Jets
Kyle Connor will likely be on the shortlist to make Crew USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off later this season, and his audition goes extraordinarily properly to date. Connor is tied for second within the NHL with eight targets within the Jets’ first 9 video games. Connor has at all times been a sharpshooter in his profession, however he has shot out of the gates at warp velocity in 2024-25. 1 9-1-0
2

Stars
The Stars are off to a very good begin, however I do have some questions on their protection to date. After some questionable depth strikes within the offseason, Dallas has been bleeding scoring probabilities thus far, and that may be a noticeable change from prior seasons. Peter DeBoer could wish to take into consideration shaking up his pairings as a result of Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba are struggling alongside Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. 1 7-2-0
3

Rangers
For the second straight season, it appears to be like just like the Rangers have the posh of a high-end backup behind Igor Shesterkin within the type of Jonathan Fast. The Kings legend has made two begins for the blueshirts, and his .953 save share leads the NHL. With the ability to give Shesterkin extra relaxation for what ought to be a deep postseason run will likely be key, and Fast permits New York to do this. 2 6-2-1
4

Lightning
Anthony Cirelli, recognized for his means to heart shutdown traces, has been fairly the playmaker by way of Tampa’s first 9 video games. His 9 assists are tied for twelfth within the NHL, and he is on tempo to smash his earlier profession excessive of 28 helpers. I am undecided Cirelli can hold this sort of manufacturing up for a full season, however he is been a nice shock for the Bolts to date. 2 7-3-0
5

Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev had a comparatively disappointing 2023-24 season, particularly contemplating the heights he hit in the course of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup run in 2023. Now, Barbashev appears decided to proper the ship. He already has seven targets and 5 assists in 10 video games, and Vegas owns a five-on-five objective differential of plus-7 with him on the ice. 5 7-3-1
6

Wild
Kirill Kaprizov is probably the most underappreciated star within the NHL, and he is off to an incredible begin this season. His 18 factors are tied for first within the league, and Minnesota has outscored opponents 12-4 with Kaprizov on the ice at five-on-five. That is the kind of season Kaprizov wants if the Wild are going to compete with the true Stanley Cup contenders within the West. 1 6-1-2
7

Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are using a four-game successful streak, and Martin Necas has been driving the bus. Necas has three targets and 5 assists in that span, which implies he is been concerned in eight of Carolina’s 15 targets. Necas has at all times flashed the potential to search out one other gear, together with a 71-point season in 2022-23. Maybe Necas is lastly realizing his ceiling. 2 6-2-0
8

Avalanche
Cale Makar is off to a preposterous begin in 2024-25. He has three targets and 14 assists in simply 10 video games, and he is quarterbacking one of many hottest energy performs within the league. Colorado has transformed on 36.4% of its man benefit alternatives, and lots of that success comes from Makar’s means to place the puck on a string on the level. 3 5-6-0
9

Canucks
Within the absence of Thatcher Demko, Vancouver’s goaltending was a giant query this season. Via his first six begins, Kevin Lankinen has supplied a solution. Lankinen has posted 4.06 targets saved above common, and his .920 save share is among the many greatest within the league. 4 4-2-3
10

Panthers
Aleksander Barkov returned to the Florida lineup on Monday and instantly contributed a objective and an help. The Panthers did properly to remain afloat after which some in Barkov’s absence, and now they’re again at full power. That is a testomony to the depth of a championship roster. 2 7-3-1
11

Capitals
Connor McMichael, a 23-year-old former first-round choose, has given the Capitals higher heart depth than I anticipated, at the least to date. McMichael is second on the staff with eight factors, and he is serving to Washington management play at five-on-five. McMichael had a pleasant season for the Caps final yr, nevertheless it appears he may’ve leveled up a bit. 5 6-2-0
12

Devils
The NHL’s main goal-scorer is presently none aside from Nico Hischier. Do not get me unsuitable, Hischier is a improbable two-way heart, however his profession excessive in targets is 31. He is practically one-third of the best way there with 9 targets in 12 video games. The Devils have already got one of the vital spectacular ahead teams within the league, and now Hischier appears to be like like Jaromir Jagr on the market. 8 7-4-2
13

Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are a complicated staff as of late. Final week, they suffered back-to-back four-goal defeats to the Blues and Blue Jackets. Then they misplaced a heartbreaker to the Bruins in additional time. So, what did they do in opposition to the beforehand undefeated and first-place Jets? They hung a five-spot on Connor Hellebuyck in a 6-4 win, naturally. — 5-4-1
14

Hockey Membership
My love affair with the Utah Hockey Membership has hit the skids in a rush. The staff has now suffered 4 straight losses, and so they have not been fairly. On Monday evening, Utah coughed up a 4-1 lead in opposition to the beforehand winless Sharks earlier than shedding in additional time. To make issues worse for Utah, defenseman Sean Durzi and John Marino are each anticipated to spend important time on IR. 6 5-4-2
15

Senators
The Ottawa energy play has been an actual weapon by way of the primary few weeks of the season. The Sens have transformed on 42.9% of their alternatives, good for second within the NHL. It is a good factor the person benefit is clicking as a result of Ottawa’s five-on-five recreation has left one thing to be desired, and the staff has been hanging its goaltenders out to dry far too typically. 2 5-4-0
16

Kings
The Kings’ annual seek for a goaltending answer continues as a result of the duo of Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich is not getting it accomplished, and I doubt it would come playoff time. These two have mixed to permit 2.71 targets above common and neither participant has a save share above .900. These numbers might hold Los Angeles out of the playoffs. 4 6-3-2
17

Oilers
Zach Hyman has reached a stage of chilly solely seen in Antarctica. After scoring 54-goals final season, Hyman has zero targets in 10 video games, nevertheless it hasn’t been for an absence of attempting. His 28 pictures on objective are fourth on the staff, and Hyman is third within the NHL with 5.72 anticipated targets generated. Now that Connor McDavid is coping with an harm, Hyman should get away of this droop quickly. 3 4-5-1
18

Flames
Due to a run of powerful opponents, the Flames have come again right down to Earth a bit. Calgary has suffered straight regulation losses to the Hurricanes, Jets and Golden Knights whereas scoring a complete of 5 targets in these video games. Are we seeing the actual Flames reveal themselves, or can they bounce again quickly? 3 5-4-1
19

Predators
Steven Stamkos is off to a sluggish begin in his first season with the Preds. He has only one objective in 9 video games, however there are indicators a breakout is coming. Stamkos is a profession 16.5% shooter, however he is discovered the again of the online simply as soon as on 30 pictures (3.3%). He additionally has 4.22 anticipated targets, a quantity he usually exceeds because of his elite shot. It could be irritating for Stamkos, however the chances are high there, and the targets will come. — 3-5-1
20

Kraken
The Kraken have opened issues up below new coach Dan Byslma, and Jared McCann is reaping all the advantages. McCann is using a seven-game level streak, and his 14 factors are tied for eighth within the league. Seattle wanted an offensive infusion, and whereas it did not get that within the type of a splashy personnel addition, Bylsma has made them extra harmful by way of his teaching philosophy. 3 5-4-1
21

Purple Wings
Marco Kasper, the No. 8 choose within the 2022 NHL Draft, is getting his first actual have a look at the NHL stage. Via 5 video games, Kasper solely has one help, however he is nonetheless getting his ft moist with the Purple Wings. Detroit wants one other high-end heart in its lineup behind Dylan Larkin, and Kasper is an apparent inside candidate after placing up 35 factors in his first AHL season final yr. — 4-5-1
22

Bruins
It took 9 video games, however Brad Marchand lastly obtained his first objective of the season in additional time in opposition to the Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Bruins must hope that sparks him as a result of Marchand has been going by way of it to date. Not solely has Marchand’s manufacturing dipped, however his five-on-five anticipated targets share of 44.0% is a pink flag for the 36-year-old winger. 4 4-5-1
23

Sabres
I remorse to tell the remainder of the NHL that the noise they’re listening to is perhaps Tage Thompson’s music. Thompson has began to roll with six targets in his final seven video games, and he is as much as seven on the season. Thompson took a step backward within the goal-scoring division final season, however he’s presently on a 57-goal tempo by way of 10 video games. If he can sniff that quantity, Buffalo’s postseason drought may truly finish. 1 4-5-1
24

Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have been actually enjoyable within the first few weeks of the season. I touched on the efficiency of Kirill Marchenko final week, however Sean Monahan has been glorious, as have Yegor Chinakov and Zach Werenski. Columbus is using some unsustainable percentages, but when any staff deserves some breaks, it is the Jackets. 4 5-3-1
25

Blues
Robert Thomas will miss at the least six weeks with a fractured ankle, and the Blues at the moment are bordering on “unwatchable” territory. Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich will do their greatest to maintain this operation collectively, nevertheless it might get ugly with out Thomas. Want proof? Take a look at final evening’s 8-1 beatdown by the hands of the Senators. — 5-5-0
26

Geese
Troy Terry is doing an terrible lot of heavy lifting for the Geese. Terry didn’t get on the scoresheet within the season-opener, however since then he is registered some extent in each single recreation. That features the game-winning objective in opposition to the Isles final evening. Can another person (Trevor Zegras, Frank Vatrano) step up and provides this man some assist? — 4-4-1
27

Islanders
The Islanders’ offense has been really abysmal. They’ve already been shut out thrice this season, and just one staff has fewer than their 22 targets. That staff is the Geese, which simply beat the Isles by a rating of 3-1 on Tuesday evening. I would say this staff has to carry groups below three targets to win, however two of the aforementioned shutouts had been 1-0 losses. 5 3-5-2
28

Canadiens
Cole Caufield has 31% of the Canadiens’ 29 targets by way of their first 10 video games. That is each a testomony to how nice Caufield has been and the way anemic Montreal’s offense has been. At the very least Juraj Slafkovsky returned to the lineup on Tuesday, so that ought to give the staff a lift. 1 4-5-1
29

Penguins
At one level, Tristan Jarry seemed like goalie of the long run for the Penguins. In the summertime of 2023, he signed a five-year deal value $26.8 million. Final week, Jary was despatched right down to the AHL following a dismal begin to the 2024-25 season. Jarry’s future is now very a lot up within the air, and the Penguins at the moment are thirty first within the NHL. 2 3-7-1
30

Blackhawks
It is solely been 10 video games, and Connor Bedard has already expressed frustration with shedding. It is nice to see that Bedard, on the age of 19, desires to set a better commonplace for his membership. Having mentioned that, he could have to attend till 2025-26 for a shot at kicking the shedding behavior. — 3-6-1
31

Flyers
Courting again to the beginning of the 2022-23 season, the Flyers have a .871 save share, and solely two groups have been worse in that span. The crease has been a large number in Philly for some time now, and whereas Aleksei Kolosov is an fascinating prospect, he is in all probability not the reply within the speedy future. — 3-6-1
32

Sharks
If you wish to discover a participant who is completely juicing his commerce worth early within the season, look no additional than Mikael Granlund. He has 13 factors in 11 video games, and 7 of these have come on the ability play. San Jose must hold letting Granlund pile up the factors as a result of I can promise you some staff will overpay for him on the commerce market if this continues. — 2-7-2