We are just six weeks into the National Hockey League (NHL) season, and the action on the ice has been nothing short of thrilling. Throughout the season, many exciting games, achievements and players have emerged, as well as some unexpected turns that have caught the attention of fans across the league.
Here are some of the key news and notes from the past few weeks:
- Alex Ovechkin’s historic record chase hits a roadblock.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin entered his age-39 season just 41 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record. Ovechkin has been undeniably incredible to start the season, leading the league with 15 goals in the first 18 games of the season, including his 31st career hat-trick on Nov. 17. The biggest storyline this season has been Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record 894 goals. With his blazing start, it seemed more likely than ever that he could surpass the Great One by season’s end.
Unfortunately, that pursuit has come to a halt. On Nov. 18, Ovechkin exited a game with what appeared to be a lower-body injury and was later listed as week-to-week. However, further evaluation revealed the injury to be more severe than expected. Ovechkin is set to miss the next four to six weeks because of a fractured left fibula. During his 20-year career, Ovechkin has only missed 35 games due to injury, making this the most extended absence of his career thus far.
This setback not only delays his historic pursuit but also heavily impacts the Capitals, leaving them without their star player for a long stretch.
- Winnipeg Jets make NHL history with the best start to a season.
The Winnipeg Jets became the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games in a season, setting the best start in NHL History (14-1-0). They currently sit at 16-3-0, accumulating 32 points—four more than any other team in the league. Their offense, led by Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, is the second-best in the league, scoring 4.21 goals per game. The Jets’ aggressive play continues to shine, leading the league with 20 power-play goals. Meanwhile, their goaltending duo of Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie have been a brick wall in front of the net, as they only allow an average of 2.49 goals per game.
This bounce-back start following a disappointing finish to the 2023-2024 season was crucial. The Jets’ historic early success has solidified them as one of the league’s top Stanley Cup contenders.
- Boston Bruins fire head coach after disappointing 20-game start.
Following a 5-1 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 18, the Boston Bruins dropped to an 8-9-3 record. The next day, the team made the surprising decision to fire Head Coach Jim Montgomery. During his three seasons with the team, Montgomery led the team to the best regular season in NHL history in the 2022-2023 season, earning himself the Coach of the Year award. He also led the team to back-to-back 100+ point seasons and playoff berths.
This firing caught players by surprise as well. Bruins Captain Brad Marchand took responsibility, placing the blame for the firing on himself and his teammates, stating they “didn’t do our jobs.” After the disappointing start, General Manager Don Sweeney expressed the need for change, saying, “For me, I just had to change course.”
Bruins Associate Coach Joe Sacco has been promoted to interim head coach, and the team will look to turn their season around under his leadership.
- Flyers’ Matvei Michkov emerging as Calder Memorial Trophy favorite.
Before the beginning of the 2024-2025 NHL season, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that top prospect Matvei Michkov would be heading to the United States from Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Michkov is an extremely talented Right Wing whom the Flyers selected as the seventh pick in the 2023 draft. Many wondered how Michkov would adjust to the NHL, and it appears that the transition has been smooth.
In 18 games, Michkov has recorded six goals with nine assists, totaling 15 points–the most of any rookie. This includes a game-winning goal in overtime on Nov. 14. Michkov is the current favorite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year), with his odds at -105. If he continues his strong performance, Michkov could quickly become one of the league’s brightest young stars.
- Connor McDavid hits 1,000 career points.
On Nov. 15, Edmonton Oilers captain and superstar Connor McDavid notched a game-tying goal against the Predators. This goal was more significant than most, making him the 99th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point mark. McDavid became the fourth-fastest player to achieve this milestone in just 659 games and is also the fourth-youngest to reach 1,000 points, trailing only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman.
McDavid remained humble when talking about his achievement, stating, “It’s just a number. It was the reaction of my teammates and the fans that made it special.”
This remarkable accomplishment solidifies McDavid’s place among the league’s all-time greats, even at his young age.
