ESPN.com · Nov 13, 2025
The NHL's most shocking player performances, one month in
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The first month of the 2025-26 NHL season has offered its share of surprises, from unexpected playoff contenders to teams failing to meet their lofty preseason expectations.
The same goes for NHL players, some of whom have started the season at a torrid pace and others that have been statistical disasters for their teams.
Here's a look at 10 shockingly good performances to start the season ... and five shockingly bad ones that hopefully won't continue on too longer.
Shockingly good
Leo Carlsson
C, Anaheim Ducks
2025-26 stats: 16 GP | 11 G | 15 A
This season has been two years in the making for Carlsson.