It's early.

So what.

In an 82-game season, what happens in the first two weeks can determine what you're playing for in the last two weeks.

If, for example, the Detroit Red Wings and Utah Mammoth get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we'll be saying their strong starts to the season were a big reason why.

On the flip side, if the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers miss the playoffs, we'll be pointing at their mediocre starts.

It all matters and it's all new too.

We're already seeing teams with renewed hope this season get off to better than expected starts, teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are No. 11 in the first Super 16 power rankings of the 2025-26 regular season after not receiving a single voting point in the preseason.

We're seeing teams with high expectations doing

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