A month into the 2026-27 NHL season, with every team having played at least 10 games, several players have either climbed to a new level or recovered from disappointing recent years. ESPN's early assessment looks beyond raw scoring, weighing who controls play, who has moved up the lineup and who is making a more lasting impact, since that tends to hold up better than a hot shooting percentage.
Among the rebounds, Toronto captain Auston Matthews stands out. After two seasons of sharply reduced production and influence, he has nine goals in 14 games, a pace of 54 goals and 120 points. NHL Edge data shows his skating has improved: his 20-22 mph bursts have moved from the 52nd to the 68th percentile, and his 18-20 mph bursts from the 72nd to the 93rd. He is also more active on the forecheck, helping his line force turnovers and generate chances.
In Vancouver, Elias Pettersson's name has drawn heavy attention through off-ice noise and poor play, and the Canucks tried to trade him several times over the past two seasons. Under a new coaching staff, he is producing at roughly a point per game, drawing penalties at an elite rate and has already matched last season's power-play goal total. He also ranks in the top five among NHL forwards in blocked shots.
Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark was among the league's best early on, sitting second behind Jake Oettinger at 8.4 goals above expected, according to MoneyPuck. He has since been injured, and he is expected back within the next week, though goaltending injuries are unpredictable. The Senators are hoping he returns in the same form, given how far the drop-off to Samuel Ersson looks by comparison.
On the breakout side, the Rangers' Lafreniere, the first overall pick in 2020, is finally getting top-line minutes at about 19 per game. With Artemi Panarin gone, he is no longer deferring to a star linemate and is creating chances through more assertive play. His zone entries have improved sharply, though his shooting percentage is expected to come down.
Toronto's Cowan has gone from a third-line start to the top line alongside Matthews and Jack Roslovic under new coach Jim Hiller. He has six goals and 13 points in 14 games, already about halfway to his rookie totals of 11 goals and 29 points. His speed now ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in all three burst categories, per NHL Edge.
Philadelphia's Matvei Michkov, drafted seventh overall in 2023, leads the Flyers in points after arriving at camp in the best shape of his career. He has eight goals through 14 games and has equaled last season's power-play goal output. A 30-goal season looks reasonable even if his shooting percentage normalizes.
Elsewhere, Jake McTavish has thrived in St. Louis after falling out of the picture in Anaheim. He is on pace for career highs of 22 goals and 52 points, is above 50% in expected goals for the first time, and sits in the 97th percentile for high-danger shots. In Edmonton, Podkolzin has benefited from playing on a line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He is on pace for more than 50 goals and 90 points while playing nearly 20 minutes a night and earning trust in critical defensive situations.
