Here we are! Week one, and hockey is back. We don't have many games in the bank yet, but we still have some interesting storylines to update. For today we are going to go back and visit a few of the most consistent stories from the off/preseason and see what context we can add now that teams have hit the ice for the first time. Of course, the caveat with all of this is we are dealing with some very small sample sizes and some of these stories could very well still develop and change even by next game.

Given this article is released on Friday, it is written on Thursday so does not usually take into account the games that take place on Thursday evenings. On weeks like this when we are dealing with an incredibly small sample of games that is certainly an impactful scheduling challenge.

First and foremost, we have 2023's next big thing in Connor Bedard. Obviously, there was a lot made of his selection and anticipation of his performance. Many of the big questions we won't be able to answer after just two games, but we can look at his overall usage, and just as importantly for fantasy his linemates. Bedard avenged 21.5 minutes overall over the two games, put up two points and took 11 shots. It certainly isn't Auston Matthews' four goal introduction to the league, but it is an excellent start.

Going a little deeper, managers have got to love the start for Bedard linemate Ryan Donato. Playing 18.5 minutes overall and 3.75 minutes on the power play has helped him to two points (one goal, one assist) and seven shots over two games. Taylor Hall on the other hand managed one assist and four shots before leaving the second game early with an upper body injury they are calling week to week. Andreas Athanasiou got the call for the remainder of the game, both at even strength and on the power-play so we will see if that sticks.

After Bedard, we had a number of questions related to the role of top power-play QB for teams that went out and added puck-moving depth on the blue line. After our first few games we now have a bit of context for how coaches are wanting to use their D.

First up we have the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade that brought him to Pittsburgh. With the return of Jake Guentzel the top power-play included Karlsson, Guentzel, Sindey Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell. Kris Letang saw time with the second unit. That first unit saw about 66 percent of the total time on ice on 10/10, but produced no goals.

In Tampa, Victor Hedman was back on the top unit with Mikhail Sergachev down on the second. That top unit scored two goals (one by Hedman himself) and saw 77ish percent of the total power-play time on 10/10. For what it's worth Sergachev also got himself a power-play point, but with the production of the top unit there isn't much motivation to switch things around.

Over in Ottawa the three headed battle currently looks like Thomas Chabot on the top unit with both Jakob Chychrun and Jake Sanderson on the second. Chabot saw about 60 percent of the total time, with Chychrun and Sanderson seeing about 30. There were no goals scored by either unit, but the first was the more dangerous with five shots for, while the second unit allowed a short-handed goal.

In Carolina, Brent Burns and Tony DeAngelo are both on the top unit, with surprise addition Micheal Bunting. We will see how long Carolina sticks with two defensemen on that unit, but they did put up a goal so maybe it will stick a little longer.

And in Toronto, Morgan Rielly is clearly the number two option to start. John Klingberg saw 85 percent of the total power-play time on the top unit which converted twice. Klingberg himself put up two assists in the game, one on the power-play. Seems like bad news so far for Rielly.

Finally, we have a few questionable goalie situations that need a bit of an update.

In Vegas we expected Adin Hill to start game one given his new contract and Stanley Cup run, but there is a question about volume with Logan Thompson waiting in the wings. Well in game one Hill did get the start and had an excellent game. We still don't know what the overall time share will be, but Thompson managers can't like that start for Hill. It looks like Thompson is in line for the next start (which is/was Thursday) with Hill going again on Saturday.

Back in Tampa Jonas Johansson wasn't supposed to see much time, but with the injury to Andre Vasilevskiy he has been thrust into a more prominent role. We have been waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Tampa to add a goalie despite claiming they are happy with where they are. But they haven't. Johansson got the first start and was fine – 28 saves on 31 shots and a win. We will likely see Matt Tomkins get some games too, but managers who took a long shot on Johansson haven't been burned…yet.

In Edmonton, Jack Campell rode a strong preseason and a big contract to the opening night start. He was promptly "dismantled" (ESPN's word) by a Brock Boeser hattrick, letting in a total of four goals on 16 shots. It seemed like a moment for Stuart Skinner to retake the job and for his managers to rejoice, but it was short lived. Skinner was sent in in relief and then promptly let in his own four goals on 16 shots. Seems like the goalie situation is still very much up in the air, and not in a good way.

And finally in LA, newly-acquired Cam Talbot got the starter's nod against Colorado with some decidedly 'meh' results. LA lost 5-2, though one was an empty net. Talbot himself surrendered four on 36 shots so not a great save percentage, but he definitely avoided an Edmonton style disaster. He probably didn't lose the gig in one game, but the ball (or puck as it were) is very much in Pheonix Copley's court here.

That is all for this week.

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