Jets
Simply while you assume Connor Hellebuyck has reached the peak of his powers, he retains ascending. By 12 video games this season, Hellebuyck leads the NHL with 12.6 targets saved above common, and his .934 save share is first amongst common starters. Winnipeg’s underlying numbers have not been as sturdy as its file, 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 outstanding 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 objective differential and a 58.4% anticipated targets share. Chatfield and Orlov are an enormous purpose Carolina appears like one of many NHL’s greatest groups this season. 1 11-4-0
3

Panthers
The Panthers have gained seven straight video games, they seemed poised for one more deep playoff run, and but Carter Verhaeghe has but to actually get going. Verhaeghe has simply 4 targets 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 targets 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 general decide in 2020, is beginning to seem 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 targets and 9 assists, and his five-on-five impacts have been sturdy. — 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 among Alex Ovechkin’s targets. Strome and Ovechkin shaped a good chemistry all through the 2023-24 season, nevertheless it has hit one other stage now. If Strome retains dishing the puck like this, the Capitals will maintain profitable, and Ovi will shut in on historical past sooner slightly than later. 2 10-4-1
6

Rangers
In a little bit of a statistical anomaly, Adam Fox has 12 assists and 0 targets on the season. On the alternative finish of the spectrum, Chris Kreider has eight targets and 0 assists. I will be rooting for each of them to maintain this routine up for your entire season. 4 9-4-1
7

Golden Knights
Vegas is off to a powerful begin this season, nevertheless it must be famous that it’s operating sizzling so far as its five-on-five numbers are involved. The Golden Knights have scored 44 targets on 30.5 anticipated targets, and their 12.0% capturing share ranks second within the league. Vegas has the expertise to overperform anticipated targets, however doing it to this diploma all 12 months can be robust. 1 10-4-2
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 targets and 20 assists, and the Stars personal 56.8% of the five-on-five anticipated targets with them on the ice collectively. The truth that Duchene and Marchment price a mixed $7.5 million per season is a heck of a cut price for Dallas. — 9-5-0
9

Kings
Alex Laferriere now leads the Kings in targets with 9 in 17 video games, and the previous third-round decide 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 9-6-3
10

Canucks
One of many key gamers in Vancouver’s stunning success final season was Nils Hoglander. He contributed 24 targets and 36 factors whereas enjoying in a bottom-six function, however he has simply two targets in 14 video games to this point this 12 months. The Canucks have missed a few of that depth scoring, however not less than Hoglander remains to be a menace to play towards within the defensive zone. If the offense returns, Hoglander can be an excellent two-way participant. 1 8-3-3
11

Devils
The Devils’ massive offseason acquisition was Jacob Markstrom, who was presupposed to solidify the group’s evident weak spot within the crease. Thus far, Markstrom has been … respectable. He ranks 18th in targets saved above common (2.88) and twenty fifth in save share (.908). These are removed from elite numbers, however the Devils do not want elite goaltending. They only want competent goaltending, and that is what Markstrom has supplied. — 11-6-2
12

Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner had been rolling with not less than a degree in eight straight video games till Toronto’s loss to the Senators final night time. In his final 9 video games, Marner has three targets and 10 assists. After a little bit of an uneven begin to the season beneath first-year coach Craig Berube, Marner has discovered a rhythm and now leads the Maple Leafs in factors with 20. — 10-6-2
13

Avalanche
With Nathan MacKinnon on the ice at five-on-five, the Avalanche have a plus-2 objective differential and a 57.3% anticipated targets share. With out him, Colorado has a minus-11 objective differential and a 48.3% anticipated targets share. That is been the story of the Avs’ season to this point. 2 9-8-0
14

Oilers
Zach Hyman has began to shake off his sluggish begin, however Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains to be caught within the mud. A 100-point scorer simply two seasons in the past, Nugent-Hopkins has one objective and 6 assists in 16 video games. There is no query a few of that’s luck. His 3.6% capturing share is 8.3% under his common, and Nugent-Hopkins is fifth on the group with 4.04 anticipated targets. — 8-7-1
15

Lightning
The Lightning have but to win a sport within the month of November, and the top-heavy nature of their lineup is turning 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 could 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 effectively into the longer term, however he has performed poorly this season. Sanderson has a objective and eight assists this season, however Ottawa has been dropping his five-on-five minutes. Sanderson has a minus-6 objective 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 beneath the hood. Coyle’s three factors are tied for 14th on the group, however he additionally owns a minus-5 objective differential and a 41.6% anticipated targets 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 ultimate 12 months of his contract, and he might be a strong middle-six addition on a contender. Kuzmenko has only one objective to this point this season, however he has confirmed his means to shoot the puck with 61 targets in his first two NHL seasons. 1 7-7-1
19

Flames
Lucas Raymond is within the first 12 months of a contract that pays him simply over $8 million per season, and the load of that paycheck could be impacting him to this point. Raymond has one objective 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 sport 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 present 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 7-6-3
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. Properly, these optimistic 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 admittedly, it must be the opposite method round. Hofer hasn’t been a world-beater, however Binnington has been terrible this season. Binnington’s 4.31 targets allowed above anticipated rank 63rd, and his .887 save share is not a lot 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 targets and plus-9 objective differential at five-on-five, Thompson is wanting much more just like the celebrity we noticed in 2022-23. 4 7-8-1
24

Kraken
There is no query Ryker Evans has some particular expertise, however he hasn’t even been capable of 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 targets share at five-on-five. Evans’ underlying numbers are saved considerably by his plus-2 objective differential, however that looks like 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 like that message was obtained. In his first sport again, Michkov notched a objective and an help. Tortorella has a repute 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 stunning, 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 accessible? If that’s the case, what does that imply for Sidney Crosby’s future? 4 6-9-3
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 sport has been a large number. Nashville has a minus-22 objective differential in these conditions, and that’s the worst mark within the league. If there may be purpose for hope, it is that their anticipated objective differential is minus-1.35. Nonetheless not good, however removed from disastrous. 4 5-9-2
28

Geese
Thus 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 targets and 6 assists whereas getting out-shot and out-chanced at an alarming clip. 1 5-8-2
29

Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are actually solely enjoyable to observe when Connor Bedard is making hen salad out of … you already know the remaining. Sadly, that hasn’t been taking place sufficient recently. 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 seemed 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 targets 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 targets 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 hunch? Hopefully the Canadiens are in your upcoming schedule. In 16 video games, Montreal has allowed 5 or extra targets seven occasions. It has allowed not less than 4 targets 9 occasions. This group is an unmitigated catastrophe on protection and in objective. 2 5-9-2