We’re over a third of the way into the 2025 NHL season and it’s been friggin’ awesome. Building teams are emerging as serious playoff threats, the biggest stars are shining, and the future of hockey is incredible hands as promising phenoms are budding as superstars in the league.
With so much going on around hockey these are the biggest surprises from the season so far.
No. 1: The Avalanche might be the best team … ever
The Avs are 24-2-7 right now with an obscene +56 goal differential in 33 games. If they can keep this going they’ll finish the season 60-5-17, and there’s a very real chance they could eclipse the 2022-23 Bruins for most wins in a season (65) if they can finish games in three periods more often.
No. 2: Macklin Celebrini is a superstar
Celebrini’s rookie season was good, but he’s on another level now. The 19-year-old has 51 points in 34 games, and is second in the NHL in assists behind Nathan McKinnon. This is league-altering stuff at a young age.
No. 3: We’re finally seeing the arrival of Connor Bedard
Speaking of more stunning youth performances, Connor Bedard is brilliant now. It absolutely sucks he’ll be sidelined until mid-January with an injury, but regardless he’s the only reason to watch the Blackhawks right now and proving to be every bit the player he was billed to be.
No. 4: The Minnesota Wild are actually doing it
The Wild took a big roll of the dice by signing Kirill Kaprizov to a massive contract, but so far it’s paying off. Kaprizov might not be quite performing to his deal, but the Wild as a whole are, and finally look to be clawing their way out of the middle pack.
No. 5: The Florida Panthers are struggling
We all know Florida is a team built for the playoffs, but they need to get a move on if they hope to be in the postseason. Right now they’re 9th in the East, and lagging big time in the Atlantic where they’re 4th in the division.
Goaltending has been an up-and-down problem for the Hurricanes for years, but they might have found their guy in Brandon Bussi. The journeyman 27-year-old has exploded onto the scene this year becoming the fastest goalie to win 10 games. Who knows if it’s sustainable, but it’s fun.
No. 7: The West is terrifying
The West was always shaping up to be the best conference in hockey, but my God. Five of the top six teams in the NHL come out of the west, and the playoffs are going to be an absolute dogfight.
No. 8: The Hurricanes thriving through injuries
It appeared the Canes might have been cooked until December when early season injuries to Jaccob Slavin and Jalen Chatfield wrecked their defense. Instead the team has been thriving on the forecheck to an East-leading 46 points, without a single elite star. Carolina is still going to do hockey their way, and it’s working.
No. 9: Morgan Geekie’s breakout
Nobody knew what the future of the Bruins would look like as David Pastrnak rounded into 30 and could have demanded a trade to a contender. Enter Morgan Geekie, who is second in the NHL in goals this season and the biggest reason Boston is 2nd in the Atlantic.
No. 10: Mikko Rantanen the assist man
Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen has routinely been a goal scoring beneficiary of other strong players around him, but this season he’s turned into a distributor. With 30 assists in 33 games he’s showing depth we didn’t think he had.
No. 11: The Wings are back
The NHL is a better place when Detroit is a factor, and thankfully they’re back in 2025. Detroit are 1st in the Atlantic and look like a real threat this season. Alex DeBrincat is playing fantastic hockey, but the Red Wings will need more from their defense down the stretch.
No. 12: Sidney Crosby, ageless wonder
Sid is no longer the kid, but he’s still so damn good. The Pens are struggling in 2025 which could lead to a trade ahead of the deadline, and Crosby will be the man to watch. The 38-year-old has 35 points so far this season and leads Pittsburgh in goals.
No. 13: The Islanders are the kings of New York
It was always going to be a tossup whether the Islanders or Rangers would be better this season, but at this point we can stop the fight. The Islanders are the No. 2 team in the Metropolitan Division, and are soaring with rookie Matthew Schaefer. Meanwhile the Rangers, well, they just look old.
When it comes to the Wild we knew Kaprizov could score in bunches, but who was going to pull it together on the back end? Enter goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who has fast emerged as one of the best goaltenders this season. He is the only goalie to have a GAA under 2.0 (currently at 1.95) and he’s thriving with the new-look Minnesota defense.
No. 15: Matthew Schaefer is already elite
The expectation of Schaefer prior to the draft was that he was a safe, low-ceiling, high-floor defender who could have an impact similar to Jaccob Slavin. Instead he’s emerged as one of the best defensive players in the NHL with a defensive point share that ranks in the Top 10 — and he hasn’t turned 20 yet.
No. 16: Nathan McKinnon found a way to get even better
Nathan McKinnon was the best all-around player in hockey last year, and he’s the same guy this year — but to ludicrous levels. McKinnon leads the NHL in goals, and is on pace for a career-high 143 points in 2025. How is it possible that a guy this could could find another gear?
