Avalanche
There hasn’t been a back-to-back Norris Trophy winner since Nicklas Lidstrom’s three-peat from 2006-08. That drought could finish this season with Cale Makar totaling 23 factors in 17 video games and posting some sturdy underlying numbers. — 11-1-5
2

Hurricanes
The Canes have performed effectively up to now, and that success has come despite pedestrian goaltending. In his return from damage — and season debut — Pyotr Kochetkov posted a shutout. Can he take Carolina to the subsequent stage within the crease? 3 11-5-0
3

Devils
New Jersey occupies first place within the Metro Division, and it is managed to do this even with out Nico Hischier scoring at wherever close to a 30-goal tempo. With Jack Hughes at full well being, Hischier would not want to attain at that stage, however might you think about if he did? — 11-4-1
4

Geese
Cutter Gauthier had an encouraging rookie season in Anaheim final yr, and he is now a crucial a part of the staff’s youthful resurgence in 2025-26. Not solely is he as much as 11 targets and 20 factors, however Gauthier additionally boasts a plus-11 purpose differential at five-on-five. 5 11-4-1
5

Canadiens
Crew USA may have some powerful calls to make for the 2026 Olympic staff, and Cole Caufield is enjoying himself off that bubble. As Caufield continues to say himself as among the finest younger scorers within the NHL (12 targets in 16 video games), it will likely be practically unattainable to disclaim him a roster spot. 3 10-4-2
6

Stars
As a proud member of the Thomas Harley fan membership, I am befuddled by his lackluster begin to the 2025-26 season. Harley has a 44.0% anticipated targets share and a minus-7 purpose differential at five-on-five. These are staggering numbers, however a few of that is perhaps resulting from driving shotgun with Ilya Lyubushkin. 2 10-4-3
7

Lightning
The Lightning are an excellent staff, however they appear to lack one closing piece. Their high 5 forwards (Kucherov, Guentzel, Hagel, Level and Cirelli) are nearly as good as marketed. Nevertheless, it is powerful to search out dependable manufacturing exterior of that quintet. Tampa wants another legit top-six choice to fill out its lineup. 6 8-5-2
8

Golden Knights
Is Ivan Barbashev one of many extra underrated gamers within the NHL? It certain appears that approach. He has 55 targets and 128 factors in 190 video games with Vegas, and he helps the staff dominate play on a nightly foundation. 2 7-4-4
9

Jets
The Jonathan Toews experiment will not be understanding in Winnipeg. The Jets are counting on Toews to be a top-six ahead, however the outcomes simply aren’t there. He has three targets and 5 assists whereas posting a 35.5% anticipated targets share and a minus-5 purpose differential at five-on-five. 5 10-6-0
10

Mammoth
Utah is backsliding a bit, and it’s essential look no additional than the crease for the largest purpose why. Karel Vejmelka has actually struggled of late, permitting three or extra targets in six of his final eight begins. Sadly for the Mammoth, backup Vitek Vanecek is not a very good choice till Vejmelka will get going once more. 3 9-7-0
11

Bruins
The Bruins have now received seven in a row, and they’re averaging 3.39 targets per recreation (sixth within the NHL). I believe I communicate for hockey pundits in every single place after I say that all of us positively noticed Boston being an offensive juggernaut this season. 10 11-7-0
12

Penguins
I am undecided how many individuals anticipated the No. 11 general decide within the 2025 NHL Draft to make a direct influence within the NHL, however Ben Kindel has accomplished simply that. He is as much as 5 targets and two assists in 15 video games, and the 18-year-old has greater than held his personal in opposition to grown males. 1 9-5-3
13

Pink Wings
Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are each crucial to the long-term success of the Pink Wings, and that has been a scary proposition at occasions over the past couple years. Nevertheless, each are working at a excessive stage proper now. They each have sturdy five-on-five impacts, and Raymond is third on the staff with 13 factors. 3 9-7-0
14

Senators
The excellent news? Ottawa has gotten no less than one level in its final six video games. The unhealthy information? The Senators have gone 3-3 straight up in these contests. Not less than they’re preserving tempo with a extremely aggressive Jap Convention. 4 8-5-4
15

Panthers
If Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart aren’t scoring targets for the Panthers, you are going to have a tough time discovering somebody who’s. These two have mixed to attain 45.2% of Florida’s targets, and no different participant has greater than 4. 1 8-7-1
16

Flyers
Tyson Foerster is evolving right into a defensive monster on the ahead place. With him on the ice at five-on-five, the Flyers are surrendering simply 1.93 anticipated targets per 60 minutes. That may be a lockdown fee, and that makes Foerster an intriguing weapon for Rick Tocchet. 8 8-5-2
17

Capitals
The Capitals want some assist at heart behind Dylan Strome. Pierre-Luc Dubois is out for an prolonged interval, and he hadn’t registered a degree in six video games previous to the damage. Connor McMichael has one purpose in 16 video games, struggling to duplicate the magic he had final season. 5 8-7-1
18

Kings
Los Angeles has been caught in impartial for a lot of the season till now, however can back-to-back wins over the Penguins and Canadiens present a spark? As is often the case, the Kings nonetheless want to search out constant offense with the intention to actually roll. 2 8-5-4
19

Islanders
Bo Horvat has very quietly been one of many NHL’s hottest gamers to start out the season, and he has helped the Islanders come firing out of the gates with 12 targets in 16 video games. Horvat’s 21.8% capturing proportion does appear unsustainable, though he pulled it off for 49 video games in 2022-23. 3 8-6-2
20

Kraken
The Kraken had been most likely hoping Chandler Stephenson would get a bump in his second season with the staff, however that simply hasn’t occurred. His 33.6% anticipated targets share is the worst quantity on the staff amongst full-time gamers. That will not get it accomplished for $6.25 million per yr. 5 7-4-5
21

Oilers
Connor McDavid can spackle over lots of holes and remedy an important many illnesses. He proved that with a few showstopping targets in a desperately wanted third-period comeback in opposition to the Blue Jackets on Monday. 4 7-6-4
22

Blackhawks
It is unattainable to be hotter than Connor Bedard is as of late. He is driving an eight-game level streak, and he is obtained seven targets and 11 factors in that stretch. Bedard is now tied for third within the NHL with 25 factors. That third-year leap is devastating for the remainder of the league. 5 8-5-3
23

Maple Leafs
William Nylander’s level streak has reached 11 video games, and he is about the one factor working in Toronto as of late. The Maple Leafs have dropped three straight, they usually’re again to .500. Craig Berube will begin feeling the warmth quickly — if he is not already. 9 8-8-1
24

Sharks
Macklin Celebrini is now tied for the second-most factors within the NHL behind solely Nathan MacKinnon. The expectations for Celebrini’s sophomore season had been excessive, however he has shattered them thus far. 4 8-6-3
25

Blue Jackets
Coming off a depressing 2024-25 marketing campaign, Elvis Merzlikins is off to a legitimately encouraging begin this yr. In seven appearances, Merzlikins has saved 2.82 targets above common, and he is given Columbus an opportunity to win in most outings. 6 8-7-1
26

Rangers
Congratulations to the Rangers on their first residence win of the season. Did it come in opposition to the listless Predators? Sure it did, however New York is in no place to get choosy about wins at Madison Sq. Backyard. 3 8-7-2
27

Wild
Issues are usually not going effectively for Minnesota’s trio of proficient younger defensemen (Brock Faber, Zeev Buium and David Jiricek). None of them have higher than a 46.6% anticipated targets share or minus-2 purpose differential at five-on-five. 2 7-7-4
28

Canucks
Vancouver can’t get any form of momentum, and an upcoming highway journey that options video games in opposition to the Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers most likely will not assist issues. That they play these three video games in 4 days solely provides to an already tall activity. 2 8-9-1
29

Sabres
Josh Doan flew beneath the radar within the commerce that despatched JJ Peterka to Utah, however he hasn’t been beneath the radar in Buffalo this season. Doan seems to be like an influence participant for a very long time to return with 9 factors and an eye-popping 60.9% anticipated targets share at five-on-five 4 5-6-4
30

Blues
There are commerce rumblings round Jordan Kyrou, however I believe that will be a mistake for the Blues to do this now. Kyrou has only one purpose in his final six video games, however the underlying numbers are literally fairly sturdy. I count on Kyrou to interrupt by means of within the close to future. 1 6-8-3
31

Predators
Nashville has received considered one of its final 9 video games, and the vibes have not been this low because the early enlargement years. The Preds are off to Sweden for a pair World Sequence video games now, however you need to assume Andrew Brunette would possibly get a pink slip when arrives again on U.S. soil. 1 5-9-4
32

Flames
One thing optimistic for Calgary: Nazem Kadri performed in his 1,000th recreation not too long ago, and he has really given Flames followers one thing to cheer about from to time to time. (Now how for much longer till he will get traded?) — 4-12-2