NHL’s Early Season Surprises: Teams Exceeding and Falling Short

Sporting events often stir a wide range of emotions. Take New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, for instance, who was reportedly torn between laughter and tears after his team suffered three consecutive shutouts in their initial home games this season—an unprecedented event in NHL history.

Under new coach Mike Sullivan, the Rangers currently hold a 2-3-0 record. However, their two victories were against the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, raising questions about their true scoring ability: are they genuine offensive threats (having scored 10 goals in two road wins) or do they falter against stronger opposition, particularly on home ice?

New York is an early-season enigma, and they`re not the only team eliciting strong reactions from the hockey world. It`s a common sports tradition to prematurely praise or criticize teams after only a few games in a long season. With the 2025-26 NHL campaign just in its second week, we can discuss which clubs are overperforming, which are struggling, and what`s happening with the teams in the middle.

Insights based on such a small sample size are fleeting. Let`s quickly tour the league for some fresh perspectives, spotlighting teams in each category, starting with the positive surprises.

Positive Surprises

Boston Bruins Record: 3-1-0

What has happened: Boston started strong with an impressive 3-0-0 record, matching the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for the best start statistically. This is notable for a Bruins team that finished with 76 points last season, missed the playoffs, and entered this new season without high expectations. Boston is embracing its underdog status proudly.

Why it happened: It`s worth noting that last season was… peculiar in Boston. Jeremy Swayman severely underperformed after contentious contract negotiations extended into the preseason. Injuries to Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm crippled Boston`s defensive unit, leading GM Don Sweeney by March to move players elsewhere, including Brad Marchand to the Panthers.

The reduced expectations for 2025-26 have seemingly liberated the team. Boston has benefited from a lighter schedule, beating the Chicago Blackhawks and Sabres early on, but you play who`s on the schedule. The Bruins are fifth in goals against, conceding only 2.25 per game, even with Lindholm out injured again.

David Pastrnak is averaging over a point per game, an excellent sign for Boston`s offense. Swayman holds a 2-0 record with a .966 save percentage. Although the Bruins suffered their first defeat of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, it wasn`t a bad effort overall. It merely suggested that for Boston to stay on track, they must avoid becoming too complacent with their achievements.

Will it continue? It would be easy to dismiss the Bruins after their Lightning loss as incapable of competing against tougher opponents, especially given their lethargic starts. The best-case scenario for the Bruins is remaining in playoff contention while integrating prospects to gain experience, given the lower stakes for a perennial contender. They haven`t yet resigned themselves to a top draft pick like Gavin McKenna.

Seattle Kraken Record: 2-0-1

What has happened: Seattle has gone from last in the Pacific Division last season to climbing the standings with a strong start to this new campaign. This includes already defeating a key divisional opponent, the Vegas Golden Knights, and doing so without a singular superstar. Intriguing!

Why it happened: The Kraken have tightened their defense. Seattle is tied for the sixth-fewest goals against per game (2.33) and averages fewer than 30 shots on goal allowed. Even when they make errors, it`s in wildly entertaining games, like their overtime thriller in Montreal, which resulted in Seattle`s first loss.

The Kraken have received strong goaltending from Joey Daccord (.918 SV%), but what`s impressive about Seattle is their lack of top-tier skaters. The team appears to excel through a committee approach. Jared McCann and Vince Dunn lead with four points each, and the Kraken already boast seven different goal scorers.

Seattle wasn`t expected to be a standout team this season, but their slow and steady approach could yield more positive results.

Will it continue? The Kraken`s lack of elite talent might eventually hinder them as other teams improve their defensive play. Seattle faces an uphill battle in their division (hello, Edmonton!) and must continue proving themselves against tougher competition. The same could be said for other teams, however. Consider the Kraken an underdog who will likely contemplate making additions, not subtractions, before the trade deadline.

Nashville Predators Record: 2-1-1

What has happened: Nashville was not a positive surprise last season, but that could change this season. The Predators struggled in 2024-25 despite Steven Stamkos`s arrival, which was admittedly a disappointing individual campaign for him. Nashville vowed to regroup under second-year head coach Andrew Brunette, and the Predators have largely delivered, with a 2-1-1 record, a sensational goaltender, and stars ready to perform.

Why it happened: Don`t let the third period against Toronto define your opinion of the Predators. They were tied 2-2 with the Maple Leafs entering the third period, playing the second half of a back-to-back, with backup netminder Justus Annunen making his first start. Nashville showed resilience, coming back from a 2-0 deficit and battling to the finish.

What`s working for the Predators is their distributed offensive effort. Ryan O`Reilly is a commanding top-line center (with two goals in four games), while Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault (both with a pair of markers) are clicking on their third unit.

The true revelation, however, is goaltender Juuse Saros, who is off to a 2-0-1 start with a .947 SV%. Saros has been Nashville`s savior in the past, and it has been detrimental to rely too heavily on his contributions. If Nashville can supplement its goaltending with solid defense (led by the impeccable Roman Josi) and even more offensive firepower (Stamkos and Filip Forsberg are still finding their stride), then the Predators can be a positive surprise this time.

Will it continue? Nashville cannot afford to be one-dimensional. Saros cannot carry them to victory in every one-goal game. And at some point, the power play will need to get going (5.9% won`t suffice).

What Nashville is showing so far is character. The Predators have some momentum. How far will it take them? Possibly to a wild-card playoff spot – the Central Division is tough, after all – and that`s more likely if the Preds commit as strongly on defense as they do offensively.

Honorable mention: Anaheim Ducks

This team is having a lot of fun (and not just because they handed out incredible Wild Wing-inspired masks to fans this week). Anaheim seems to have found new life under first-year head coach Joel Quenneville.

Veteran forward Chris Kreider, who joined Anaheim in an offseason trade from the Rangers, has also excelled, scoring four goals through three games. He`s been aided by rising star Leo Carlsson (a high draftee, second overall in 2023, often deemed `underrated` by those less engaged with the Western Conference) and Cutter Gauthier, who found the fresh start he sought outside Philadelphia. The Ducks have the league`s fourth-ranked offense (averaging four goals per game) and the second-best power play, at 36.4%.

To temper the enthusiasm, Anaheim is also allowing the sixth-most goals per game and isn`t yet a defensive powerhouse, despite seasoned veterans like Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba on the blue line. The team`s 2-1-0 record to open the season is noteworthy, as the Ducks may be beginning to see the light at the end of their rebuild.

Surprising Strugglers

Buffalo Sabres Record: 1-3-0

What has happened: The Sabres weren`t considered elite Stanley Cup contenders this season. But it took Buffalo fans only three games to start `Fire Adams!` chants and wear paper bags. So, apart from an uncharacteristic outburst on Wednesday night, not much good is happening right now.

Why it happened: Injuries have certainly contributed to Buffalo`s struggles. Josh Norris, who had health concerns when acquired last season for Dylan Cozens, is sidelined for at least eight weeks with an upper-body injury. Zach Benson was unavailable for the first three games, defensemen Michael Kesselring and Mattias Samuelsson are out, starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is ailing, and Jordan Greenway is still rehabbing from summer surgery. That`s quite an extensive injury list.

Regardless, Buffalo still has most of its top players available, and they aren`t performing adequately. The Sabres were outscored 10-2 in their opening 0-3-0 skid (averaging a league-worst 0.67 goals per game). Their power play went 0-for-11 in that span. Alex Lyon has stepped up in net with Luukkonen out, but he can`t compensate for the Sabres` lack of offense.

Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch have one goal each; Jason Zucker is the true standout with three. Rasmus Dahlin has contributed three assists. However, most of that output came in Wednesday`s game against Ottawa, where Buffalo showed signs of life against a team depleted by the loss of captain Brady Tkachuk.

Can that momentum translate against other clubs? We shall see. The Sabres haven`t shown they have the depth to compensate for their injured players, which reflects poorly on Adams` management (hence the jerseys thrown onto the ice). Buffalo lacks the defensive detail to hold opponents at bay without further goal support, which has put them in a difficult position early.

Will it continue? The Sabres aren`t short on talent; they`re lacking execution. Benson`s return for Wednesday`s game was a necessary boost for Buffalo. One or two bad weeks won`t define the season for Thompson, Tuch, or Dahlin. Success from here will depend on whether the Sabres can build confidence despite their struggles.

It has been 14 years since Buffalo made the playoffs. It`s not a benchmark players want to hear about daily, but it arises when your start is so shaky. Negativity can galvanize a group, however. If the Sabres can rally and push back against their critics, they can stop their slide before it becomes an avalanche. Unfortunately, history isn`t on their side.

Vancouver Canucks Record: 1-2-0

What has happened: The Canucks` underperforming stars have led to a lackluster start, well below their talent level. Vancouver is currently 1-2-0, sharing the bottom of the Pacific Division.

Why it happened: Vancouver`s top line has been a disaster. Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser clearly don`t complement each other. There`s no real `worker` on that unit to retrieve pucks; all three are looking to score. That`s good, but only if you have possession long enough to do so.

In general, Pettersson isn`t proving to be the true first-unit center Vancouver needs. The Canucks` highest-paid player is coming off a woeful 2024-25 season with just 15 goals in 64 games. Vancouver isn`t seeing a bounce-back performance now. Pettersson, with one assist and three shots, is mostly invisible offensively (though he has been on for only one goal against). The Canucks can`t thrive without him finding a rhythm, with or without his current linemates.

Vancouver`s power play has yet to convert, leaving the team with the league`s 24th-ranked offense (averaging 2.67 goals per game). The Canucks are fortunate to have an elite defenseman in Quinn Hughes and a potential Team USA Olympian goaltender in Thatcher Demko, who is 1-1-0 with a .944 SV%. Until Vancouver`s offense sparks, defensive efforts alone won`t be enough to lift them in the standings.

Will it continue? It`s fair to say many teams experience growing pains with a new coach. Adam Foote took over this season and is still making his mark. Vancouver has the raw talent, and their fourth line has been particularly solid. Vancouver needs more of that work ethic from the rest of its skaters.

Self-inflicted wounds and conceding quick response goals have also hurt the Canucks. It`s their lack of sharp details more than anything. Scoring breeds confidence, however, and if Vancouver can find the net more often and give up fewer odd-man opportunities, brighter days are ahead.

(Dis)honorable mention: Vegas Golden Knights

If we`re going to criticize the Canucks for top-line chemistry issues, it`s fair to note they aren`t the only Pacific Division club facing these difficulties.

The Golden Knights acquired Mitch Marner in a trade with Toronto, then signed him to a massive eight-year, $96 million extension, intending for Marner to partner with Jack Eichel for offensive dominance. That hasn`t happened – yet.

Eichel and Marner played together throughout the preseason, but after three games, coach Bruce Cassidy had to separate his stars, at least temporarily. Both are excellent pass-first players, but someone must score, and it can`t fall solely on Ivan Barbashev when they are a trio.

Cassidy must find a way to make Marner and Eichel click. Vegas starting 1-2-0 probably wasn`t what GM Kelly McCrimmon envisioned when he pursued the star winger. The good news is that Vegas has endless potential; all that`s required is tapping into it.