The new NHL season has barely drawn its first breath, but already the mood across Canada feels electric, volatile, and deeply revealing. In just a handful of games, we’ve seen hints of brilliance, flashes of frustration, and the unmistakable pulse of a hockey nation desperate for hope. From the capital to the coast, every team carries its own narrative — a cocktail of promise, worry, and restless ambition.

Below, we roll through all seven Canadian clubs, gauging whether fans should be wowed, worried, or viewing their team as a work in progress.

Ottawa Senators — Wowed

It began in preseason, that familiar Ottawa snarl — the edge, the swagger, the chip on the shoulder that had been missing for years. The Senators stormed into the season not as a young team hoping to surprise, but as a unit that knew exactly who they were. Their comeback win against Tampa Bay wasn’t just about points on the board; it was about identity.

This is a team that doesn’t shy from the dirty areas, a team unafraid to play on the emotional edge. The depth has matured, the confidence feels earned, and the top line plays with a blend of skill and stubbornness that makes you believe they can truly push for a top-three finish in the Atlantic. Ottawa, for once, looks less like a project and more like a contender.

Verdict: Wowed — the Sens’ bite is back.

Montreal Canadiens — Wowed

If the loss to Toronto on opening night felt familiar, what followed against Detroit felt like a revelation. Montreal didn’t just win; they displayed depth — real, tangible, rolling-four-lines depth. For years, the Canadiens’ offense leaned heavily on Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky, but in this young season, the supporting cast is writing new headlines.

Brandon Gignac, Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron — all stepping into roles with confidence. This isn’t a star-driven fluke; it’s the blueprint of a team rediscovering balance. Their puck movement is crisp, their forecheck relentless, and their transition play quietly lethal.

Verdict: Wowed — the Canadiens are deeper than anyone expected.

Toronto Maple Leafs — Work in Progress

It’s tempting to be dazzled by the final score: a 5–2 win over Montreal. But peel back the layers, and you’ll see a team still trying to find its rhythm. The Leafs were in control, yes, but their game lacked that killer instinct — the emotional crescendo fans expect from Matthews, Marner, and Nylander when the stakes tighten.

Consistency, not flair, might be their greatest challenge this year. This roster doesn’t need to chase chaos; it needs to master composure. It’s a long season, and Craig Berube’s fingerprints are still fresh on the system. For now, it’s fair to say Toronto is pacing itself — learning how to win without the rollercoaster.

Verdict: Work in progress — steady, but not yet special.

Winnipeg Jets — Worried

Few teams entered the year with a clearer identity than Winnipeg: tight defense, structured play, and Connor Hellebuyck standing tall as the backbone. But their home opener against Dallas was chaos — a shootout, a scramble, a defensive unraveling that left fans uneasy.

Last season’s best defensive team suddenly looked ordinary. They gave up odd-man rushes, lost their shape in transition, and left their goalie stranded too often. Signing Kyle Connor to an extension was a win, but what good is offense if the structure collapses behind it? For a team built on discipline, that first game raised alarms that can’t be ignored.

Verdict: Worried — the Jets’ defensive identity is flickering.

Edmonton Oilers — Worried

For a team that has lived and died by its stars, opening night was an unpleasant reminder that you can’t power-play your way through an entire season. McDavid and Draisaitl will always dazzle, but Edmonton’s five-on-five play remains a sore spot — thin depth, shaky defensive support, and goaltending that can’t afford another stumble.

Stuart Skinner faced bad bounces, yes, but the third goal he surrendered was the kind that drains belief from a bench. The Oilers can’t afford to waste another year of generational talent on “almost.” Their issues are not new, and that’s what makes them worrisome. They know the script — and still seem trapped in it.

Verdict: Worried — same questions, same ghosts.

Calgary Flames — Work in Progress

One night, they look like grinders with bite. The next, they’re skating in mud. Calgary’s start has been a mixed bag, the product of back-to-back games that exposed both their grit and their limitations. Dustin Wolf stole one in goal, but beyond that, the Flames looked sluggish — a team still figuring out who drives the engine.

Last season, they clawed their way to 96 points through sheer structure and goaltending heroics. This time, that margin feels thinner. The pieces are still there, but the spark isn’t. If the pace doesn’t pick up, the Flames risk drifting into the dreaded middle — too good to rebuild, too flawed to contend.

Verdict: Work in progress — capable, but uncertain.

Vancouver Canucks — Wowed

Who saw that coming? After a season of dysfunction, injuries, and off-ice noise, Vancouver stepped onto the ice with a speed and confidence that stunned everyone. Under new coaching leadership, the Canucks looked fast, cohesive, and — perhaps most importantly — joyful.

Thatcher Demko was brilliant. Brock Boeser rediscovered his shot, threading pucks into corners with surgical precision. The rush chances were clean, the forecheck aggressive, and the execution felt effortless. It’s only one game, but it was enough to remind fans that the talent here was never the problem — it was belief.

Verdict: Wowed — the Canucks are playing like they mean it.

Final Thoughts

From coast to coast, Canada’s hockey heartbeat pulses with mixed emotions. Some teams have come roaring out of the gate, others look lost in their own systems. But that’s the beauty of October — everything still feels possible.

For Ottawa and Montreal, the early promise feels like a turning point. For Edmonton and Winnipeg, the déjà vu is painful. The Leafs are playing the long game. Calgary teeters between patience and panic. And Vancouver — at least for now — looks reborn.

It’s too early for conclusions, but not too early for emotion. And if there’s one thing Canadian hockey guarantees, it’s that both will only grow louder as winter closes in.