A bit over two weeks into the 2026-27 NHL season, teams are approaching the 10-game mark, and there has already been no shortage of surprises, both good and bad, at the individual and club level. ESPN's latest Power Rankings identify the biggest shock for each team, based on a poll of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors covering games through Wednesday.
The Carolina Hurricanes hold the top spot, but their injury luck has been poor. In just the past week, captain Jordan Staal (torn calf muscle) and Taylor Hall (upper body) were lost, with Staal expected to miss one to two months and Rod Brind'Amour saying it "doesn't look good" for Hall.
Elsewhere, the Vegas Golden Knights continue to win on the ice, but Oct. 8 marked the first home game they failed to sell out in franchise history, breaking a nine-year streak. In Edmonton, Evan Bouchard has been a surprise, recording 14 points through six games, a pace for 196 by season's end. The Utah Mammoth, led by Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz and Mikhail Sergachev, are scoring 3.88 goals per game, more than half a goal above last season's pace.
The New York Rangers' hot start is overshadowed by the season-ending injury to goaltender Igor Shesterkin, which has put Dylan Garand in the spotlight. In Boston, rookie Fraser Minten is scoring at a point-per-game pace after recording just 35 points in 82 games in 2025-26.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing