NHL first-quarter report cards 2025-26 season: Complete team grades at the quarter mark

The 2025-26 NHL season has officially passed its quarter mark, revealing a dramatically different landscape than most experts predicted back in October. While perennial powerhouses like the Colorado Avalanche continue their dominance, surprising contenders have emerged from the most unexpected places. The Anaheim Ducks fighting for Pacific Division supremacy and the Pittsburgh Penguins exceeding all expectations represent just two of the compelling narratives shaping this early season.

As teams establish their identities through the first 20-plus games, clear patterns have emerged across the league. Some franchises have built on last season’s momentum, others have crumbled under the weight of expectations, and a handful have found new life through rookie sensations and tactical adjustments. With roughly 75% of the season still remaining, these report cards provide a crucial snapshot of where each team stands and what their early performance suggests about their playoff prospects and future trajectory.

Elite tier: A+ performers in the NHL first-quarter report cards 2025-26 season

The cream of the crop through the first quarter includes teams that haven’t just won games but have dominated in ways that suggest legitimate Stanley Cup contention. These squads have combined superstar performances with crucial depth contributions and tactical excellence that separate them from the rest of the pack.

Colorado Avalanche has established itself as the NHL’s most complete team, leading the league in goals per game while simultaneously surrendering the fewest. The underlying metrics are equally impressive, generating the most scoring chances and shots per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 play while ranking top-10 in fewest shots allowed. This dominance has Nathan MacKinnon positioned for Hart Trophy contention and Cale Makar threatening to win his third Norris Trophy. As Ryan S. Clark from ESPN noted, “The Avs might be the best team in the NHL,” and the numbers overwhelmingly support this assessment. At their current 137.9-point pace, they’re on track to challenge the Bruins’ single-season record of 135 points set in 2022-23.

Anaheim Ducks have delivered perhaps the most shocking performance, pacing for 108.1 points after a preseason over/under of just 83.5. The Ducks rank second in goals per game, fueled by Leo Carlsson’s franchise-record pursuit. The young star is on pace for 108 points, which would place him among Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne’s greatest seasons and potentially threaten Selanne’s record of 109 points. Offseason addition Chris Kreider has provided veteran stability with 14 points in his first 15 games, while Lukas Dostal has anchored the crease with 5.42 goals saved above expected. However, the Ducks’ reliance on Dostal—projected for 63 starts—coupled with bottom-tier defensive metrics in scoring chances allowed suggests potential regression if the young goaltender falters under this heavy workload.

San Jose Sharks round out the elite tier after a remarkable turnaround following an 0-4-2 start. Macklin Celebrini has been the catalyst, pacing for 121 points—which would surpass Joe Thornton’s franchise record of 114. The 19-year-old superstar isn’t alone; Will Smith has blossomed as his running mate while Yaroslav Askarov has excelled between the pipes. As Eric Stephens observed, “The goal for the Sharks this season was to be better. Sitting just outside playoff position after starting with a 0-4-2 record didn’t seem realistic, but here they are.” The Sharks’ turnaround since October 23 has seen them accumulate the fourth-most points in the NHL, showcasing the impact of second-year coach Ryan Warsofsky’s system.

Key statistics from the elite tier:

• Colorado: 4.00 goals per game (1st), 1.89 goals against per game (1st)
• Anaheim: 3.89 goals per game (2nd), 108.1 projected points
• San Jose: 121-point pace for Celebrini, 4th-most points since Oct 23

Strong performances: A to B+ range in NHL first-quarter report cards 2025-26

This group includes legitimate contenders who have met or exceeded expectations, along with several overachieving squads that have redefined their seasons through strong starts. These teams have established playoff positioning early while building sustainable foundations that could carry them deep into the postseason.

Pittsburgh Penguins have been arguably the season’s most surprising contender. With preseason expectations placing them in the bottom five, the Penguins instead sit firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff mix under first-year coach Dan Muse. The system has unleashed their offensive potential while producing the league’s best power play and second-fewest goals allowed. Arturs Silovs and Tristan Jarry have formed a formidable goaltending tandem, though Pittsburgh’s 0-4 record in overtime and shootout situations represents a critical area for improvement. As Josh Yohe noted for The Athletic, “October was an A-plus. November, not so much. Still, the Penguins entered the season with bottom-five expectations around the league and find themselves in a battle for playoff position despite a rash of injuries.”

New York Islanders have exceeded expectations behind No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who immediately became a Calder Trophy favorite playing over 22 minutes per game. The rookie defenseman’s electric two-way play has complemented strong contributions from Bo Horvat and a healthy Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri. The Islanders rank top 10 in goals despite a bottom-tier power play, though the loss of Alexander Romanov for five to six months after shoulder surgery tests their defensive depth. As Shayna Goldman wrote, “Matthew Schaefer has made an immediate impact with his dynamic all-around game,” giving Islanders fans optimism even if the team eventually shifts toward a retool.

Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes represent traditional contenders doing what contenders do. Dallas has navigated Glen Gulutzan’s second stint and significant offseason losses to remain within striking distance of Colorado in the Central Division. Jason Robertson’s Team USA push, Mikko Rantanen’s contract fulfillment, and Wyatt Johnston’s superstar leap have powered the Stars despite Jake Oettinger’s pedestrian start. Carolina continues thriving under Rod Brind’Amour’s structure, ranking second in goals per game behind Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Jordan Staal. However, the Hurricanes own the league’s worst power play and 21st-ranked penalty kill, creating concerns about special teams that must be addressed to maintain their elite status.

Teams exceeding preseason expectations:

• Pittsburgh: From projected 77.5 points to 97.6-point pace
• Anaheim: From projected 83.5 points to 108.1-point pace
• San Jose: From projected 70.5 points to 89.1-point pace
• NY Islanders: From projected 84.5 points to 99.8-point pace

Middle of the pack: B to C range for NHL first-quarter report cards

These teams occupy the NHL’s mushy middle—solidly in playoff contention but showing enough flaws to raise questions about their long-term viability. Injuries, inconsistency, and special teams struggles define many of these report cards, leaving their postseason fates uncertain.

Detroit Red Wings are experiencing their best start in a decade, sitting atop the Atlantic Division through the quarter mark. Dylan Larkin’s leadership has been instrumental, while rookies Emmitt Finnie and Nate Danielson have provided unexpected scoring punch. Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s emergence on the blue line has given the Red Wings the depth needed to compete in the tough Atlantic Division. However, defensive consistency remains an issue. As Max Bultman observed for The Athletic, “They’ve still left a lot to be desired, particularly defensively, where they’ve made life far too easy for their opponents with turnovers and miscues.” The Red Wings are giving up over three goals per game despite improved structure, and their goaltending tandem of Cam Talbot and John Gibson hasn’t provided the elite play needed to sustain their current pace.

Toronto Maple Leafs have endured a disastrous start amid a devastating injury crisis. Nothing has gone right for Toronto, which sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference despite high preseason expectations. The Leafs have surrendered the most goals in the NHL and rank third-worst in goals against per game. Injuries have decimated the roster, costing them Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Anthony Stolarz, Chris Tanev, and Brandon Carlo for significant stretches. Jonas Siegel captured the frustration: “It’s been a bad start for the Leafs. A step back with Mitch Marner off to Vegas was expected, but this has been much, much worse.” John Tavares’ renaissance (12 goals in 21 games) and William Nylander’ s 27 points in 19 games have kept the offense afloat, but the defensive structure has completely collapsed under Craig Berube’s system.

Edmonton Oilers, the two-time defending Western Conference champions, find themselves in a shocking predicament. They sit just outside playoff position while allowing the most goals in the NHL. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid continue producing at point-per-game paces, but the supporting structure has completely disintegrated. Daniel Nugent-Bowman didn’t mince words: “The Oilers have 10 victories. Just five of them have come in regulation. Only once have they won by multiple goals without the aid of empty-netters. They’ve allowed the most goals in the league.” With 13 of 22 games allowing four or more goals, Edmonton’s goaltending and defensive systems have failed catastrophically, raising serious questions about whether they can replicate their usual second-half surge.

Injury impact on middle-tier teams:

• Toronto: Missing Matthews, Knies, Stolarz, Tanev, Carlo
• Ottawa: Missing Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Ridly Greig
• Florida: Missing Barkov, Tkachuk, Luostarinen, Schwindt
• Vancouver: Used 29 skaters and 3 goaltenders in 23 games

Struggling squads: D range and below in NHL first-quarter report cards

These teams have had disastrous starts that have all but eliminated them from playoff contention before the season reaches its midpoint. From historically bad offenses to defensive catastrophes, these report cards reflect seasons gone wrong and franchises potentially facing major resets.

Calgary Flames are experiencing historically inept offense, averaging 2.38 goals per game that ranks second-worst in the NHL. This offensive futility threatens to become one of the lowest-scoring seasons in league history. The situation is particularly damning given their solid defensive structure—they rank top-four in limiting scoring chances and high-danger opportunities per 60 minutes. Julian McKenzie noted the disconnect: “The team’s lack of goal-scoring touch, combined with their youth underachieving and muddied message around their retool/rebuild, has contributed to a tough start to their season.” Despite a recent three-game winning streak averaging 4.66 goals, the Flames’ overall offensive ineptitude has them competing for the league’s worst record and a high lottery pick.

Vancouver Canucks entered the season as a fringe playoff contender but have performed like a tanking team. The Canucks have used 29 skaters and three goaltenders through 23 games while ranking dead last in allowing shots, scoring chances, and high-danger chances per 60 minutes. Thomas Drance delivered a harsh assessment: “By the eye test, goals against or whatever underlying metric you want, Vancouver is the worst defensive team in hockey and is also inept on the penalty kill.” Injuries at center have exacerbated their five-on-five struggles, but the complete defensive system failure makes this “nothing short of a nightmare run” for a team that expected competitive hockey.

Nashville Predators represent the NHL’s biggest disaster, pacing for just 59.6 points while ranking last in goals per game at 2.29. This offensive output threatens to become one of the 125 lowest-scoring seasons in NHL history. The Predators also rank bottom-seven in power play efficiency and have surrendered the sixth-most goals per game. Joe Rexrode didn’t hold back: “This is a disaster headed for perhaps the worst record in the league, a fire sale and a prolonged rebuild. General manager Barry Trotz, whose long-term deal for Juuse Saros looks especially problematic now, is a beloved figure in Nashville who is starting to burn through the goodwill.” With Steven Stamkos on pace for fewer than 20 goals for the first time in a non-injury season and Roman Josi missing most of the campaign, the Predators appear headed for a complete teardown.

Historical comparisons for struggling offenses:

• Calgary: 2.38 goals per game (bottom 200 in NHL history)
• Nashville: 2.29 goals per game (bottom 125 in NHL history)
• League average: approximately 3.20 goals per game

Key takeaways from NHL first-quarter report cards and playoff race implications

The first quarter has revealed several critical trends that will shape the remaining season. The Eastern Conference’s parity means that even struggling teams like Toronto and Edmonton remain mathematically alive, while the West’s competitive balance has allowed surprising contenders like Anaheim and San Jose to establish playoff positioning despite preseason skepticism.

Special teams have emerged as a significant differentiator in these early report cards. Teams like Colorado (struggling on power play at 15.7%) and Carolina (league-worst man advantage) have overcome these deficiencies through dominant five-on-five play. Conversely, clubs like Nashville and Calgary have seen their seasons derailed by historically bad offensive production that no defensive structure can overcome. The Washington Capitals exemplify this dichotomy, ranking bottom-five in penalty kill despite strong even-strength play led by Alex Ovechkin’s continued excellence.

Rookie impact has been unprecedented in the NHL first-quarter report cards 2025-26 season. Matthew Schaefer (Islanders), Leo Carlsson (Ducks), Macklin Celebrini (Sharks), and Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Red Wings) have all become immediate difference-makers, suggesting the 2025 draft class could be historically deep. This youth movement has allowed several teams to accelerate their competitive timelines and has provided the foundation for surprising turnarounds across the league.

Injury management will separate true contenders from pretenders as the season progresses. Florida has weathered catastrophic losses to Barkov, Tkachuk, and others through sheer championship resiliency, while Toronto and Vancouver have seen their seasons derailed by cascading injuries that exposed organizational depth issues. As the physical toll increases and the intensity ramps up, teams with superior organizational depth and better injury luck will naturally separate themselves from the pack.

The quarter mark provides a meaningful sample size, but history shows that slow starters can recover—Edmonton has done it repeatedly in recent seasons. However, for teams like Nashville and Calgary, the holes may be too deep to climb out of, even with 60+ games remaining. The next 20 games will determine whether teams like Toronto and Edmonton can replicate their usual second-half surges or if this season marks a true changing of the guard in the NHL’s power structure.

Colorado’s historic dominance, combined with Anaheim’s shocking emergence and Pittsburgh’s resurrection, suggests this season could produce one of the most wide-open Stanley Cup chases in recent memory. With three-quarters of the season still to play and the trade deadline looming as a potential equalizer, the only certainty is that more surprises await fans and analysts alike. The NHL first-quarter report cards 2025-26 season narrative is far from written, and the coming months will reveal which teams can maintain their early success and which can navigate the challenges that have held them back.