MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 01: Ivan Demidov (93) of the Montréal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens on Nov 1, 2025, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Which NHL teams are surprising so far?
  • Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild on opposite ends of the spectrum
  • Read below for the complete list of surprising starts

We’re now nearly a month into the NHL season, and there have already been plenty of surprises.

Not many people thought the Anaheim Ducks would be near the top of the standings in November, nor did they think the Minnesota Wild would get off to such a poor start.

With every team having played at least a dozen games, let’s take a look at five teams off to unexpected starts in the 2025-26 NHL season.

Hot: Ducks Flying High in Anaheim

DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 06: Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates scoring a goal with his teammates during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks on November 06, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

The Anaheim Ducks had some expectations coming into this season, but they’ve outperformed even the most optimistic fans in Southern California.

The Ducks sit at 9-3-1 through 13 games with a goal differential of 55-42. Seven of their wins have come in regulation, with another in overtime and one in a shootout.

New head coach Joel Quenneville has his young team firing on all cylinders in the early going.

Leo Carlsson leads the way with 18 points in 12 games, and Cutter Gauthier is right behind him with 16 points and leads the team with 10 goals after his hat trick earlier this week.

You can’t forget about Troy Terry and his 15 points, as the youngster has become the veteran in Anaheim.

Lukas Dostal is thriving in the starter role as well, going 6-3-1 with a .912 save percentage and 2.59 goals-against average.

Not: Wild Woes in Minnesota

The Minnesota Wild aren’t having such a hot start, though.

Hopes were high with a healthy team and Kirill Kaprizov becoming the highest-paid player in the NHL, but you couldn’t tell by their first month of the season.

The Wild are 6-7-3 through 16 games, getting outscored 48-57 in the process. Only four of their wins came in regulation.

After a 2-1-0 start, the Wild lost three straight and eight of their next nine games. They’ve recently beaten the Canucks and Predators, so the tide could be turning, but it’s now time to see what the Wild are made of.

Hot: Fresh Start in Utah

ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 23: Utah Mammoth defenseman Olli Maatta(2) congratulates Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmela (70) after winning a NHL game between the Utah Mammoth and the St. Louis Blues on Oct 23, 2025, at Enterprise Center, in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

It’s officially the first season for the Utah Mammoth, and the NHL’s newest team might be for real.

They’re still a bit young and unproven, but they’re 9-5-0 in 14 games. They’ve won six of those contests in regulation, and three more in overtime.

Six different players have double-digit points, led by Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller, and that includes defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

They lost in Toronto on Wednesday night on the second half of a back-to-back, but keep an eye on them in the Central Division.

Not: Singing the Blues in St. Louis

We’re sticking around in the Central Division for the third straight team here, and we’re back to the negative side of things with the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues were a few seconds away from a first-round victory last year, and are now behind the eight-ball to begin this season. They’re 5-8-2, including an embarrassing blowout loss in Washington on Wednesday night.

They’ve dealt with some injuries, so perhaps they’re able to gel together soon, but it could be getting late early in St. Louis — and this team may not have a 2019-esque run in them.

Hot: Can’t Believe the Canadiens

VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 25: Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov (93) skates back to the bench after celebrating his goal during the third period of an NHL game between the Montreal Canadians and the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. (Photo by Ethan Cairns/Icon Sportswire)

It’s not that people didn’t think the Montreal Canadiens would be good this season. It’s that people may not have thought they’d be this good this soon.

The Canadiens are 9-3-2 for 20 points in 14 games this season, putting them atop the Atlantic Division. Yes, that Atlantic Division with forces like the Panthers, Lightning, and Maple Leafs.

The Habs are better than them all right now, although only four of their wins have come in regulation. They’ll need to improve at 5-on-5 if they want to keep this up.

But they certainly can with the likes of Nick Suzuki leading the way, and Ivan Demidov in the Calder race.