Every NHL team wants to start its season on the right foot. These six squads are already in catch-up mode early in 2023-24. Stefano Rubino examines what's going wrong.

As the 2023-24 NHL season enters late October, numerous surprises and disappointments have already occurred. 

Every team, player and fan begins the season with some optimism, but unfortunately, a bad start can hinder plans. Some teams want to continue and improve on what they did last year, while other clubs want to forget what happened and start a new chapter this season, leading to a better future.

Here are six of the biggest on-ice disappointments in the early stages of the NHL season.

The Edmonton Oilers’ Miserable Start

Entering the season as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, it would be somewhat forgiving to say the Oilers are having a rough time right now and have looked nothing like contenders at all. Coming off Thursday night's shutout loss to the New York Rangers, Edmonton remains second-last in the Pacific Division with a 1-5-1 record and minus-13 goal differential. 

It didn't help when reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid went down with an upper-body injury last Saturday to add fuel to the fire. With their goals-against average at 4.29 and penalty kill operating at 74.1-percent efficiency, the Oilers have plenty of time to turn things around, but if they don’t, things could get ugly in Edmonton.

Washington Capitals Trending Down

After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2013-14, the Capitals were looking to bounce back this season to their usual winning ways, but things could be much better in Washington. 

With a 2-3-1 record, the Capitals sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. All eyes have been on Alex Ovechkin and his race to beat Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, but it hasn’t been a great start to the season for ‘The Great Eight.’ Ovechkin scored his first of the season in Washington’s fifth game of the year and barely added another on Thursday against the Devils, but it’s not just his scoring woes. 

The Caps have the NHL’s second-fewest goals per game at 2.00, and when you pair that with the league’s fifth-most goals allowed per game, it means a rocky start in D.C.

Rise of the Buffalo Sabres?

Look, there’s a lot of pressure when you’re one of the youngest teams in the NHL and haven’t made the playoffs since 2011. So, starting the season at 21st in goals scored at 2.71 per game and 18th in goals allowed at 3.14 isn't ideal. 

It especially isn't ideal for rookie goalie Devon Levi, who has been praised as someone who could push the team forward but has felt the pressure so far, posting a 1-3-0 record with a 3.26 GAA and .892 save percentage. 

Surely, it's only a matter of time before Buffalo’s offense comes back to life and resembles last season’s potent scoring outfit that ranked third in the league in goals per game (3.57).

Seattle Kraken's Wobbly Offense

After a successful sophomore season last year that saw the Kraken make the playoffs for the first time and then defeat the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round, there was hope that Seattle would continue to improve and realize its potential. So far, though…not so much. 

Beginning the season at 2-4-2 with a goal differential of minus-10 is just the start. The Kraken rank 27th in goals per game at 2.25 and 22nd in goals against at 3.38. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the Kraken’s early showing is a disappointment compared to last season.

Carolina Hurricanes’ Goaltending and Defense

Like the Oilers, the Hurricanes entered the season as Cup favorites. And, like the Oilers, things have not gone according to plan in Carolina – especially the defense and goaltending. 

The Hurricanes are 4-4-0 for fourth place in the Metropolitan, with a goal differential of minus-4. The good news? They’re ninth in the league on offense, scoring 3.75 goals per game. The bad news? They’re second-last in the NHL with a 4.38 GAA and fourth-worst on the penalty kill at 69.7 percent. 

All three goalies that have played this season for Carolina have a GAA above 3.35 and a save percentage no higher than .875. When will we see this team bunker down and be the defensive threat they usually are?

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mediocre Begging

Despite an aging group, the Penguins are trying to keep their championship window open and brought in Erik Karlsson to help with that effort. So, their mediocre start is less than flattering in their hopes of making another Stanley Cup push. 

At 3-4-0 and seventh in the Metropolitan, Pittsburgh ranks 11th in goals against and 16th in goals-for, neither top nor bottom in the rankings, just mediocre for a team that missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2005-06. 

Something needs to change – and quickly – if the Penguins will be legitimate contenders.