Jets
Simply once you suppose Connor Hellebuyck has reached the peak of his powers, he retains ascending. Via 12 video games this season, Hellebuyck leads the NHL with 12.6 objectives saved above common, and his .934 save proportion is first amongst common starters. Winnipeg’s underlying numbers have not been as robust as its document, however that does not matter when Hellebuyck is enjoying like this. — 15-1-0
2

Hurricanes
The defensive pairing of Jalen Chatfield and Dmitry Orlov has seen a extra distinguished function this season, and people two are crushing their minutes. With these two on the ice at five-on-five, the Hurricanes have a plus-9 aim differential and a 58.4% anticipated objectives share. Chatfield and Orlov are an enormous motive Carolina appears like one of many NHL’s greatest groups this season. 1 11-3-0
3

Panthers
The Panthers have received seven straight video games, they regarded poised for one more deep playoff run, and but Carter Verhaeghe has but to essentially get going. Verhaeghe has simply 4 objectives by way of 16 video games, and he is capturing 6.3%. Verhaeghe’s profession common is 14.4%, so I’d assume a barrage of objectives is on the best way. When that occurs, Florida will solely be much more dominant. 2 11-4-1
4

Wild
Marco Rossi, the No. 9 total choose in 2020, is beginning to appear like one other younger star in Minnesota. Rossi has been given the keys to the No. 1 middle function, enjoying between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. That is a sink-or-swim place, and Rossi has been Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old has 4 objectives and 9 assists, and his five-on-five impacts have been robust. — 10-2-3
5

Capitals
Dylan Strome is now as much as 18 assists on the season, and 10 of these have come on every one in all Alex Ovechkin’s objectives. Strome and Ovechkin fashioned a good chemistry all through the 2023-24 season, but it surely has hit one other stage now. If Strome retains dishing the puck like this, the Capitals will hold successful, and Ovi will shut in on historical past sooner slightly than later. 2 10-4-0
6

Rangers
In a little bit of a statistical anomaly, Adam Fox has 12 assists and nil objectives on the season. On the alternative finish of the spectrum, Chris Kreider has eight objectives and nil assists. I will be rooting for each of them to maintain this routine up for the whole season. 4 9-4-1
7

Golden Knights
Vegas is off to a robust begin this season, but it surely must be famous that it’s working sizzling so far as its five-on-five numbers are involved. The Golden Knights have scored 44 objectives on 30.5 anticipated objectives, and their 12.0% capturing proportion ranks second within the league. Vegas has the expertise to overperform anticipated objectives, however doing it to this diploma all 12 months will likely be robust. 1 9-4-2
8

Stars
The tandem of Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment is as soon as once more cooking for Dallas. These two have mixed for 11 objectives and 20 assists, and the Stars personal 56.8% of the five-on-five anticipated objectives with them on the ice collectively. The truth that Duchene and Marchment value a mixed $7.5 million per season is a heck of a discount for Dallas. — 9-5-0
9

Kings
Alex Laferriere now leads the Kings in objectives with 9 in 17 video games, and the previous third-round choose has taken a transparent step ahead in his second NHL season. Whereas I doubt Laferrirer continued to attain at a 41-goal tempo, he has given Los Angeles some good secondary scoring behind the likes of Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. 1 9-5-3
10

Canucks
One of many key gamers in Vancouver’s shocking success final season was Nils Hoglander. He contributed 24 objectives and 36 factors whereas enjoying in a bottom-six function, however he has simply two objectives in 14 video games to this point this 12 months. The Canucks have missed a few of that depth scoring, however at the very least Hoglander continues to be a menace to play towards within the defensive zone. If the offense returns, Hoglander will likely be an excellent two-way participant. 1 8-3-3
11

Devils
The Devils’ large offseason acquisition was Jacob Markstrom, who was purported to solidify the group’s obvious weak point within the crease. To this point, Markstrom has been … respectable. He ranks 18th in objectives saved above common (2.88) and twenty fifth in save proportion (.908). These are removed from elite numbers, however the Devils do not want elite goaltending. They simply want competent goaltending, and that is what Markstrom has offered. — 11-6-2
12

Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner had been rolling with at the very least some extent in eight straight video games till Toronto’s loss to the Senators final night time. In his final 9 video games, Marner has three objectives and 10 assists. After a little bit of an uneven begin to the season underneath first-year coach Craig Berube, Marner has discovered a rhythm and now leads the Maple Leafs in factors with 20. — 9-6-2
13

Avalanche
With Nathan MacKinnon on the ice at five-on-five, the Avalanche have a plus-2 aim differential and a 57.3% anticipated objectives share. With out him, Colorado has a minus-11 aim differential and a 48.3% anticipated objectives share. That is been the story of the Avs’ season up to now. 2 8-8-0
14

Oilers
Zach Hyman has began to shake off his gradual begin, however Ryan Nugent-Hopkins continues to be caught within the mud. A 100-point scorer simply two seasons in the past, Nugent-Hopkins has one aim and 6 assists in 16 video games. There isn’t any query a few of that’s luck. His 3.6% capturing proportion is 8.3% under his common, and Nugent-Hopkins is fifth on the group with 4.04 anticipated objectives. — 8-7-1
15

Lightning
The Lightning have but to win a recreation within the month of November, and the top-heavy nature of their lineup is changing into clearer. Few groups across the league have a foursome that matches Kucherov, Level, Guentzel and Hagel. Nevertheless, past these stars, Tampa has but to get constant secondary scoring. That may be a problem for this group all 12 months. 2 7-6-1
16

Senators
Jake Sanderson figures to be a key a part of the Senators’ blue line properly into the long run, however he has performed poorly this season. Sanderson has a aim and eight assists this season, however Ottawa has been shedding his five-on-five minutes. Sanderson has a minus-6 aim differential in these conditions, and that may’t occur for a top-four defenseman. — 8-7-0
17

Bruins
The checklist of struggling Bruins is lengthy, however Charlie Coyle is having a very tough time this 12 months, on the scoresheet and underneath the hood. Coyle’s three factors are tied for 14th on the group, however he additionally owns a minus-5 aim differential and a 41.6% anticipated objectives share at five-on-five. Is that this only a tough patch, or has Coyle hit a pointy decline? 3 8-7-2
18

Crimson Wings
Because the Flames proceed their backward slide, I will be to see what occurs with Andrei Kuzmenko. The winger is within the closing 12 months of his contract, and he may very well be a stable middle-six addition on a contender. Kuzmenko has only one aim to this point this season, however he has confirmed his capability to shoot the puck with 61 objectives in his first two NHL seasons. 1 6-7-1
19

Flames
Lucas Raymond is within the first 12 months of a contract that pays him simply over $8 million per season, and the burden of that paycheck may be impacting him to this point. Raymond has one aim and 12 assists in 13 video games, however he has simply 4 assists at five-on-five. Raymond will finally break by way of within the scoring division, however his all-around recreation should enhance for Detroit to take one other step ahead. 2 8-6-3
20

Hockey Membership
If there may be one participant Utah must get going, it is veteran winger Lawson Crouse. He has reached the 20-goal mark in every of the final three seasons, however he is at the moment on tempo for simply 16 this season, and to make issues worse, he is logged only one help. Utah has had hassle lighting the lamp of late, and Crouse is able to offering extra offense for this group. 2 6-6-3
21

Islanders
Noah Dobson emerged as a Norris Trophy candidate final season when he put up 70 factors in 80 video games whereas additionally positing nice defensive metrics. Nicely, these constructive defensive impacts stay, however the offense has lagged behind in 2024-25. Dobson has simply six factors (all assists) within the Isles’ first 16 video games. With the Isles in an offensive black gap, Dobson has been unable to drive offense from the again finish. 4 6-6-4
22

Blues
The Blues proceed to begin Jordan Binnington twice as a lot as Joel Hofer, and albeit, it must be the opposite approach round. Hofer hasn’t been a world-beater, however Binnington has been terrible this season. Binnington’s 4.31 objectives allowed above anticipated rank 63rd, and his .887 save proportion is not significantly better at fiftieth. 1 7-9-0
23

Sabres
Tage Thompson has formally switched again into mutant mode. Thompson has scored in 4 straight video games, and Buffalo is punishing groups with him on the ice at five-on-five. Between his 11 objectives and plus-9 aim differential at five-on-five, Thompson is trying much more just like the celebrity we noticed in 2022-23. 4 7-8-1
24

Kraken
There isn’t any query Ryker Evans has some particular expertise, however he hasn’t even been in a position to tread water this season. The 22-year-old defenseman has been getting eaten alive in his five-on-five minutes this season, posting a 41.3% anticipated objectives share at five-on-five. Evans’ underlying numbers are saved considerably by his plus-2 aim differential, however that looks as if a little bit of a mirage. — 7-8-1
25

Flyers
Stud rookie Matvei Michkov was a wholesome scratch for 2 video games final week. John Torotorella was attempting to ship a message, and it looks as if that message was obtained. In his first recreation again, Michkov notched a aim and an help. Tortorella has a popularity for being arduous on younger gamers, however he normally is aware of which buttons to push. 6 6-8-2
26

Penguins
The Penguins gave up a six pack within the first interval of their 7-1 loss to the Stars on Monday night time, and there are already rumblings of a shake-up. That is not essentially shocking, however it is going to be fascinating to see how far GM Kyle Dubas is prepared to go. Would Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang be obtainable? If that’s the case, what does that imply for Sidney Crosby’s future? 4 6-9-2
27

Predators
The Predators have the No. 11 energy play and the No. 1 penalty kill within the NHL. The issue is that their five-on-five recreation has been a multitude. Nashville has a minus-22 aim differential in these conditions, and that’s the worst mark within the league. If there may be motive for hope, it is that their anticipated aim differential is minus-1.35. Nonetheless not good, however removed from disastrous. 4 5-9-2
28

Geese
So far of their rebuild, the Geese have been unable to translate a high-end prospect pool into wins on the NHL stage. One of many extra disappointing gamers this season has been Mason McTavish, who has two objectives and 6 assists whereas getting out-shot and out-chanced at an alarming clip. 1 5-7-2
29

Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are actually solely enjoyable to look at when Connor Bedard is making hen salad out of … you realize the remaining. Sadly, that hasn’t been taking place sufficient currently. Bedard hasn’t scored in his final even video games and has simply 4 assists in that span. 1 6-9-1
30

Blue Jackets
Adam Fantilli’s second NHL season has been an uphill battle. The 20-year-old middle has regarded a little bit overmatched at occasions in latest video games. Fantilli has two assists in his final seven video games, and he has a five-on-five anticipated objectives share is an abysmal 38.0%, which is even poor relative to his Columbus teammates. 4 5-8-2
31

Sharks
Shoutout to Mackenzie Blackwood, who does extra with much less between the pipes. His 2.76 objectives saved above common ranks nineteenth within the NHL, and he simply pulled out a 44-save shutout towards his former group, the high-flying Devils. 1 5-9-3
32

Canadiens
In a scoring stoop? Hopefully the Canadiens are in your upcoming schedule. In 16 video games, Montreal has allowed 5 or extra objectives seven occasions. It has allowed at the very least 4 objectives 9 occasions. This group is an unmitigated catastrophe on protection and in aim. 2 5-9-2