The 2026-27 NHL season is still in its infancy, yet a few interesting trends are beginning to surface. From successful free agency moves to emerging prospects and teams that seem to be struggling, there’s certainly a lot happening that merits attention as we move forward.
One of the standout surprises so far has been the New York Rangers. They currently sit atop the Metropolitan Division, having notched some significant victories, including a win over the playoff-contending Utah Mammoth, as well as a striking 5-1 triumph against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team many consider to be in the running for the Stanley Cup.
Defensively, the Rangers are excelling, allowing just eight goals, which ranks third in the NHL. Having Igor Shesterkin in goal certainly helps, but the whole defensive unit is playing impressively. The departure of Artemi Panarin has led the team to adopt a more collective playing style, engaging more of their skaters offensively. There’s a noticeable growth in players like Alexis Lafrenière, who is starting to showcase the promise he had as the first overall pick, and Mika Zibanejad continues to be a reliable force. However, the rise of Gabriel Perreault is particularly noteworthy. He’s been exceptional early on, and if he proves to be a top-tier winger, the Rangers might just surprise a lot of people this season.
Aside from the Rangers, there are several other storylines worth monitoring.
The Dallas Stars Are Unpredictable
This team opted to maintain their roster by re-signing Jason Robertson for a one-year deal, aiming for a strong playoff run while perhaps sacrificing some depth. Right now, it’s hard to pin down what kind of team the Stars are. They’ve had solid wins against the Sabres and Sharks—both decent teams—but they’ve also stumbled against weaker opponents like the Predators and Blues, which raises questions.
The critical factor this season will be determining whether those early losses were just a byproduct of getting back into the groove or a sign of ongoing inconsistency that has affected the Stars in past seasons.
The East Is Experiencing Changes
It’s quite surprising to see both the Canadiens and Flyers languishing at the bottom of the standings this early in the season. The Canadiens are struggling defensively, allowing 19 goals in just four games, which places them in a position that makes winning feel nearly impossible, even during high-scoring matches.
For the Flyers, the situation is even more dire, as they have managed to score only six goals in five games, making them the lowest-scoring team in the league. This marks a decline from last season’s troubles. Players like Trevor Zegras and Matvei Mitchkov haven’t made the offensive leaps many expected, and the defense appears shaky too. It could be a tough road ahead for the Flyers.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are thriving, alongside other teams like the Senators, Capitals, and Islanders, all of whom seem to be making strides. It will be intriguing to see if they can maintain this momentum.
Carolina Faces Goaltending Issues Again
It’s still early on, but the defending champions are grappling with significant goaltending problems once again. After a successful switch to Brandon Bussi during last year’s Stanley Cup Finals, fans hoped they had finally secured a reliable netminder.
Unfortunately, the beginning of this season has been rocky. Even with a defense that has only faced 105 shots in five games, Bussi’s save percentage sits at .851 with a 3.24 goals-against average. Backup Pyotr Kotchekov is struggling as well, with a save percentage below .900. The Canes have found ways to cope with goaltending troubles for years, but it’s evident they need a significant turnaround if they hope to compete because their current scoring won’t hold up forever.
The Flames Are Off to a Disastrous Start
No one had high expectations for Calgary this season, but their performance has been downright alarming. They sit at 0-4 with an astonishing -17 goal differential. It feels like nothing is clicking for them; they can’t score, can’t defend, and just seem out of sync.
If this pattern continues into November, we may have to start discussing whether they could become the worst team in NHL history. That record is held by the 1974-75 Washington Capitals, who finished with an 8-67-5 record and a -265 goal differential. The Flames are currently on track for a -349.
The Maple Leafs Are Making Progress
There’s still time for them to mess things up, but for now, the outlook for the Leafs seems to be reasonably positive. They may sit at 2-2-1, yet they’re competing closely with their opponents and appear more unified across the ice.
Hiring Jim Hiller seemed like a gamble, but the former LA Kings coach has managed to instill a sense of organization in Toronto’s style of play. Gavin McKenna is also exceeding expectations with three points in five games and growing more confident each time he steps onto the ice.
Realistically, we might still be a couple of years away from this team vying for contention, but for now, they seem to be on the right track.
