NHL Insights: Five Teams Off To Surprising Starts

The NHL season is underway and there are teams that are off to surprising starts. Some teams are doing better than expected, while other teams are underperforming. And with those teams underperforming there is no need to overreact. However, that clock is starting to tick on when to push the panic button. As the sample size gets bigger, standings will take shape for the playoffs. In this edition of NHL Insights, we take a look at five teams off to surprising starts

NHL Insights: Five Teams Off To Good Starts

1. Calgary Flames

Nobody knew what to expect from the Calgary Flames coming into this season. There was a lot of talk during the off-season that players like Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monohan, Elias Lindholm and others were going to be shipped out. The Flames made a big change last season bringing in Darryl Sutter as their head coach. Things did not payoff for the Flames as they game up short to make the playoffs. However, a new season brings a new attitude and the Flames are off to a 4-1-1 record. And after starting off 0-1-1, the Flames have won four straight games. In addition, Andrew Mangiapane is a man possessed for the Flames this season. His strong start was propelled by a good IIHF World Championship. To begin the season he has seven goals in six games. Not to mention the players above are adapting to the system well.

2. St. Louis Blues

Another team off to a surprise start is the St. Louis Blues who have a 5-0-0 record to begin the season. The Blues had a lot of changes this past off-season with players coming and going. Not to mention that Vladimir Tarasenko wanted out of St. Louis. However, Craig Berube knew the players he had in the room and they were focused on a new year. Speaking of Tarasenko, despite his complaints of wanting out, he is off to a good start. He has six points in 6 games and looks like his old self very confident with the puck as he makes those spectacular plays we all have seen in the past. In addition, the Blues are getting great goaltending from Jordan Binnington, similar to what he did en route to the Stanley Cup in 2019.

3. Carolina Hurricanes

Now everyone can say why are the Carolina Hurricanes on this list, they are a good team. But did anyone expect this with so much turnover in the off-season? Like the Blues, the Hurricanes are 5-0-0. There are two other teams that are off to starts like that. For the Hurricanes, yes they have a great coach in Rod Brind A’Mour, but that did not mean it was going to be difficult. No Petr Mrazek, no Alex Nedeljkovic, no Dougie Hamilton, and the list goes on. But the addition of Jesperi Kotkaniemi has helped this team along with Tony DeAngelo, despite the other baggage. Frederik Andersen looks like his old self, so that is a receipt for success.

Around FPC

NHL: Independent Investigation of Chicago Blackhawks Leads to Stan Bowman Stepping Down

NHL: Chevy in Hot Water as Investigation Findings Come to Light

NHL: KHL Team Salary Payroll Revealed

NFL: Opinion: WFT And Blackhawks Share Shame

Wrestling:  Ring of Honor Announces Hiatus, Releases All Talent

PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 7: The 2021-22 NHL Season Is Here

4. Detroit Red Wings

Another team that is playing well is the Detroit Red Wings. Will their success continue? Probably not, but you can clearly see this Red Wings team will be a contender in a year or two. Usually, the Red Wings have been getting off to slow starts, but this season the young players like Lucas Raymond, Mortiz Seider, and Pius Suter are playing well. Raymond has eights points in seven games. Seider has six points in eight games. Not to mention the veterans on the team like Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, who are also young, but were on the team when the Red Wings hit rock bottom and are focused on bringing Detroit back from the bottom. They are off to a good start and Steve Yzerman once took this Red Wings team back from the depths of the standings and brought them to the playoffs for 25 years and multiple Stanley Cups. He is on the right track doing it again.

5. San Jose Sharks/Buffalo Sabres

At the fifth position, there are two teams which are the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres. Everyone picked the Sabres to finish dead last in the Atlantic Division, but they are off to a good start at 4-1-1. The Sabres are doing this without Jack Eichel. And Don Granato is picking up where he left off last season with this young team. The players are believing in his system especially the young players like Casey Mittelstadt. While he is hurt at the moment, he is finally showing the potential he had coming into his draft year. Not to mention this team is not focusing on the Eichel distraction. Which makes this so much better.

Another team that had a coaching change last season was the Sharks. Even though they have lost two straight games, the Sharks started off 4-0. Who would have expected that? Like the Sabres, the Sharks were pegged to finish in the bottom of the Pacific with the other California teams. Bob Boughner has players believing in his system. The veterans like Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson, and Brent Burns are having bounce-back seasons. Plus Adin Hill is showing why he was so effective in Arizona. While they might not sustain this level, the Sharks can compete for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

Of course, there are other teams that can be on this NHL Insights list including the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers remain undefeated while the Oilers suffered their first loss on Wednesday night. That should not come as a surprise as they were on track for a good season. Check out another edition of NHL Insights next week.