The NHL season is only a week old, but already we have seen some impressive performances. Who would have expected Bobby Ryan to lead the league (tied with Travis Konecny) in goals at this point, scoring four times in his first three games? What about Jack Hughes, the disappointing first-overall pick that has burst back into the limelight with an outstanding three matches. Hughes is tied for the league lead in points and is averaging 20 minutes a night for the 2-0-1 New Jersey Devils.
That record is one of the early storylines, as the Devils sit in an East Division playoff spot through the first week. It’s far too soon to jump to conclusions, but that has never stopped hockey fans before. The Florida Panthers have had their season interrupted twice now by COVID-19 outbreaks on other teams, though the 2-0 start they managed to fit in between certainly has new GM Bill Zito smiling. The Chicago Blackhawks decided to go without a proven starter in net and have so far given up the most goals in the entire league as they continue to search for their first win.
The New York Islanders, like they always seem to do, have seen some incredibly low-event hockey through their first few matches. Five goals for, five goals against in three games—can that stingy play lead them down a long playoff road? What about Kirill Kaprizov’s Minnesota Wild (it seems we may be able to call them that already), who have two wins and a positive goal differential after week one? Has the Russian star turned the perennially-mediocre into must-watch television?
Before the games get started this evening, give us your thoughts. Vote below on which team (or teams, you can select more than one) is better than you expected after seeing them a few times this season. Share your reasoning in the comment section!
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Seriously…? Satire, yes?
@padam – I vote for Seattle, how about you? :) (BTW, this list should be radio buttons, not checkboxes – for mutual exclusivity…)
Devils by far. I know it’s only 3 games and Boston was missing Pastrnak but they held their own through those two games, had two solid chances in the first game to win it and be undefeated. Long season and in the group of death, but cautiously very optimistic about the Devils. I’ve got a Jack Hughes signed puck so hoping he goes to the hall of fame hahahaha
The leafs only time they played a bad game was against Ottawa and they just didn’t look right that game. Give this team another week of creating/gaining chemistry and there gonna run away with the division real fast
I don’t see it, Montreal and Calgary will be roght there. That Habs team is solid! We shouldn’t have signed Thornton or Simmonds
Okay there are 31 teams in the league. You didn’t include Dallas, which makes sense for covid reasons. You included 29 of the other 30 teams. So I guess you’re saying you don’t consider the Rangers to be better than expected. I mean, I don’t either, but as a Ranger fan I’m a little hurt they are singled out like that. I suspect you won’t even bother with a worse than expected poll.
It’s 0-4 games in. A little early for this considering most teams have not played a home game or at all? No preseason either.
This should have waited until game 10