Here's a report card for more of the Blueshirt players as we head into the 4-Nations break.

* GOALTENDING: Jonathan Quick is your favorite old car still running and no need for the AAA rescue squad. Signing him up for still one more year would be a good idea as much for Shesterkin as Quick who's just breezin' along with the breeze.

* K'ANDRE MILLER: Like "The Little Girl With The Curl," when he's good he's very good and when he's bad, he's horrid. If Chris Drury when K is at the top of his game, the return could be dandy. Meanwhile, watching this guy it feels like you're in a rowboat in a swell – up and down; up and down.

* RYAN LINDGREN: The foot soldier's foot soldier, Lindren's tires are bare but he keeps schlepping along, doing best when sometimes he's the worst. If he gets good and healthy some low rung Western team might offer a second or third-rounder.

* BRADEN SCHNEIDER: His value as a blue liner is evident since when Drury's engaged in trade talk – as he was with Vancouver and the J.T. Miller deal – Schneider's name comes up. But he's goin' nowhere since he's part of the young backliner's core.

* WILL CUYLLE: If this bouncy pinball can ever develop consistency, he could be an All-Star. His galvanic personality and no-holds-bar hitting makes Not-So-Wee Willie one of the young MVPs. No doubt about it, he's moved from Nobodysville to a pretty high pedestal among forwards.

* REILLY SMITH: A year ago the Penguins couldn't unload this vet fast enough. He certainly has not been a flop on Seventh Avenue but any Pitt-type slippage in the homestretch will be very costly.

* ADAM Edström: While fellow fourth-liner Matt Rempe has stolen the spotlight, Edström has been the better all-round player. When healthy he makes the fourth line look better than the second line; and sometimes the first.

* MATT REMPE: From a first-year Sluggo fighter to a second-year suspendable suspect, the Skating Giraffe finally was shown some love by coach Lavvy and Rempe responded with some of his best games and more ice time. He's better than most people think. Smarter, too!

* JONNY BRODZINSKI: Plug him in any time; any place and you'll get an honest effort and maybe even a goal or two. JB redefines the term "utility player."

* JIMMY VESEY: Like young defenseman Zac Jones before him, the former Hobey Baker lost points with management with his public beefing about ice time and being benched. Slim Jim was judged "NotGuilty" by the fans but not the general staff. Ergo: he's a goner along with Jones.

* SAM CARRICK: He's rounded out the fourth line and often turns it into the most formidable trio on the team. Chalk him up as a good get by Drury.