The NHL season has gotten off to a thrilling start, as the season is now a few weeks underway. While so much of the season lies ahead, already some favourites and underdogs have begun to separate from the pack. Many superstar players have performed at a high level, but some unexpected players have also stepped up to start the season.
There are several players who have defied the expectations of fans and oddsmakers alike. Let’s look at seven NHL players who are performing far better than anyone could have expected to start the year.
Mark Stone
If you had placed a wager on most Ontario sportsbooks regarding who would lead the league in points early in the season, Mark Stone’s name would likely not have been on the shortlist.
However, Stone is currently setting the pace for the entire NHL with 17 points in nine appearances. While Stone maintaining this pace for an entire season is not likely, he has been playing at a world-class level as the Vegas Golden Knights appear to be highly formidable. Stone looks like a real threat to surpass his career high of 73 points by a dramatic margin.
Ross Colton
The Colorado Avalanche have had a high-flying offence for several years, with players like Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen leading the way. But this year, there has been another forward making waves for the team.
Ross Colton has eight goals in nine games to start the year, showing a dynamic offensive game he has yet to display in the pros. Colton’s previous high of 22 goals is going to be surpassed in short order if he continues this way. His name would not have appeared on the Rocket Richard odds before the year started, but he is for sure there now.
Frederik Andersen
Andersen is a veteran with a long career of being a high-quality goaltender, but recent years have been trying for the Swedish goalie. Andersen has played only 50 games in the previous two seasons combined as he navigates injuries, and many thought he was likely to cede his spot as the Carolina Hurricanes’ primary goalie this year.
That has been far from the case in the early going. Right now, Andersen leads the league in both goals-against-average and save percentage and could be the favorite for the Vezina Trophy. Not bad for a goalie many thought was finished.
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin is a surefire Hall of Fame player who has been dominant throughout his long career. However, it seemed likely that his years as a superstar were behind him, as his points-per-game fell to a career low last season.
However, the Russian center has had a major revival this year. Malkin has 14 points in 10 games and ranks among the league’s leading scorers. He has also had a monumental moment this season, scoring his 500th career goal on an assist from his longtime teammate Sidney Crosby. He remains one of the best in the world.
Kevin Lankinen
Kevin Lankinen has been a quality backup for the last few seasons, but very few people expected much of him going into the season. Lankinen had signed with the Canucks, who were dealing with a litany of goalie injuries.
This pressed Lankinen into a big role to start the season, and he has delivered far beyond what Canucks fans could have anticipated. The Finnish goalie is top ten in the NHL in both save percentage and goals-against-average and has been lights out. He has been hugely important for a Canucks team that has needed him to perform at a high level.
Rasmus Andersson
The Calgary Flames were expected to be one of the league’s worst teams this offseason, with most oddsmakers giving them very low odds of making the playoffs. However, they have defied all expectations this season, and Rasmus Andersson has been one of the big reasons why.
Andersson has been a high-quality defenceman for some time, reaching 50 points in 2021-22. But he has taken his game to new heights this year. Andersson leads all defencemen in goals and has ten points in eight games, making him one of the league’s most dangerous players on the backend. He is a breakout star for Calgary.
Neal Pionk
Arguably, the biggest storyline to start the year has been the fantastic performance of the Winnipeg Jets, who have been steamrolling all their opponents. Neal Pionk is an underrated player who has shown up in a major way for the Jets, establishing himself as a top-notch offensive defenceman.
Pionk has never surpassed 45 points in a season but now is playing at an above-point-per-game pace. The Jets are a dominant squad, and Pionk is one of the players who has been most crucial to this incredible early-season run of success.
