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NHL’s biggest surprises early in 2024-25: Emerging stars, unexpected starts and more

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Simply over three weeks into the 2024-25 NHL season, issues are trying attention-grabbing. The Edmonton Oilers — our preseason Stanley Cup favorites — are struggling to attain objectives. The Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild — two groups that missed the playoffs final 12 months — are unexpectedly off to sizzling begins. And the Winnipeg Jets aren’t simply good however undefeated.

Even our boldest predictions are being surpassed by the surprises of a season in motion.

What has been every workforce’s greatest shock up to now, good, unhealthy or ugly? The Athletic posed that query this week to its NHL employees. Right here’s what they mentioned.

Mason McTavish getting dropped within the lineup: There have been a couple of candidates for this: Trevor Zegras with simply 2 factors in six video games, Cutter Gauthier lastly getting on the scoresheet earlier this week, Lukáš Dostál off to a sizzling begin in aim. However one which raised some eyebrows was Geese coach Greg Cronin dropping McTavish from his customary No. 2 middle place to the fourth line Tuesday in opposition to the San Jose Sharks. It doesn’t seem like any sort of everlasting sentence for McTavish, as he nonetheless performed practically 17 minutes and assisted on Leo Carlsson’s decisive power-play aim. However it’s one other signal that Cronin has excessive expectations for the 21-year-old, who has solely eight photographs on aim together with horrible possession and defensive metrics. As he did with Zegras final season and with Gauthier, in benching him for prolonged stretches throughout a sport, Cronin will ship a message to his gifted younger forwards if he isn’t getting what he desires out of them. — Eric Stephens

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Right here they go once more — the Geese are making life tough for Lukáš Dostál in aim

Cole Koepke’s offensive emergence: The Bruins signed Koepke, 26, as a depth wing on a one-year, $775,000 deal. He was not assured to make the workforce. However because the No. 4 proper wing subsequent to Johnny Beecher and Mark Kastelic, the ex-Tampa Bay Lightning ahead has three objectives and 6 factors in his first eight video games. Koepke had scored just one earlier NHL aim. He’s been a no-nonsense, straight-line ahead who takes pucks to arduous areas. — Fluto Shinzawa

Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn have zero objectives: Cozens and Quinn are on Buffalo’s second line, get power-play time and are anticipated to have huge seasons. However by way of eight video games, they’ve mixed for zero objectives and three assists. Quinn was a wholesome scratch for one sport. Cozens leads the workforce in photographs on web however hasn’t been in a position to end. And Buffalo nonetheless hasn’t scored on the facility play. The Sabres want these two to get going to take some stress off the highest line. — Matthew Fairburn

Calgary Flames

Their franchise-best begin: There’s Jonathan Huberdeau’s point-per-game manufacturing, Martin Pospisil being a viable middle choice and Dustin Wolf’s excellent 3-0-0 file. And we are able to’t neglect about Justin Kirkland. Once you add that each one collectively, you get a Flames workforce that has defied expectations with its finest begin in franchise historical past. Many analysts had Calgary pegged to complete as a bottom-three workforce within the standings. Now, individuals are questioning if the Flames ought to load up on property for a playoff run. Will this maintain? We’ll see. However Flames followers are able to benefit from the journey so long as it lasts. — Julian McKenzie

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LeBrun: What’s behind the Flames’ sizzling begin? Catching up with Craig Conroy

Shayne Gostisbehere exceeding expectations: All of us knew Gostisbehere may rating. Coming into this season, Gostisbehere had 97 objectives since turning into an NHL common in 2015-16, the Tenth most amongst defensemen. However “Ghost” has exceeded expectations to start out this season with 4 objectives in his first 5 video games. He’s simply the second defenseman in franchise historical past (Dougie Hamilton, 2019) and the primary within the NHL since Filip Hronek (Detroit Crimson Wings, 2022) to attain in 4 straight, and he has match completely on the highest power-play unit that completed second within the league final season. — Cory Lavalette

The added veterans haven’t been impactful: The Blackhawks added eight veterans within the offseason. Except for Teuvo Teräväinen, they haven’t made a lot of a distinction. Craig Smith has had moments, however he has additionally been a wholesome scratch. Tyler Bertuzzi doesn’t have a degree in five-on-five play by way of eight video games. T.J. Brodie has struggled defensively. Ilya Mikheyev is pointless. Patrick Maroon has the second-worst on-ice anticipated objectives share on the workforce. Alec Martinez and Laurent Brossoit are out with accidents. — Scott Powers

Ross Colton stepping right into a first-line function: With Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin out of the working to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon on Colorado’s prime line, coach Jared Bednar turned to Colton. All Colton has achieved is rating seven objectives, which ranks second within the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov (eight). Colton’s offensive outburst coincided with Colorado’s turnaround, as he scored twice in every of the workforce’s first two wins (together with the game-winner Sunday in San Jose). He’s been a nice and much-needed shock early on. — Jesse Granger

Mathieu Olivier … aim scorer? The Blue Jackets’ main aim scorers up to now this season are Kirill Marchenko, Sean Monahan, Yegor Chinakhov and … Olivier? Sure, the profession fourth-liner (no slight supposed) has three objectives, one help, 4 factors and a plus-1 score within the first six video games, together with his first profession two-goal sport Tuesday versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Olivier, who scored a club-high 4 preseason objectives, mentioned he spent the offseason engaged on the abilities side of his sport, together with an gear tweak, which he didn’t need to focus on. Hey, why jinx it? — Aaron Portzline

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Blue Jackets get huge enhance from Mathieu Olivier, Justin Danforth in rout of Leafs

The dearth of manufacturing from the again finish: If we’re choosing nits from a wonderful begin, it’s how little the Stars defensemen are contributing offensively. Dallas has only one aim from the again finish, a Thomas Harley tally in its seventh sport, a loss to Buffalo. However it’s not simply objectives. Miro Heiskanen’s secondary help on Jason Robertson’s aim Thursday night time in Boston was the primary level recorded by a Dallas defenseman apart from Harley. So by way of eight video games, practically 10 p.c of the season, 5 defensemen — together with a possible Norris Trophy contender — have mixed for no objectives and one secondary help. On the intense facet, the Stars are nonetheless 6-2-0. If and when Heiskanen begins chipping in additional, they’ll be that rather more harmful. — Mark Lazerus

Detroit Crimson Wings

Simon Edvinsson’s fast adjustment: Edvinsson carries huge expectations long-term as a No. 6 choose, however it’s been spectacular how rapidly he’s turn out to be a core piece of the Crimson Wings blue line, taking part in main minutes and in opposition to prime strains early on this season. He rapidly rose to the workforce’s prime protection pairing and has held up effectively there — significantly in defending a good, 1-0 lead in opposition to the New York Islanders, displaying his nice defensive keep on with deny entries and break up performs. Edvinsson has performed in simply over 30 NHL video games in his younger profession, and he’ll absolutely have some ups and downs because the season performs out, particularly if he stays in such a tricky function. However it needs to be encouraging for the Crimson Wings to see him succeeding in that spot this early. — Max Bultman

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Edmonton Oilers

They will’t rating: The Oilers have been an offensive juggernaut since turning into a perennial playoff workforce in 2020. Together with a four-goal efficiency Friday in opposition to Pittsburgh, they’ve scored simply 18 occasions by way of their eight video games. That’s 2.25 per contest, a fee that ranks forward of simply San Jose. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lastly netted his first marker of the season Friday, however offseason signee Viktor Arvidsson has but to search out the web. Neither has Zach Hyman, the winger who racked up 54 objectives within the 2023-24 common season and added 16 extra within the playoffs. The ability play, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has gone from being the hallmark of the workforce for the previous six seasons to educate Kris Knoblauch toying with the thought of personnel adjustments. It’s all so perplexing. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

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Clock ticking on Oilers as they contemplate making adjustments to energy play

A gradual begin for Carter Verhaeghe: Lacking Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk for a lot of the early going — although Tkachuk has since returned — wasn’t within the Panthers’ plans. The champs have managed to tread water, although. No hurt, no foul. Possibly we’re a bit shocked that Verhaeghe didn’t carry the workforce a bit extra within the meantime; he has one aim and 5 factors (simply 3 at even energy) in his first 9 video games. That appears like nitpicking, although. Anticipate him to search out his sport. — Sean Gentille

The Kings’ Jekyll-and-Hyde nature: Their 4-2-2 file is ok, and so they’re surprisingly sandwiched between Calgary and the same old Pacific Division contender Vegas Golden Knights. And it’s early, with solely one-tenth of the schedule having been performed. However the shocking component of the Kings is how they’ve been both their typical stingy selves or lit up by a bunch of objectives. Toronto and Vegas put six on them of their regulation defeats, and the Ottawa Senators scored eight of their wild additional time shootout. In any other case, the Kings have given up two or fewer of their different 5 contests. Not having Drew Doughty of their protection is usually a contributing issue. David Rittich has held down the fort in aim, however Darcy Kuemper, who was activated Thursday, must be able to start out Saturday in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership after lacking 4 video games. Ditching their 1-3-1 neutral-zone lure and a few new personnel have led to some inconsistency, however the Kings pulled in factors throughout a tricky seven-game street slate to open the season. In the long run, that’s what issues. — Eric Stephens

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Minnesota Wild

Using the Gus Bus: Wild common supervisor Invoice Guerin ought to contemplate himself fortunate he didn’t commerce Filip Gustavsson final offseason — and plenty of different GMs are in all probability kicking themselves that they didn’t chunk. 5 begins into his season, Gustavsson could be taking part in higher than he did even two years in the past when he completed second within the NHL in save share and goals-against common. Not solely did he turn out to be the fifteenth goalie in NHL historical past and the primary in Wild historical past to attain a aim, however he has additionally allowed solely seven objectives in 5 begins and is 4-0-1. Gustavsson has the league’s finest goals-against common (1.40) and second-best save share (.952). — Michael Russo

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Contained in the Wild’s Filip Gustavsson’s completely aimed goalie aim

Lane Hutson’s ice time: Although he’s coming off a tough sport, Hutson’s transition to the NHL has been smoother than anybody may have imagined. By way of seven video games, he leads the Canadiens in time on ice at 23:16 per sport, and that’s with out seeing any time on the highest power-play unit. At even energy, he’s taking part in 20:05 per sport, which is prime 20 within the NHL, greater than Moritz Seider will get with the Crimson Wings or Devon Toews will get with the Avalanche or Noah Dobson will get with the Islanders. And although there have been some defensive points, they haven’t been practically as obtrusive as everybody thought they might be for a 5-foot-9, 160-pound defenseman. — Arpon Basu

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Lane Hutson predicted Canadiens wouldn’t care about his dimension. He’s proved himself proper

The general lackluster play: The Preds lastly recovered from the worst begin in workforce historical past, 5 video games and 5 regulation losses, with a desperately wanted 4-0 win over the Bruins. So perhaps that begins issues within the different path. However within the early levels, there isn’t one side of this workforce’s sport that’s residing as much as expectations. Juuse Saros all the time begins gradual, in order that’s not a large shock. However including Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei to a gaggle that did so effectively in Andrew Brunette’s system final season was presupposed to be immediate fireplace. — Joe Rexrode


Johnathan Kovacevic has been becoming in properly with the New Jersey Devils. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Photographs)

Johnathan Kovacevic’s emergence: The Devils acquired Kovacevic for a 2026 fourth-round choose this summer time, and he has slot in properly. He was averaging 21:18 of ice time heading into Friday’s sport, with a aim, 5 factors and a plus-3 score. His workload will possible go down with Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce returning, however the Devils must be pleased with what they’ve gotten from him up to now. — Peter Baugh

New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin at full energy: Sorokin’s mysterious offseason again surgical procedure triggered him to overlook all however a couple of days of coaching camp, which made his regular-season debut and play an enormous query mark. He has alleviated any issues. He hasn’t simply been wholesome; he’s been glorious. Heading into Friday’s sport, he had allowed 4 objectives in three begins. Too unhealthy his teammates can’t rating any objectives for him. — Arthur Staple

The third line’s brilliance: It’s not surprising that the Rangers’ third line of Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko has been good, however the trio has been a pressure for Peter Laviolette. Every participant has at the very least 5 factors, and the Rangers haven’t allowed a five-on-five aim with them on the ice by way of seven video games. Chytil missed most of final season with a suspected concussion, and having him wholesome and efficient has been big. He can drive play. A 3rd line with scoring talents makes the Rangers a lot deeper, and it’s an enormous purpose they’re off to a 5-1-1 begin. — Peter Baugh

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Ottawa Senators

Their energy play: The Senators’ power-play conversion fee will finally go down. However that the Sens rank as excessive as they do (over 40 p.c as of Thursday) and had power-play objectives in 4 consecutive video games earlier than Friday night time’s sport in opposition to Vegas is a promising signal. The Sens have proven they will transfer the puck round on the facility play, and Jake Sanderson is a large conduit of that success. Ottawa will in all probability must generate extra high-danger probabilities to stay among the many league’s finest, however it at the very least has a stable head begin. — Julian McKenzie

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Jett Luchanko continues to be on the NHL roster: Two gamers from the 2024 NHL Draft are on their NHL rosters in the intervening time: San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 choose, and Luchanko, who was chosen at No. 13. Coach John Tortorella has been complimentary of Luchanko’s sport from the primary time he noticed him in coaching camp, constantly praising his pace, maturity and hockey sense. Whether or not Luchanko goes again to juniors or stays with the Flyers for the season is anybody’s guess in the intervening time. — Kevin Kurz

Pittsburgh Penguins

Kevin Hayes is scoring objectives: Backside-six scoring hasn’t existed for a lot of a decade in Pittsburgh. Including Hayes didn’t determine to vary that, however he’s been superb. Not solely has he scored three objectives, however Hayes’ defensive play has additionally stood out on a revamped fourth line. He’s been good across the web, displaying talent and contact, and has been an general welcome addition. — Rob Rossi

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San Jose Sharks

One other sizable winless begin to the season: Look, the Sharks weren’t going to win a bunch of video games. However with a brand new head coach and a bunch of adjustments to the roster, they had been anticipated to be way more aggressive and get their first win earlier than final season, after they began 0-10-1. It ought to have been opening night time, after they took a three-goal lead in opposition to the St. Louis Blues into the third interval. A win there wouldn’t have conjured up that horrific starting to 2023-24, however that is nonetheless a talent-starved group studying it should play a whole sport to emerge victorious. The aggressive side has largely been there — as an illustration, the Sharks performed a stable if not robust closing 40 minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Kings — and this doesn’t really feel like a workforce that may permit 331 objectives or have a minus-150 aim differential. However a sport at Vegas is on faucet, adopted by one in opposition to Utah and a rematch with Los Angeles. Profitable isn’t proving to be any simpler. — Eric Stephens

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Brandon Montour’s presence: When you’re watching Kraken video games commonly, Montour has been everywhere in the ice, in the absolute best manner, within the early going. The marquee unrestricted free-agent signing was anticipated to supply a big enhance on the Kraken again finish, however he has far exceeded all affordable expectations in his first month within the Pacific Northwest. The manufacturing has been there, however the two-way affect and stylistic match have made Montour such an excellent addition to the Kraken. His presence has given Seattle a dynamic, marauding play-driving presence on the again finish on each of its top-four pairs, and the extent to which the Kraken have outshot and out-chanced their opponents with Montour on the ice is unbelievable. It’s early, however Montour appears like he has meaningfully elevated the offensive ceiling of this workforce. — Thomas Drance

St. Louis Blues

Ryan Suter taking part in on the highest pair: Suter, 39, is the second-oldest participant within the NHL, solely a few months youthful than Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He’ll flip 40 in January and is displaying no indicators of slowing down. He was purchased out of his contract for the second time in his profession final summer time, and the Blues signed him as a depth defenseman. However he has stepped in for an injured Nick Leddy and is taking part in within the workforce’s prime pair with Colton Parayko. Since taking that project, he’s averaging greater than 24 minutes of ice time per sport and is a plus participant. — Jeremy Rutherford

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Tampa Bay Lightning

Brandon Hagel is dominating his minutes: It’s not that Hagel wants elite expertise to excel. It’s simply that he hasn’t missed a step regardless of getting got rid of the highest line with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Level. Beginning the 12 months off the highest unit hasn’t dimmed his scoring, both: his 4.13 factors per 60 tempo is the very best of his profession. Lots of that’s because of his excellent five-on-five play: The Lightning are producing extra high quality offense in his minutes, and he has probably the greatest impacts on their anticipated aim suppression regardless of shouldering a tricky workload in opposition to prime competitors. — Shayna Goldman

Toronto Maple Leafs

The play of Anthony Stolarz: Joseph Woll went right down to harm the day earlier than the beginning of the common season, and it turned out to not matter for the Leafs. That’s as a result of Stolarz got here out rocking. He gave up two objectives or fewer in every of his first 5 begins, stopping nearly 94 p.c of the photographs he confronted. The Leafs signed Stolarz to a two-year contract final summer time. They hoped he can be a reliable 1B to Woll. He’s been greater than that, establishing a transparent edge on Woll, who returned to the crease Thursday night time after lacking the primary seven video games. — Jonas Siegel

Utah Hockey Membership

Connor Ingram’s struggles in aim: There have been a number of nice surprises for Utah which have contributed to its 4-3-1 begin. However one troubling signal early on is that the workforce’s No. 1 goaltender hasn’t been in a position to make saves on the fee he did a 12 months in the past. Ingram had a breakout season in 2023-24, showing in 50 video games and posting the Tenth-best objectives saved above anticipated mark (minimal 30 begins) within the league. This season, he has an unsightly .861 save share and has been outplayed by backup Karel Vejmelka — to the purpose there could possibly be a goalie controversy already. A part of the difficulty is the Hockey Clubbers have been coping with a pile of key accidents on the again finish, however Ingram additionally merely hasn’t been as sharp as we’ve seen. — James Mirtle

Kevin Lankinen’s emergence: Signed towards the top of Canucks camp after a month of negotiation, Lankinen has rapidly emerged because the membership’s first-choice beginning goaltender throughout Thatcher Demko’s protracted, indefinite absence. Lankinen has backstopped the Canucks to a 3-1-2 file with a ridiculous five-on-five save share within the .950s. His work within the blue paint has helped Vancouver pad and maintain leads, which has been important, because the Canucks have been a bit gradual to retrieve their trademark lockdown defensive sport from final season. — Thomas Drance

Vegas Golden Knights

The offensive explosion: After shedding the franchise’s all-time main aim scorer, Jonathan Marchessault, and key forwards Chandler Stephenson and William Provider over the summer time, it seemed just like the Golden Knights must win with protection in 2024-25. By way of the primary few weeks, that hasn’t been the case. Heading into Friday night time’s sport in opposition to the Senators, Vegas is the fifth-highest-scoring workforce within the NHL with 4.14 objectives per sport and has scored fewer than three objectives in a sport solely as soon as. The Golden Knights have a sky-high taking pictures share of 15.4, which leads the league and can be the very best since 1991, so regression is coming, however up to now the workforce has had no points placing pucks within the web. — Jesse Granger

Alex Ovechkin’s defensive outcomes: The Caps had been all the time prone to present enchancment as a five-on-five workforce this season versus final, however they’ve gotten greater than they may’ve bargained for whereas Ovechkin is on the ice. After years of decline as an all-around five-on-five participant, Ovechkin has glowing goal-share numbers — over 63 p.c, precise and anticipated — and powerful defensive numbers. Opponents are producing 2.07 anticipated objectives per 60 with him on the ice, a quantity he hasn’t sniffed for a full decade. — Sean Gentille

Winnipeg Jets

The protection has been simply nearly as good: No, the Jets haven’t performed Stanley Cup contender after Stanley Cup contender to start out the season, and the one “elite” workforce they did play, Edmonton, has had an terrible begin to its 12 months. However I anticipated extra rising pains from Scott Arniel’s Jets — I nonetheless do when the schedule ramps up. As an alternative, Neal Pionk has been significantly better, Dylan Samberg has been superb, and the workforce’s five-on-five play hasn’t suffered beneath a brand new coach. The goaltending is nice, the workforce has stayed disciplined, and Winnipeg has given up the fewest objectives within the NHL once more early in 2024-25. — Murat Ates

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(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic. Images: Jonathan Kozub / NHLI; Ronald Martinez, Sarah Stier / Getty Photographs) 



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