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The 2026-27 NHL season began on Sept. 29 and is now entering its second month. While Thanksgiving is often viewed as a more reliable indicator of playoff potential, the one-month mark offers a useful checkpoint to evaluate team and player performance.
The New Jersey Devils were already playing well before acquiring the league's top goalie, the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes are surging, and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is on fire. Meanwhile, a few goaltenders have outplayed the nominal starters on their own teams.
New Jersey Devils: Playoff Bound?
USA TODAY initially projected the Devils to return to the playoffs after a down year but expressed doubts about their goaltending. General manager Sunny Mehta addressed that by winning the Connor Hellebuyck sweepstakes after the goalie requested a trade and was suspended by the Winnipeg Jets for not reporting to training camp. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner, 2024-25 MVP, and U.S. Olympic gold medalist stopped 17 of 18 shots in his Devils debut. His arrival allows Jake Allen to return to a backup role, and Hellebuyck's puck-moving ability complements the Devils' high-powered offense. Mehta also strengthened the forward group, with Luke Evangelista producing and Arseny Gritsyuk thriving on the top line. Most importantly, Jack Hughes has stayed healthy this season, aside from losing a few more teeth.
Carolina Hurricanes: Repeat on the Horizon?
The true answer will come in April and beyond, but the Hurricanes are off to a strong start. Jackson Blake is building on his playoff run, scoring is spread throughout the lineup, and the team has weathered injuries to Seth Jarvis (who has since returned) and Jordan Staal. The only concern is a slow start from Stanley Cup-clinching goalie Brandon Bussi, but Pyotr Kochetkov has been excellent with an 8-0 record and a 1.62 goals-against average.
Connor McDavid: Record Pace
McDavid has 36 points in his first 13 games, putting him on pace for the league's first 200-point season since Wayne Gretzky in the 1980s. Even if he falls short of that, he has a strong chance to surpass his career best of 153 points set in 2022-23. What's driving his torrid pace? Previous Oilers coaches often used Leon Draisaitl alongside McDavid as a nuclear option when trailing. First-year coach Mike Babcock has kept the two together and added Vasily Podkolzin as the third forward on the line. That trio, along with defenseman Evan Bouchard, has made Edmonton's power play lethal. McDavid set an NHL record with his season-opening 13-game assist streak. He and Draisaitl reportedly pushed for Babcock's hiring, and it is paying off.
Jacob Fowler: Rookie of the Year Candidate?
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler began the season in the AHL but was called up when Sam Montembeault was injured. His arrival coincided with a slow start by 2026 playoff hero Jakub Dobes, and coach Martin St. Louis is riding the hot hand. Fowler started and won the Heritage Classic and recorded a 46-save shutout against the St. Louis Blues. A standout at Boston College and in the AHL, Fowler's early NHL success is a continuation of that trajectory. He leads the league in Moneypuck's goals saved above expected and will be in the Vezina Trophy conversation if this continues. Fowler joins Kochetkov and the Calgary Flames' Devin Cooley in pushing for No. 1 goalie roles, though Cooley left Wednesday's game with a lower-body injury.
Originally reported by yahoo.