The 2025-2026 NHL season is underway, as every team has played at least three games through the first eight days. With it being so early, we should take everything that’s happened so far with a grain of salt. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t rank every team based on their performance thus far. Let’s get right into it.
1. Dallas Stars
Record: 3-0-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
The Stars have lived up to their top ranking thus far. With back-to-back road wins over Winnipeg and Colorado, Dallas is looking every bit like a Stanley Cup favorite. The scary part is that the Stars are just 1-for-7 on the power play thus far and Jake Oettinger has surrendered four goals in each of his first two outings. Imagine how much better this team can get when those two issues get cleaned up.
2. Florida Panthers
Record: 3-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The questions remain on how the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions will fare without their two best players out indefinitely. So far, they’ve done a good job answering those questions. Anton Lundell, thrust into the top six following the injury to Aleksander Barkov, has four points in four games. Netkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky is as good as ever at age 37.
3. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 3-0-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
I was questioning myself last week if I had the Avalanche too low in my preseason rankings. Well, after a 3-0-1 start, I very well may have. Nathan Mackinnon one of the early Hart favorites with a whopping eight points in four games. Scott Wedgewood has been outstanding filling in for starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, as he has a .936 save percentage through four starts.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 3-0-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Carolina is off to a strong start with three straight wins despite Freddie Anderson’s struggles in net. New defenseman K’Andre Miller scored twice in his Canes debut against New Jersey, who will probably be their biggest competitor this season. Seth Jarvis is quickly turning into one of the league’s budding stars, as the 23-year-old has three goals already.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 2-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
After an opening night loss to Dallas, the Jets have grinded out back-to-back 3-2 victories over the Kings and Islanders. Mark Schiefle and Kyle Connor are carrying the offense with Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti on the shelf. Backup goalie Eric Comrie was fantastic against the Islanders, recording 33 saves on 35 shot attempts.
6. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 2-0-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
The Oilers’ back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Finals have not been due to fast starts to seasons. Last year, they started just 9-8-2, and the season before that, they started so bad they fired Jay Woodcroft. They started the season blowing a 3-0 lead to Calgary before losing in overtime. It will be interesting to see if either Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard can separate themselves as the top goaltender sooner rather than later.
7. New Jersey Devils
Record: 2-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Following an opening night loss, New Jersey has responded with back-to-back wins. Jakob Markstrom has been uncharacteristically shaky thus far, but he’s been bailed out by New Jersey’s high-flying offense. Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier have combined for seven points in three games, and Luke Hughes has four assists fresh off a long-term extension this offseason.
8. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 2-0-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
The Golden Knights have had an interesting start to the season, with each of their first three games being decided in overtime. Jack Eichel signed a massive long-term deal right before the season, and he has four goals and five assists already. It has not been smooth sailing in net, with both Adin Hill and Akira Schmid struggling early on.
9. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 3-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
The young Canadiens are looking like a force to be reckoned with in the Atlantic Division early on. The latest of their current three-game winning streak was a thrilling 5-4 OT win vs Seattle, in which Cole Caufield scored twice and Ivan Demidov recorded his first NHL goal to tie the game late in regulation.
10. Washington Capitals
Record: 3-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Yes it’s only been a week since the season started, but I am already regretting my stance before the year that Washington would miss the playoffs. Fittingly, Alaiksei Protas and Tom Wilson, the two players I said would regress significantly this year, colead the team in scoring. The Capitals also have arguably the best goaltender tandem in hockey with Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren.
11. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 2-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
One of my biggest risers, the Red Wings bounced back from a rough opening-night loss to Montreal with back-to-back victories over Toronto. Detroit has done a good job spreading the puck around, something they have to do since there’s not really a bonafide star on this team. An extremely positive note on Detroit is their strong penalty killing so far, only giving up one in seven tries. That’s significant improvement for a team who ranked last in penalty killing in 2025.
12. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 2-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
I think it’s safe to say the Core Four is still alive and well in Toronto, as young Matthew Knies has stepped in for Mitch Marner beautifully thus far, with six points in four games. However, the Maple Leafs can’t rely on their high-flying offense to win games every night. The goaltending has been shaky thus far, and Anthony Stolarez has to be better, especially after that contract he received.
13. Minnesota Wild
Record: 2-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Last week I questioned if Kirill Kaprizov would live up to the $17 million per year the Wild are paying him. With nine points in four games, it’s safe to say he has, and he is a Hart Trophy contender at that. Minnesota is a ridiculous 10-for-21 on the power play so far. They won’t keep that pace up, however, as long as Kaprizov is healthy, those front lines are must see TV in Saint Paul.
14. St. Louis Blues
Record: 2-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
I’m not sure any other team in the league had a worse opening night than the Blues, who were run out of the Enterprise Center by the Wild in a 5-0 defeat. However, they’ve responded with back-to-back road wins by multiple goals. One of the best things about the Blues is their balance. Out of the 18 skaters who have played in all three games, 16 of them have recorded at least one point.
15. Tampa Bay Lighting
Record: 1-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
An uncharacteristically bad start for Andrei Vasilevskiy has led to an early season slump for Tampa Bay. I have no concern for the stars on this team whatsoever, however the depth beyond them is a massive question. The Lightning will be very reliant on special teams this year, as their power play and penalty kill are both excellent with the stars manning the ice during those situations.
16. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 2-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
Goaltending has been nonexistent so far for Anaheim this season, however, this team is 2-1 and boy are they fun to watch. This team has a nice mix of young talent and productive veterans. Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund have both had solid starts to their Ducks’ career, and they have fit in beautifully as the veterans on their respective lines. This team can be one to watch in the Pacific if they can get the goaltending issue figured out.
17. Seattle Kraken
Record: 2-0-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
The Kraken have one of the finest goaltenders in the league in Joey Daccord, and his efforts have led to a surprising start for Seattle. Jared McCann and Vince Dunn have led the way on the offensive side of things, as each have four points to colead the team. The Kraken patiently await the return of Kaapo Kakko, and when he comes back, similar to Anaheim, keep an eye on this team in the Pacific.
18. Boston Bruins
Record: 3-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
When Jeremy Swayman is at the top of his game, this team can be extremely dangerous in the East. Swayman has looked like his old form early on, and it’s resulting in a surprising 3-1 start. To no one’s surprise, Czech superstar David Pastrnak is leading the way offensively for Boston with five points. If “Pasta” and Swayman can play at the top of their games for the full season, the Bruins have a chance to crack the playoffs.
19. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 1-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Outside of a thrilling OT win over Vegas last Wednesday, it’s been a rough start to the season for the Kings. Their goalie situation is extremely concerning, as neither Darcy Kuemper nor Anton Forsberg have looked good on the ice so far this season. Adrian Kempe, meanwhile, has been producing offensively with five points so far.
20. Nashville Predators
Record: 2-1-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Jonathan Marchessault looks way more comfortable this season, as he already has four points. Juuse Saros has been excellent in his three starts as well, and Nashville needs him to have a bounce back season if they want to contend in the Central. All things considered, Nashville has had a really nice start after a disastrous season last year.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 1-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
It’s hard to believe Columbus is 1-2 so far, considering how excellent they’ve been at 5-on-5, as only one skater has a negative plus-minus. In addition, Kirill Marchenko recorded a hat trick at Minnesota. However, the penalty killing has been awful, as they have surrendered seven goals on fourteen power play attempts. That needs to change very soon if the Blue Jackets want to contend this season.
22. Ottawa Senators
Record: 1-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Linus Ullmark has not looked great in his first three three starts thus far, with a sub .850 save percentage. Offensively, it’s been Shane Pinto and not much else, as the 24-year-old has four goals on the season. He’s the only player on the Senators who has scored multiple goals.
23. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 2-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
Dan Muse’s tenure in Pittsburgh has shown some promise thus far. However, two straight losses have slowed their early season momentum. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to play at a high level as they push 40. Newcomer Justin Brazeau has four goals on the young season.
24. New York Rangers
Record: 2-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
It’s been a busy first week for the blueshirts, as they started the season with five games in eight days. Did you know that in 180 minutes of ice time at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers have not scored a goal? A combined 10 goals in their two road games have prevented a disastrous start, but the Rangers cannot rely on Igor Shesterkin to carry them all season long.
25. Utah Mammoth
Record: 1-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
Outside of Dylan Guenther, Utah has gotten little production from their offense. Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley only have one point each through three games. On the bright side, Karel Vejmelka has had a promising start to the season in net. The Mammoth have a ton of potential, especially on the front lines, so it should be a matter of when and not if the offense will get going.
26. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 1-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
Don’t be fooled by Vancouver’s 5-1 victory vs Calgary on opening night. The Canucks are way more like the team we’ve seen the last two games where they’ve suffered multi-goal losses to Edmonton and St. Louis. This is a team that is going to have a hard time scoring all season, especially if Elias Pettersson is going to be a nonfactor. On the bright side, Thatcher Demko looks like an early Vezina favorite.
27. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 1-1-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
With a new head coach and a relatively young roster, it’s going to take some time for the Flyers to reassert themselves in the Metropolitan Division. That being said, they’ve shown some positives early on, with close losses to Florida and Carolina before returning home to beat the Panthers in a rematch. Sean Couturier has led the way offensively with four points thus far.
28. Calgary Flames
Record: 1-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
The Flames are proving people who said last season was a fluke right early on. This team should be 0-4, but a miraculous comeback against Edmonton on opening night gave them their only win thus far. The offense is clearly hurting without Jonathan Huberdeau, and Calgary needs him back sooner rather than later. They also need Dustin Wolf to be better in net. An .873 save percentage will not take a team anywhere, especially a team who struggles to score as much as Calgary does.
29. New York Islanders
Record: 0-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Matthew Schaefer has looked the part so far, as the No. 1 overall pick has three points in the first three games, along with averaging the most time on ice for any Islanders skater. The reason they haven’t won a game yet is due to an uncharacteristically slow start for Ilya Sorokin, as the former Vezina finalist has surrendered 13 goals in three games.
30. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 1-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
The Blackhawks have been extremely impressive for a team in the midst of a painful rebuild, as they began the season with three straight one-goal losses to Florida, Boston and Montreal. Spencer Knight has looked great as the primary netkeeper. Frank Nazar is the real deal, and the rest of the top six have been productive as well. Chicago has to clean up the penalties, as 27 of them in four games will not cut it.
31. San Jose Sharks
Record: 0-1-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 32
The young Sharks have struggled with discipline early on, as they have lost twice in OT and were blown out by Carolina. Alex Nedeljkovic had two laughable mistakes that cost San Jose an easy win against Vegas. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have combined for six assists already, although neither has found the back of the net yet.
32. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 0-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Other than goaltender Alex Lyon, there is nothing positive to mention about Buffalo. Three uncompetitive losses, zero offensive production, and a lack of showing from their key pieces have led to a last place ranking. You have to think Lindy Ruff’s seat is getting hotter and hotter with each passing game.
