Hurricanes return to No. 1 in early NHL team rankings
Carolina has climbed to the top of the early-season NHL rankings after a 5-1-1 start and a five-game win streak. Vegas and Edmonton have moved into the top three, while Calgary is still without a point and sits last. The rankings blend six statistical categories with subjective evaluations.
Carolina, the reigning Cup winner, sits first after opening 5-1-1 and riding a five-game win streak. The Hurricanes were eighth in the previous edition, while Vegas rose to second at 5-1-0 and Edmonton climbed to third at 4-0-1. Utah held fourth at 4-2-0. Calgary remains last without a point.
The rankings combine Scott Maxwell's six-stat model—points percentage, 5-on-5 goal and expected-goal measures, power-play expected goals, and shorthanded expected goals against—with Mike Gould's subjective view. A standings safeguard prevents a team from ranking above one that leads it by more than five points.
Early power rankings may influence how fans, media, and casual viewers perceive teams before results stabilize. A fast start could boost ticket interest, merchandise sales, and local buzz in Carolina, Vegas, and Edmonton, while Calgary's slow opening may increase scrutiny on players and coaches. Because the sample is small, these effects could fade quickly; rankings are more likely to shape conversation than determine outcomes.