Avalanche start 3-0-0 behind Wedgwood’s steady fill-in for Blackwood, Landeskog’s return lending leadership, and Burns’ veteran edge stabilizing the blue line. Early energy and improved pace hint at last year’s rust fading as the team builds depth and structure.

Offense centers on Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, with Burns mentoring a younger pairing. Haxtall’s new special-teams approach shows promise on the power play, which must finish more consistently. Dallas and Buffalo loom as early-season tests to confirm whether the surge sticks and goaltending holds.

LA Kings rally past Vegas in a roller-coaster night, powered by a youth surge led by Quinton Byfield and Brent Clarke, turning a difficult start into a shootout win and signaling bigger roles for LA’s youngsters this season.

Across the league, Calgary’s Dustin Wolf steals the spotlight in a dramatic Battle of Alberta comeback, while Kadri, Zary, and Coleman pace the rally. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl hits 400 career goals as McDavid remains a constant threat, and Boston’s Posternok leads a disciplined, Sturm-era win. Montreal flashes bright spots on opening night, hinting at growth for the Canadiens.

Dark horse speed meets fresh risk: Chicago opens with a measured shakeup, elevating Colton Doc to the top line with Connor Bedard as the Hawks test a faster, more aggressive template. Donado slides down; McKay bumps up. The third line—Dickinson, McKay, and Donado—adds scoring punch, while Vlasic’s return should stabilize a young defense. Blashill stresses patience and process, and the club eyes a tougher test vs. Boston as they experiment with line chemistry and role clarity.