Into the second month of the 2023-24 NHL season, there have already been some early surprises. Among them are several players who aren't meeting expectations early on.
Some, like Columbus Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau, are established veterans hoping for bounce-back performances following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Some are younger players such as Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras who were expected to take the next step toward stardom this season.
Our list also contains a struggling former first-overall draft pick, a goaltender projected to become the heir apparent to a popular star, and one of last summer's top unrestricted free agents having difficulty adjusting to his new club.