-51 in 79. The skinny: Coming off neck surgery that hindered his off-season training regimen, Letang could never get back to his form of previous seasons. Though his offensive numbers were good (he ranked 17th in scoring among defensemen), his decision-making with and without the puck were, at times, questionable. Grade: C+
OLLI MAATTA
Stat line: 7-22-29 in 82. The skinny: After injury or illness robbed him of much of the past three seasons, Maatta played all 82 games and matched his points total from his rookie year in 2013-14, while setting a career high for assists (22). He may have been the Penguins' most consistent defenseman at both ends. Grade: B+
EVGENI MALKIN
Stat line: 42-56-98 in 78. The skinny: Malkin was the catalyst to the Penguins' turnaround in January and February when he reminded yet again that, when healthy, he is capable of being the most dominant force in the league. Finished fourth in goals and points, but was hampered in the playoffs by a knee injury. Grade: A+
MATT MURRAY
Stat line: 27-16-3, 2.92, .907. The skinny: Murray's first season as the clear No. 1 did not go as planned. He had three extended hiatuses due to two injuries (knee and concussion) and a personal leave of absence. His stats were the worst of his three-year career and he fared little better in the playoffs. Grade: B
JAMIE OLEKSIAK
Stat line: 4-10-14 in 47. The skinny: Thought to be a minor pick-up when acquired from Dallas in mid-December, Oleskiak was a revelation in Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-7 blueliner skates very well for his size and has some offensive upside. Was also willing to drop his gloves to stand up for teammates. Grade: B-
CARTER ROWNEY
Stat line: 2-3-5 in 44. The skinny: Rowney had a season to forget with three assorted upper body injuries limiting him to just 44 games. Appeared in three playoff games but the fourth-liner was largely ineffective, even when healthy. Grade: D+
CHAD RUHWEDEL
Stat line: 2-3-5 in 44. The skinny: Was either injured or a healthy scratch for most of the season until finally solidifying a spot in the lineup in early March after the team finally moved on from Hunwick. Ruhwedel is a strong skater but is little more than a sixth or seventh defenseman. Grade: B-
BRYAN RUST
Stat line: 13-25-38 in 69. The skinny: Despite missing 13 games due to injury (upper body and concussion), Rust produced career bests in assists and points. An exceptional skater, he provides invaluable service to the Penguins with his versatility. Doesn't look out of place whether playing on the first line or the fourth. Grade: B+
JUSTIN SCHULTZ
Stat line: 4-23-27 in 63. The skinny: Compared to 2016-17, Schultz's offensive numbers took a precipitous fall due to injury and a reduced role with Letang resuming his role as QB on the top power play unit for much of the season. Still, Schultz was very effective, making good on his three-year, $16.5 million contract. Highly underrated player. Grade: A-
RILEY SHEAHAN
Stat line: 11-21-32 in 73. The skinny: After a slow start following an October trade from Detroit, Sheahan was a force on the PK and in the faceoff circle where he won a team-best 54.4 percent of his draws. Sheahan uses his size (6-3, 214) on the forecheck to create turnovers and generate offense. Grade: B+
CONOR SHEARY
Stat line: 18-12-30 in 79. The skinny: After signing a three-year, $9 million extension last summer, Sheary had a massively disappointing season. He scored 23 fewer points than the previous season and suffered through extended goal-less droughts, including one of 15 games in January-February. Grade: C+
DOMINIK SIMON
Stat line: 4-8-12 in 33. The skinny: The Czech rookie was pressed into service in December and saw his first extended NHL action after appearing in just five games over the previous two seasons. Simon plays a decent two-way game and found some chemistry working with Crosby. Grade: C+
DANIEL SPRONG
Stat line: 2-1-3 in 8. The skinny: The top prospect returned to the NHL on New Year's Eve and played in a handful of games. He scored all three of his points against the Islanders on Jan. 5, a game that many believe turned the Penguins' season around. Still needs to work on his play away from the puck, but will be a regular next season. Grade: Incomplete