It’s still early, but two weeks into the NHL season, several teams that missed the playoffs last year are off to hot starts. We took a closer look at five of them and asked a simple question: contender or pretender? (All stats and records are through games played Thursday.)
Chicago Blackhawks | 4-2-2, eight points | Verdict: pretender
For the first time in years, the Hawks have at least looked competent for long stretches in every game. The bar was really low, and Chicago is clearing it right now as it sits in a playoff spot. Centers Frank Nazar and Connor Bedard have combined for 16 points, and Bedard has excelled taking on new responsibility on the penalty kill. That doesn’t make the Blackhawks contenders, but they are at least watchable.
Detroit Red Wings | 5-3-0, 10 points | Verdict: contender
A disastrous 5-1 loss to Montreal in the opener prompted head coach Todd McLellan to call out his team. Then the Wings reeled off five straight wins against five playoff teams from last season, including both Stanley Cup finalists (Edmonton and Florida). Detroit has since lost back-to-back games in regulation to Buffalo and the New York Islanders, neither of whom made the playoffs last season.
The Wings have been solid at controlling play and are sixth in Natural Stat Trick’s expected goals for percentage at 54.28 percent. Forward Emmitt Finnie, a 20-year-old long shot and 2023 seventh-round pick, has been a revelation with seven points in Detroit’s first eight games.
Pittsburgh Penguins | 6-2-0, 12 points | Verdict: pretender
With new coach Dan Muse off to a fantastic start, the Penguins are right on the line between pretender and contender. An infusion of young talent (defenseman Harrison Brunicke and forward Ben Kindel) unexpectedly making the team has helped. Still, there are warning signs flashing.
Pittsburgh is 24th in Natural Stat Trick’s high-danger chances allowed per 60 minutes. The Penguins have played a more freewheeling chance-trading game to start, and that’s not likely to hold up with goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs. Jarry, in particular, is a Vezina dark horse thanks to his .921 save percentage.
Seattle Kraken | 4-2-2, 10 points | Verdict: pretender
Seattle is off to a nice start despite injuries that have cost it games from forwards Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko. Their returns should help, but the bigger concern is defenseman Brandon Montour’s leave of abscence.
Seattle is last in Natural Stat Trick’s high-danger chances for per 60 minutes. For context, the Chicago Blackhawks have finished last in that stat for four straight seasons and haven’t finished better than 27th in the standings in any season in that span.
The Kraken have 17 high-danger chances in all situations in their past three games and are 1-2-0. They had 17 alone in Montour’s last appearance, a shootout loss to Ottawa. The Kraken need all the help they can get creating offense.
Utah Mammoth | 6-2-0, 12 points | Verdict: contender
They are 11th in Natural Stat Trick’s expected goals against per 60 minutes, impressive for a young team that most think of as offense-first. Utah reached this mark despite a slow start from center Logan Cooley. He only had three points in his first seven games, but he put the league on notice Thursday night with a first-period natural hat trick and four points.
