As always happens every year in the NHL, there are surprises, both positive and negative. Adam Proteau lists six teams in particular.

We’re approximately at the 10-percent point of the NHL’s 2023-24 regular season. As always happens with every year, there are surprises, both positive and negative. 

In no particular order, here are our picks for the biggest surprises, good and bad, thus far this season:

1. Boston Bruins

After the mass exodus of talent from the Bruins’ roster this summer, many observers (this one included) thought Boston would be in big trouble this year. Instead, the B's have thrived once again, posting a 7-0-1 record to push them back to the top of the Atlantic Division. 

Under coach Jim Montgomery, the Bruins have been the NHL’s top defensive group, averaging just 1.50 goals-against per game this season. And their cornerstone stars, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, have combined for 12 goals and 21 points.

That isn’t a surprise per se, but it is quite surprising that Boston has been able to stay undefeated in regulation time while beating top-level teams in Los Angeles and Detroit and taking care of business against lesser lights in Chicago, Anaheim and San Jose. 

Boston’s schedule gets considerably tougher from here, with games against Florida, Toronto, Detroit, Dallas and the New York Islanders. But the Bruins have given themselves a good cushion in standings points, and absent some unforeseen issue, they will be a playoff team and a legitimate Stanley Cup contender next spring. 

We shouldn’t be shocked they’ve stayed on top, but after the changes they made to the lineup, it’s definitely surprising to see them dominate.

2. Detroit Red Wings

The Wings were picked by some observers to be better than they’ve been in recent years but not necessarily a playoff team. Instead, they’ve been significantly better than expected, putting up a 5-1-0 mark in their first six games to surge near the top of the Atlantic. 

Detroit has since suffered a three-game losing streak, but still, at 5-3-1, they’ve done much better than anyone other than Wings management believed they would.

Detroit’s offense has been behind their early-season success, with the Wings averaging four goals-for per game – the third-best average in the entire league. Newcomer Alex DeBrincat helped with that, with nine goals and 13 points, but longtime cornerstone and captain Dylan Larkin has also raised his game this season, leading the team with 11 assists and 15 points. 

Detroit still has a long road ahead of them, but it has to be said that GM Steve Yzerman’s plan for success is starting to pay off in a major way.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins

After adding Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and recent Cup-winning winger Reilly Smith, the Penguins were pegged by many to be one of the better teams in the Metropolitan Division. But after eight games, Pittsburgh has sunk to the bottom of the Metro with a 3-5-0 mark. 

Their offense looked solid on paper, but thus far, they’ve been positively mediocre, averaging only 2.88 goals-for per game – a notable surprise in and of itself. Their defense has been similarly mediocre, averaging 3.13 goals against per game.

The biggest issue for the Pens’ offense isn’t their top players but their bottom two lines of forwards, who have amassed just two goals and six points. Newcomer Noel Acciari and returning veteran Jeff Carter have yet to produce a single point, and Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t nearly good enough to steal them games, so the Penguins have a massive challenge ahead of them. 

The Metro is, in this writer’s opinion, the most competitive division in the NHL. Unless the Pens rebound quickly, they could find themselves buried in the standings and wasting yet another season with icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

4. (tie) Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames

The battle of Alberta has been extremely underwhelming this year, with the Oilers and Flames stumbling out to nearly identical records. Edmonton has a 2-5-1 record thus far, while Calgary has a 2-6-1 mark, putting them in the sixth and seventh spot, respectively, in the weak Pacific Division. 

Big things were predicted for the Oilers, so they’re technically the bigger surprise, but Calgary reinvested in their veterans this summer, so there’s a notable letdown there as well.

The Flames are currently in worse shape than Edmonton, as they’ve dropped five straight games in regulation time. But the Oilers would be in a tougher spot had they not beaten Calgary Sunday night at the outdoor NHL Heritage Classic. In both cases, they’re simply not getting the job done, either against weaker opponents or against top teams. The longer they underperform, the bigger hole they dig for themselves. 

Most people believed both teams would be better than they are, but being winners on paper and winners in real life is a different animal altogether. So far this year, the Flames and Oilers haven’t been up to the challenge.

5. Vancouver Canucks

For the past couple of seasons, the Canucks have cratered early on and have not been able to climb out of it by season’s end. That’s not the case this year, as Vancouver has stormed out to a 5-2-1 record, putting them in second place in the Pacific. In six of eight games, the Canucks have earned at least one point, and that’s about as solid a start as any team can ask for.

Vancouver’s next six games feature tough matchups against Nashville, Dallas, Ottawa and Toronto, as well as easier tilts against the struggling Oilers and San Jose Sharks. But the opportunity for continued success is in their hands, and after their hot start, it’s not advisable to underestimate them. 

This year just may be the year the Canucks get back into the playoffs, and if they do, their surprising start to the year will be one of the reasons why.