Rangers
After a profession 12 months in 2023-24, Artemi Panarin has picked up proper the place he left off. Panarin already has six objectives 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 underneath 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 objectives 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 recently received an enormous eight-year contract extension, and he’s proving to be price greater than that $66 million in the meanwhile. Regardless of the Stars’ protection being somewhat leaky to start out the season, Oettinger has been spectacular. He leads the NHL with 6.43 objectives saved above common, and his .879 high-danger save proportion can be stellar. 2 5-2-0
4

Devils
One of the best 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 great distance towards serving to New Jersey’s Cup possibilities. 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 completed something to dispel that together with his gradual 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 technique 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 kind 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 gradual begin this 12 months, permitting three or extra objectives in three of his first 5 begins and posting an .878 save proportion. 7 4-2-0
7

Wild
Heading into the season, it appeared just like the Wild had 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 objectives saved above common are second within the NHL, and his .952 save proportion is not too shabby both. 11 4-0-2
8

Hockey Membership
One of many huge 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 date, Hayton has appeared like a future star with 4 objectives 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 prime 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 huge sport from somebody like Martin Necas or Andrei Svechnikov may get issues going, however Carolina’s lack of high-end scoring up entrance has been obvious up to now. 1 3-2-0
10

Golden Knights
Previous to final evening’s video games, I had written up a blurb about Tomas Hertl’s gradual begin. Then he drops two objectives and two assists in opposition to 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, however it was good to see him all around the scoresheet on Tuesday evening. 5 4-2-1
11

Avalanche
Howdy, 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 objectives 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 must maintain 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 objectives 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 number of pleasure about Joseph Woll between the pipes for the Maple Leafs. After he suffered a preseason damage, that pleasure was dampened till Anthony Stolarz reworked into Dominik Hasek. In Woll’s absence, Stolarz has a .938 save proportion with 5.72 objectives saved above common. Woll will return quickly, however Stolarz has earned extra begins. 7 4-3-0
14

Oilers
One perplexing side of the Oilers’ gradual 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 possibilities on the ability 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 long run in purpose, and he is been impeccable in his first three begins of the season. In video games in opposition to the Flyers, Blackhawks and Penguins (high quality of competitors ought to be famous), Wolf has allowed simply seven objectives in opposition to on 110 pictures confronted. He’ll be an fascinating participant to observe 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 start out the season, and so they’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 5-1-0
17

Senators
Is the Sens’ younger core lastly taking the subsequent step? The early indicators of which might be promising. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Josh Norris have all mixed for 13 objectives 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 objectives and 7 assists whereas outscoring opponents 8-0. How lengthy can these three maintain this up? I don’t know, however they’re a blast to observe proper now. 6 3-3-1
19

Predators
Steven Stamkos scored his first purpose as a Predator on Saturday, and the staff received its first win of the season on Tuesday. These are some optimistic indicators for Nashville, however the staff has nonetheless dug itself an early gap with a five-game dropping 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 largest 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 growth from Clarke would give Los Angeles a giant increase. — 3-2-2
21

Purple Wings
Proper now, the Purple Wings are getting bludgeoned at five-on-five, and so they’ve scored three or fewer objectives 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 proportion to .955, which is 49 factors larger than his profession common. 4 3-3-0
22

Islanders
After a 2023-24 season filled with time beyond regulation heartbreak, together with 16 losses past regulation, Islanders followers had been in all probability hoping for a much less tense season. To this point, the Isles have continued to show their love of drama. The staff has already gone previous regulation thrice, 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 stoop final season, and he is off to a different gradual 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 appeared higher over their previous couple of video games, and at the very least 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 objectives and three assists in that span. He and Alex Tuch have come alive over the past week, which is music to the ears of Buffalo followers. 2 3-4-1
25

Blues
Is Joel Hofer taking up the crease in St. Louis? It certain appears that approach proper now. Jordan Binnington has gotten off to a tough begin, and the Blues are 1-3-0 with him between the pipes. Hofer, however, has a .932 save proportion and a 3-0-0 file. Coach Drew Bannister would possibly wish to think about driving Hofer, at the very least 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 received adjusted to the pace 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’ greatest gamers by means of the primary two weeks of the season. He has three objectives 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 evening that Evgeni Malkin notched his five hundredth purpose. It was a memorable evening for Penguins followers that ended with Crosby scoring in OT to beat the Sabres. For all of the struggles Pittsburgh has had over the past couple years, these two have given the fan base its cash’s price. 8 3-4-1
28

Blue Jackets
Kirill Marcheko was a reputable brilliant spot for the Jackets final season, and he is carried that over into this one. He is off to a superb begin with three objectives and 5 assists thus far, and he leads the staff in each of these classes. The 2018 second-round decide has already change into 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 come back from in Montreal? That is nonetheless being sorted out, and Patrik Laine’s long-term damage definitely makes issues tougher. Maybe Kirby Dach can return to his pre-injury kind, however the ahead group in Montreal lacks true playmakers outdoors the highest line. 1 2-4-1
30

Blackhawks
Regardless of some intriguing offseason additions, Chicago nonetheless has an extended technique 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 isn’t stunning to see the Flyers stumbling out of the gate after they overachieved a lot final season. What’s somewhat 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 long run. 4 1-5-1
32

Sharks
I puzzled if it may 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 objectives 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