2025-26 NHL first-quarter report cards for all 32 teams: Complete grades and analysis

The 2025-26 NHL season has reached its quarter mark, and the storylines are as compelling as the standings are tight. With all 32 teams having played more than 20 games, we’re witnessing unprecedented parity across the league—just nine points separate all 16 teams in the Eastern Conference, marking the first time in an 82-game season that an entire conference has been this closely bunched. The compressed schedule, designed to accommodate the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina in February, has created a relentless pace where teams play every other day or on back-to-backs, leaving little time for practice and recovery.

This unique environment has produced surprising contenders and shocking disappointments. The Colorado Avalanche threaten to challenge the Boston Bruins’ record of 135 regular-season points, while the Nashville Predators languish with the league’s lowest goals-per-game average at 2.29. Six teams that missed the playoffs last season currently hold postseason positions, including the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins in the East, plus the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks in the West. Meanwhile, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers sit outside the playoff picture.

Elite performers: Teams earning top marks in the 2025-26 NHL first-quarter report cards

Colorado Avalanche setting a historic pace

The Colorado Avalanche aren’t just leading the NHL—they’re flirting with history. With a current points pace of 137.9, the Avalanche lead the league in goals per game while simultaneously giving up the fewest. Their dominance extends to underlying metrics, generating the most scoring chances per 60 minutes, shots per 60, and scoring chances per 60 in 5-on-5 play. The defensive structure ranks top-10 in fewest shots allowed per 60 and fewest high-danger chances per 60.

Nathan MacKinnon has positioned himself as the Hart Trophy frontrunner, while Cale Makar could win his third Norris Trophy and potentially challenge MacKinnon for MVP. The supporting cast has provided consistent contributions, making the Avalanche arguably the best team in hockey. As noted in our comprehensive first-quarter assessment, the Avalanche’s only weakness is a bottom-10 power play converting at just 15.7%—a minor blemish on an otherwise perfect report card.

Surprise contenders exceeding expectations

The Anaheim Ducks represent the season’s most pleasant surprise, fighting for the Pacific Division crown with a points pace of 108.1—far exceeding their preseason over/under of 83.5. Their young talent continues to grow, with offseason addition Chris Kreider contributing 14 points in his first 15 games. Leo Carlsson projects to a 108-point season, which would rank among the franchise’s best and challenge Teemu Selanne’s record of 109 points.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have defied preseason expectations of being Atlantic Division cellar dwellers, instead emerging as legitimate playoff contenders under first-year coach Dan Muse. The Penguins rank second in fewest goals allowed, top-10 in offense, and possess the league’s best power play. Goaltenders Arturs Silovs and Tristan Jarry have formed a reliable tandem, though the team must address its 0-4 record in overtime and shootout situations.

In Detroit, the Red Wings are experiencing their best start in a decade under Todd McLellan. Dylan Larkin leads the team in goals and points while providing invaluable leadership to rookies Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson. Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka has bolstered the blue line, giving the Red Wings the depth needed to compete in the Atlantic. The power play has been strong, but even-strength scoring and goaltending consistency remain areas for improvement.

Established powers maintaining dominance

The Dallas Stars have shown remarkable efficiency under Glen Gulutzan’s second stint, pacing for 111.8 points despite bottom-10 rankings in scoring chances, shots, and high-danger chances per 60. The power play ranks second in the NHL, and the team sits 10th in goals per game. The penalty kill, however, converts at only 75.7%, creating a concerning special teams imbalance.

Carolina Hurricanes continue to thrive on Rod Brind’Amour’s smothering defensive structure, pacing for 111.8 points. Seth Jarvis leads the team in goals, Sebastian Aho paces them in points, and Jordan Staal provides his usual steady two-way play. Pyotr Kochetkov has excelled in net while Frederik Andersen struggles with injuries and poor performance. The Hurricanes rank third in 5-on-5 goals but suffer from the league’s worst power play and 21st-ranked penalty kill.

New Jersey Devils round out the A-grades with their star-studded offense producing solid results. Jack Hughes had 20 points through 17 games before a freak finger injury in a Chicago restaurant, while Jesper Bratt compiled 21 points in 21 games. Jake Allen has been excellent in an increased workload, and Simon Nemec has blossomed into the defenseman the Devils envisioned when they drafted him second overall in 2022. The injury to Hughes creates immediate challenges for New Jersey’s depth.

Middle tier: B-grade teams navigating the 2025-26 NHL landscape

Overachievers finding their rhythm

The Boston Bruins have flipped the script on preseason predictions, transforming from projected basement dwellers to Atlantic Division contenders under first-year coach Marco Sturm. Despite Elias Lindholm missing most of the season with a lower-body injury, the Bruins rank top-10 on both power play and penalty kill. David Pastrnak remains dynamic, while Morgan Geekie emerges as a budding offensive star. However, injuries to Charlie McAvoy, Casey Mittelstadt, Viktor Arvidsson, and Jordan Harris threaten their sustainability.

Chicago Blackhawks have turned last season’s weaknesses into strengths, with Connor Bedard on pace for 116 points—the highest-scoring season by a Blackhawk not named Denis Savard. Spencer Knight presents a case for Team USA Olympic consideration, while the team has improved its save percentage from .894 last season to .911. Defensive structure remains an issue, with the Hawks ranking bottom-four in scoring chances allowed, shots against, and high-danger chances per 60.

Western Conference balance

Seattle Kraken exemplify the Western Conference’s tight race, where three points separate five teams in the Pacific Division. Their goaltending trio of Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer, and Matt Murray leads the NHL in 5-on-5 save percentage. Lane Lambert has reestablished the Kraken’s defensive identity, limiting high-danger chances effectively. However, scoring just 2.55 goals per game creates minimal margin for error in such a competitive landscape.

The Vegas Golden Knights have maintained defensive continuity without Alex Pietrangelo, ranking top-three in fewest high-danger chances and shots allowed per 60. Yet a disconnect exists between their strong structure and goaltending performance, with a .893 team save percentage in all situations prompting the controversial signing of Carter Hart, currently playing for their AHL affiliate pending reinstatement.

Disappointing starts: C-grade teams in the 2025-26 NHL first-quarter report cards

Fallen powers searching for answers

The Edmonton Oilers sit just one point out of a wild-card spot despite giving up the most goals in the NHL and posting the lowest team save percentage. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid continue producing at over a point-per-game pace, but the Oilers have allowed more than four goals in 13 of 22 games. Their 3-7-2 start mirrors previous slow beginnings, but defensive breakdowns have reached critical levels.

Toronto Maple Leafs have been decimated by injuries to Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Anthony Stolarz, Chris Tanev, and Brandon Carlo. Despite John Tavares’ resurgence (12 goals in 21 games) and William Nylander’s 27 points in 19 games, the Leafs rank top-three in goals against per game and have lost their defensive identity from last season. Recent struggles of 1-5-2 have dropped them to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Defensive identity without offense

The New York Rangers rank 30th in scoring at 2.48 goals per game, with major contributors failing to produce. J.T. Miller has 12 points in 22 games, Mika Zibanejad has 15 points through 23 games, and even Artemi Panarin isn’t averaging a point-per-game pace. Mike Sullivan’s defensive structure has kept them competitive—allowing just 2.65 goals-against per game with strong goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick—but the offensive sputtering leaves them without a clear identity.

Washington Capitals can’t replicate last season’s dominance atop the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin continues his age-defying performance with 20 points in 20 games, but the team lacks consistency in its scoring attack. The power play sits well below average, and the penalty kill ranks bottom-five. Coach Spencer Carbery’s efforts to build a faster team have stalled, with the supporting cast failing to complement their top players.

Struggling franchises: D and F grades in the 2025-26 NHL first-quarter report cards

Offensive woes define bottom tier

The Nashville Predators earn the only F grade, with the league’s lowest goals-per-game average at 2.29—on pace for one of the most offense-challenged seasons in NHL history. They’re also bottom-five in power play and give up the sixth-most goals per game. Roman Josi’s extended absence and Steven Stamkos’ dramatic decline (on pace for fewer than 20 goals for the first time in a non-injury season) have crippled the offense.

Calgary Flames possess a solid defensive structure—top-four in fewest scoring chances and high-danger chances allowed per 60—but rank second-to-last in goals per game at 2.38. A recent three-game winning streak averaging 4.66 goals temporarily boosted their offense, but this remains one of the most anemic attacks in modern NHL history, ranking in the bottom 200 teams all-time for single-season goals per game.

Injuries and inconsistency

Vancouver Canucks showed promise by winning four of their first six games, with Thatcher Demko looking like his Vezina-finalist self and Kiefer Sherwood scoring nine goals. However, since October 21, they’ve endured three three-game losing streaks and used 29 skaters and three goaltenders in 23 games. They rank worst or second-worst in allowing shots, scoring chances, and high-danger chances per 60.

St. Louis Blues entered the season as playoff contenders after adding Pius Suter, but now sit with the third-fewest points in the NHL. Despite strong underlying defensive metrics, they give up the third-most goals per game at 3.64. Their goaltending has the fourth-lowest save percentage in all situations, undermining their structure and creating a five-point gap from the final wild-card spot.

Playoff implications and what the 2025-26 NHL first-quarter report cards reveal

The compressed schedule has created a unique environment where “it almost feels like playoffs,” according to Seattle center Chandler Stephenson. With 90 games going to overtime—the most at this stage in NHL history—and 76 games tied after 55 minutes, the standings volatility forces teams to treat every point as precious. The Olympic break in February adds another layer of complexity, requiring teams to manage fatigue while maintaining performance.

What separates the top from bottom isn’t just talent—it’s health, special teams, and goaltending consistency. The Avalanche’s pursuit of history contrasts sharply with the Predators’ historically poor offense. The Ducks’ resurgence and Penguins’ surprise contention highlight how coaching changes and system adjustments can transform expectations. Meanwhile, traditional powers like the Oilers and Panthers must overcome injuries and defensive lapses to avoid missing the postseason.

As Todd McLellan observed, “You look at the standings, and if you’re on top of the mountain, you’re really not on top of the mountain. You’re in the middle of the forest.” This sentiment captures the 2025-26 season perfectly—no team can feel secure, and every game carries playoff-level intensity. With 75% of the season remaining, these first-quarter grades provide a snapshot, not a final verdict. The teams that adapt to the relentless schedule, minimize injuries, and find consistency in their special teams will separate from the pack as winter approaches.

For a deeper dive into individual team analysis and projected playoff matchups, check out our complete 2025-26 NHL first-quarter breakdown that examines roster construction and trade deadline implications for all 32 franchises.