Rangers
After a profession 12 months in 2023-24, Artemi Panarin has picked up proper the place he left off. Panarin already has six targets and 7 assists, and he has a number of factors in 4 of the Rangers’ first six video games. Panarin’s sport has hit one other degree beneath Peter Laviolette, and he’ll thrust himself into the Hart Trophy dialogue if he can enhance on final 12 months’s efficiency. 1 5-0-1
2

Jets
The Jets’ third line of Mason Appleton, Adam Lowry and Nino Niederreiter is as soon as once more mopping the ice with opponents. That trio has managed 54.5% of the anticipated targets share at five-on-five whereas outscoring groups 5-0 in these conditions. Having that line within the bottom-six is a severe weapon that only a few NHL groups have of their arsenal. 5 6-0-0
3

Stars
Jake Oettinger only in the near past obtained a large eight-year contract extension, and he’s proving to be value greater than that $66 million in the intervening time. Regardless of the Stars’ protection being slightly leaky to begin the season, Oettinger has been spectacular. He leads the NHL with 6.43 targets saved above common, and his .879 high-danger save share can be stellar. 2 5-2-0
4

Devils
The perfect information the Devils have gotten within the first 9 video games of this season is that Timo Meier is again. Meier wasn’t himself for a lot of final season, however he is wasted no time discovering a groove by means of the primary 9 video games. He has six factors within the final three, and his 9 factors are tied for the staff lead. Getting peak Meier would go a good distance towards serving to New Jersey’s Cup probabilities. 1 5-3-1
5

Canucks
There was some hand-wringing about Elias Pettersson’s effectiveness within the postseason final 12 months, and he hasn’t performed something to dispel that along with his sluggish begin. Pettersson has simply three assists in Vancouver’s first six video games, and he has simply 9 pictures on purpose. As soon as the Canucks discover a strategy to get their No. 1 heart going, they need to begin flying up the standings and these rankings. 6 3-1-2
6

Lightning
Andrei Vasilevskiy regained his dominant type in spurts after recovering from again surgical procedure final season, however he hasn’t performed at an elite degree for an extended stretch for the reason that 2022-23 season. Now, Vasilevskiy is off to a sluggish begin this 12 months, permitting three or extra targets in three of his first 5 begins and posting an .878 save share. 7 4-2-0
7

Wild
Heading into the season, it appeared just like the Wild have been open to the concept of rotating three goalies this season. If Filip Gustavsson continues to play like he has in his first 4 begins, they’ll put that concept within the shredder. Gustavsson had an extremely disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign, however he is been sharp up to now. His 7.72 targets saved above common are second within the NHL, and his .952 save share is not too shabby both. 11 4-0-2
8

Hockey Membership
One of many large query marks for Utah coming into the season was younger heart Barrett Hayton. The previous No. 5 general decide was injured for many of final season and entered 2024-25 on the lookout for a bounce-back. To this point, Hayton has seemed like a future star with 4 targets and two assists in seven video games. If Hayton can preserve this manufacturing — or one thing near it — Utah will solely entrench itself additional on the high of my checklist of must-watch groups. 1 4-2-1
9

Hurricanes
By 4 video games, the main goal-scorer for the Hurricanes is … Shayne Ghostisbehere (4). 4 extra gamers are tied for second with two. The pattern dimension is minuscule, and one large sport from somebody like Martin Necas or Andrei Svechnikov might get issues going, however Carolina’s lack of high-end scoring up entrance has been obtrusive up to now. 1 3-2-0
10

Golden Knights
Previous to final night time’s video games, I had written up a blurb about Tomas Hertl’s sluggish begin. Then he drops two targets and two assists towards the Kings, and he now has seven factors in seven video games. Hertl’s five-on-five impacts nonetheless depart one thing to be desired, nevertheless it was good to see him all around the scoresheet on Tuesday night time. 5 4-2-1
11

Avalanche
Hey, Ross Colton. Final season, Colton proved to be a stable middle-six addition for the Avalanche, however he’s scoring at a torrid tempo. Colton has six targets in seven video games, and he is discovered a house within the bumper place on the Colorado energy play. His three energy play tallies this 12 months already match final season’s complete, and the Avs simply have to hold feeding him within the slot till groups catch on. 4 3-4-0
12

Panthers
For followers of different Atlantic Division groups hoping Sam Reinhart’s 57-goal season in 2023-24 was a fluke, you could be in for a impolite awakening. Reinhart already has 5 targets in eight video games, and his line that includes Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell has been an issue for opponents within the early going. Can Reinhart eclipse the 60-goal mark this season? 8 4-3-1
13

Maple Leafs
Coming into the season, there was a whole lot of pleasure about Joseph Woll between the pipes for the Maple Leafs. After he suffered a preseason harm, that pleasure was dampened till Anthony Stolarz reworked into Dominik Hasek. In Woll’s absence, Stolarz has a .938 save share with 5.72 targets saved above common. Woll will return quickly, however Stolarz has earned extra begins. 7 4-3-0
14

Oilers
One perplexing facet of the Oilers’ sluggish begin has been their energy play, which scored at a 26.3% clip final season. This 12 months, Edmonton has transformed on simply two of its first 19 alternatives with the person benefit. That comes out to 10.5%, which ranks twenty ninth within the NHL. Whereas a portion of that is because of poor puck luck, the Oilers have been pedestrian in relation to creating harmful scoring probabilities on the facility play. There may be an excessive amount of offensive expertise on the roster for the Oilers to let this proceed. 6 2-4-1
15

Flames
The Flames are banking on Dustin Wolf being the longer term in purpose, and he is been impeccable in his first three begins of the season. In video games towards the Flyers, Blackhawks and Penguins (high quality of competitors must be famous), Wolf has allowed simply seven targets towards on 110 pictures confronted. He’ll be an fascinating participant to look at because the season unfolds. 6 5-0-1
16

Capitals
Alex Ovechkin broke by means of for his first purpose of the season on Saturday, so the chase for Gretzky is formally on. That is excellent news for the Caps, however so is the truth that they’re now 4-1-0 to begin the season, they usually’re taking part in good hockey. Final season, Washington rode some puck luck to the postseason, however the course of has matched the outcomes by means of the primary 5 video games of 2024-25. 6 4-1-0
17

Senators
Is the Sens’ younger core lastly taking the subsequent step? The early indicators of which can be promising. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Josh Norris have all mixed for 13 targets in six video games. Defenseman Jake Sanderson is tied for third on the staff with seven factors. Possibly it’s all beginning to come collectively in Ottawa, however this group nonetheless has 77 extra video games to show it is no fluke. — 4-2-0
18

Bruins
I do not suppose it is an overreaction to say that the Bruins have assembled the best line in hockey historical past. Boston’s fourth line of John Beecher, Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke has been mowing down opponents. These three have mixed for seven targets and 7 assists whereas outscoring opponents 8-0. How lengthy can these three hold this up? I don’t know, however they’re a blast to look at proper now. 6 3-3-1
19

Predators
Steven Stamkos scored his first purpose as a Predator on Saturday, and the staff obtained its first win of the season on Tuesday. These are some constructive indicators for Nashville, however the staff has nonetheless dug itself an early gap with a five-game shedding streak out of the gate. The Predators nonetheless have work to do in an effort to keep away from changing into one of many NHL’s greatest disappointments. 5 1-5-0
20

Kings
The early returns on Brandt Clarke, the No. 8 general decide in 2021, are encouraging for the Kings. The 21-year-old defenseman has 4 assists in seven video games, and the underlying numbers at five-on-five have been stable too. With Drew Doughty out for the foreseeable future, some accelerated improvement from Clarke would give Los Angeles a giant enhance. — 3-2-2
21

Crimson Wings
Proper now, the Crimson Wings are getting bludgeoned at five-on-five, they usually’ve scored three or fewer targets in 5 of their first six video games. Regardless of that lack of offense, Detroit is 3-3-0 as a result of Alex Lyon has been saving his staff’s bacon between the pipes. Lyon is coming off a shutout of the Islanders, and that boosted his save share to .955, which is 49 factors increased than his profession common. 4 3-3-0
22

Islanders
After a 2023-24 season stuffed with additional time heartbreak, together with 16 losses past regulation, Islanders followers have been in all probability hoping for a much less demanding season. Up to now, the Isles have continued to show their love of drama. The staff has already gone previous regulation 3 times, going 1-2 in these video games, however that is what occurs with a staff constructed to play tight-checking and low-scoring video games. 6 2-2-2
23

Kraken
Matty Beniers hit a sophomore hunch final season, and he is off to a different sluggish begin this season. By seven video games, Beniers has solely registered one help, and that is a discouraging signal for the 2023 Calder Trophy winner. Maybe Beniers remains to be adjusting to new coach Dan Bylsma’s system, however Seattle wants him if it is going to get again to the postseason. — 4-3-0
24

Sabres
The Sabres have seemed higher over their previous few video games, and not less than a few of that’s because of the play of star ahead Tage Thompson. After notching one level in Buffalo’s first three video games, Thompson is now driving a five-game level streak with 4 targets and three assists in that span. He and Alex Tuch have come alive during the last week, which is music to the ears of Buffalo followers. 2 3-4-1
25

Blues
Is Joel Hofer taking on the crease in St. Louis? It certain appears that means proper now. Jordan Binnington has gotten off to a tough begin, and the Blues are 1-3-0 with him between the pipes. Hofer, alternatively, has a .932 save share and a 3-0-0 file. Coach Drew Bannister may need to contemplate driving Hofer, not less than till he begins to chill off. 1 4-3-0
26

Geese
As a rookie final season, Leo Carlsson had his workload managed as he placed on extra weight and obtained adjusted to the velocity and physicality of the NHL sport. That plan might need labored out effectively as a result of Carlsson has stood out as one of many Geese’ finest gamers by means of the primary two weeks of the season. He has three targets in his final 4 video games, and his five-on-five impacts are respectable, particularly relative to a few of his different teammates. 4 3-2-1
27

Penguins
Final Wednesday, Sidney Crosby tallied his 1,600th level on the identical night time that Evgeni Malkin notched his five hundredth purpose. It was a memorable night time for Penguins followers that ended with Crosby scoring in OT to beat the Sabres. For all of the struggles Pittsburgh has had during the last couple years, these two have given the fan base its cash’s value. 8 3-4-1
28

Blue Jackets
Kirill Marcheko was a respectable shiny spot for the Jackets final season, and he is carried that over into this one. He is off to a superb begin with three targets and 5 assists up to now, and he leads the staff in each of these classes. The 2018 second-round decide has already grow to be an essential a part of this lineup, and he is somebody the Blue Jackets can construct round. 3 3-3-0
29

Canadiens
Exterior of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsk, the place is the offense going to return from in Montreal? That is nonetheless being sorted out, and Patrik Laine’s long-term harm actually makes issues tougher. Maybe Kirby Dach can return to his pre-injury type, however the ahead group in Montreal lacks true playmakers exterior the highest line. 1 2-4-1
30

Blackhawks
Regardless of some intriguing offseason additions, Chicago nonetheless has an extended strategy to go earlier than it turns into an actual playoff contender. This begin has made that clear, however the query now’s how for much longer the staff waits earlier than calling up gamers like Frank Nazar, the No. 13 general decide in 2022 and one other potential franchise cornerstone. 1 2-4-1
31

Flyers
It is not surprising to see the Flyers stumbling out of the gate after they overachieved a lot final season. What’s slightly disappointing is the truth that key members of their younger core have but to get going. Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost have mixed for one purpose and 4 assists. Philadelphia is counting on that trio to push the franchise into the longer term. 4 1-4-1
32

Sharks
I questioned if it might get any worse for the Sharks after final season, however they might truly be worse. San Jose has but to choose up a win in its first seven video games, and it has scored two or fewer targets in 4 of them. The Sharks want Macklin Celebrini again within the lineup quickly in an effort to make them watchable once more. — 0-5-2