It’s the refrain hockey fans and analysts chant every October: “It’s early.” And while it’s a necessary caution against crowning champions or writing off contenders after a handful of games, the opening stanza of the 2025-26 NHL season has already provided a feast of compelling storylines, dominant performances, and worrying trends. With most teams having played just two or three games in a condensed start to the schedule, we’re dealing with the smallest of sample sizes. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore the signals—and the noise—emanating from rinks across the league. Let’s break down the early returns.
The Elite Are Already in Mid-Season Form
Any concerns about a slow start for the league’s premier talents were swiftly put to rest. In Colorado, the dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and his new running mate, Martin Necas, have exploded out of the gate. Through four games, both forwards sit atop the NHL scoring race with eight points apiece, powering the Avalanche to an early league-best seven points in the standings (3-0-1). MacKinnon, with four goals, is already looking like a man on a mission to reclaim the Hart Trophy.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild’s one-two punch is proving just as lethal. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy have combined for 17 points in just four contests. Kaprizov, fresh off signing the largest contract in league history, has been particularly dominant on the man advantage. He has already tallied four power-play goals, a startling figure considering he potted only four in 41 games last season. This early outburst suggests the Wild’s power play, and Kaprizov’s role on it, could be a defining factor in the Central Division race. Not to be outdone, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor began his campaign by recording his seventh career hat trick in the Jets’ season opener, reminding everyone of the pure goal-scoring talent residing in Manitoba.
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The Vegas Power Couple and its Unexpected Beneficiary
Perhaps the most electrifying storyline of the opening week is the immediate, combustible chemistry between Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner in Las Vegas. After inking a massive eight-year, $108 million extension right before puck drop, Eichel has played like a man possessed, racking up nine points (4G, 5A) and showcasing the elite playmaking and improving defensive acumen that prompted the Golden Knights’ front office to commit to him as their franchise cornerstone.
The addition of Marner via a blockbuster trade has created what many are already calling a nightmare for the rest of the Western Conference. The tandem generates a steady flood of high-danger scoring chances whenever they touch the ice. Their instant connection has not only validated Vegas’s aggressive move but has also had a profound ripple effect down the lineup. The primary beneficiary has been Pavel Dorofeyev, who has been catapulted to the top of the league’s goal-scoring leaderboard with five markers. Playing alongside Eichel and Marner, especially on the power play where four of his five goals have been scored, has turned the 25-year-old winger from a complementary piece into an early-season scoring sensation.
Fresh Faces, Contract Drives, and Growing Pains
Beyond the established superstars, a diverse cast of characters is making early noise. In Ottawa, Shane Pinto is making a compelling case for a significant raise. In the final year of his contract, the center has fired home four goals in his first three games, trailing only Dorofeyev for the league lead. His line with Ridly Greig and the veteran Claude Giroux has been the Senators’ most consistent offensive threat.
The rookie class is also making its presence felt. In Chicago, forward Frank Nazar is already turning heads, playing with a poise that belies his experience and making the Blackhawks’ brass look brilliant for his selection. He looks less like a rookie and more like a seasoned top-six forward. On Long Island, the New York Islanders may have found a defensive gem in 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer. The transition to the NHL can be brutal for young defensemen, but Schaefer has looked remarkably smooth, posting two points and earning the immense trust of his coaching staff, evidenced by a staggering 26:04 of ice time in one contest.
Shuffling the Deck: Early Power Rankings Volatility
The week-one power rankings reflect the chaos of a fresh season. At the top, a consensus is forming around a familiar group of heavyweights. The Florida Panthers (3-1-0), fighting off any semblance of a Stanley Cup hangover despite catastrophic injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, look every bit the part of a team chasing a three-peat. The Dallas Stars (3-0-0) and Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-0) have also started flawlessly, while the aforementioned Avalanche lead the league in points.
The biggest movers are further down the list. The Seattle Kraken, who began the preseason ranked near the bottom by most outlets, jumped significantly after winning their first two games for the first time in franchise history. Their success was built on a stifling defense that surrendered just a single goal across those two contests. Goaltender Joey Daccord has been, in a word, on fire. Similarly, the Boston Bruins (3-1-0) have ridden elite goaltending from Jeremy Swayman and strong special teams to an undefeated start.
Conversely, the Tampa Bay Lightning have tumbled down the rankings after an 1-2-1 start where their blue line has been described as “incredibly slow.” The New York Rangers, meanwhile, have had the strangest of starts, beginning the season 2-3-0 by posting one shutout victory and being shut out three times.
Alarms Sounding in Buffalo
While most fanbases can preach patience, a palpable sense of dread has already enveloped the Buffalo Sabres. After an offseason that generated cautious optimism, the team has stumbled to a miserable 0-3-0 start, scoring only two goals while surrendering 10. Compounding the issue is a rash of injuries to key players. The early performance has been so disheartening that some are already asking if the season is lost, continuing what one observer grimly described as the franchise’s “slow collapse into Lake Erie.”
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The Narratives Take Shape
Beyond the standings, the season’s defining narratives are already crystallizing. The Panthers’ ability to win without their captain and top agitator is an incredible testament to their depth and system. The burgeoning rivalry between Dallas and Colorado, who played a tight, physical game that ended in a Stars shootout win, looks like a preview of a season-long battle for Western Conference supremacy.
In Toronto, the departure of Marner hangs over the team as they struggle with their transition game and overall team speed, fueling a narrative that this will be a challenging “transition year” for the club. In Detroit, the Red Wings bounced back from an opening-night loss to sweep a home-and-home from those Maple Leafs, but questions about their nine-year playoff drought and the strength of their defense and goaltending persist. And in a quiet but fascinating subplot, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, with the Gretzky goal chase finally behind him, is reportedly now “going for assists,” signaling a potential new chapter in the twilight of his legendary career.
It is, of course, just the beginning. Streaks will break, slumps will end, and the league’s landscape will shift countless times before April. But this first week has set the stage, introducing the characters and conflicts that will define the long, grueling marathon to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For now, all we can do is watch as the signal separates from the noise.
Created with the aid of Gemini AI