The first week of the NHL season is always full of surprises. Whether it's a change of scenery or a new role on the same team, some players burst onto the scene each year while others keep us up at night regretting our draft-day decisions.

From explosive debuts to unlikely heroes, here are the Top 10 players who made the biggest impressions in Week 1 of the 2025-2026 NHL regular season.

(Statistics courtesy of Frozen Tools)

10.   K'Andre Miller, D, Carolina Hurricanes

It hasn't taken long for K'Andre Miller to make a mark in his new digs. After inking an eight-year, $60 million contract with Carolina this offseason, Miller has contributed immediately, scoring twice on four shots in the Hurricanes' regular-season opener. Miller followed up his head-turning team debut by playing nearly 26 minutes during Saturday's 4-3 win over Philadelphia.

While Miller has never topped 10 goals in a season, he already looks poised to reach the milestone. Always a steady source of peripherals, K'Andre Miller could emerge as an elite multi-cat fantasy option with more sustained offensive production this season.

9.   Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers

When Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL and MCL during training camp, a gaping hole down the middle of Florida's lineup took form. Anton Lundell has stepped into that role admirably so far, producing three points (two goals, one assist) in his first three games while averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time per night. Skating alongside Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart at even strength, the line has tilted the ice heavily in Florida's favour, generating 16 shots while allowing just six against in 35 minutes together.

All of Lundell's points so far have come on the second powerplay unit, and a full breakout may be difficult without time with the top group. Still, with Reinhart, easily the most talented linemate of Lundell's young career, by his side indefinitely, Lundell looks ready to make the most of his expanded opportunity this season.

8.   Jack McBain, C/LW, Utah Mammoth

Jack McBain has long been known as a physical force, but this season might finally unlock a different side of his game. Despite spending the first four years of his career in a bottom-six role (averaging just 13 and a half minutes per night), McBain has opened 2025-2026 centering Utah's top line between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. McBain has logged over 17 minutes in each of his first two games, chipping in a goal and seven shots thus far.

While McBain's calling card remains his physicality (he ranked sixth in the league with 291 hits last season), his early usage suggests that might not be his only contribution this year. If he keeps his spot alongside Keller and Schmaltz, McBain could become one of the more valuable multi-category forwards in fantasy hockey.

7.   Shane Pinto, C, Ottawa Senators

Despite a disappointing 37-point campaign last season, Shane Pinto has erupted out of the gate in 2025, producing five points (four goals, one assist) through his first two games. With Drake Batherson on injured reserve, Pinto has also taken a spot on the Senators' top powerplay unit, averaging over three and a half minutes of PPTOI per game so far.

While Pinto's 57.1 shooting percentage is obviously unsustainable, his early surge is an encouraging sign. If he maintains his current deployment, fantasy managers could be looking at one of the season's earliest breakout stories.

6.   Zack Bolduc, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Zack Bolduc ended last season on a tear with St. Louis, tallying 14 points over his final 19 games. Clearly, that momentum has carried straight into 2025, as Bolduc has amassed four points (three goals, one assist) through his first three games with his new team.

At even strength, Bolduc has primarily skated on Montreal's third line with Brendan Gallagher and Kirby Dach, but he's earned a spot on the top powerplay unit, where he recorded both of his points against Chicago on Saturday. His 30 percent shooting rate won't last, but Bolduc is already proving that he's one of Montreal's most dynamic young forwards.

5.   Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins

Following an explosive 82-point campaign with Calgary in 2021-22, Elias Lindholm has struggled to recapture that pace, managing just 47 points in his first year with Boston last season. This year, however, Lindholm looks rejuvenated in the early going. Skating on the Bruins' top line with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie, Lindholm has opened the season with four points in his first three games, helping the Bruins get off to a pristine 3-0 start.

Along with his remarkable offensive play, Lindholm has also brought a physical edge so far, recording six hits in the season opener. If the Bruins play their way back into the playoff picture this season, Lindholm could prove to be one of the more valuable mid-round sleepers of the year.

4.   Frank Nazar, C, Chicago Blackhawks

Frank Nazar has started his sophomore NHL season with a bang, producing five points (one goal, four assists) in his first three games while centering the Blackhawks' second line between Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi. Chicago's 2022 first-round pick has also been a key part of the team's powerplay, which quietly ranked seventh overall last season and remains one of the team's foremost strengths.

Chicago has yet to pick up a win and looks headed for another rebuilding year, but Nazar serves as a beacon of hope for the organization. His speed and creativity make him a bright spot in an otherwise thin lineup, and he could hold fantasy value this season, especially in formats that do not count plus-minus.

3.   Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

After an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Denver, Zeev Buium pulled a Cale Makar by making his NHL debut in last year's playoffs, tallying one point in four appearances. Selected 12^th overall by the Wild in 2024, Buium has wasted no time proving he belongs at the next level, opening the season as Minnesota's top powerplay quarterback.

Buium's defensive game remains a work in progress (he posted a minus-four rating in Saturday's 7-4 loss to Columbus), but he also scored his first career goal and added an assist (both on the power play), while logging over 24 minutes of ice time. Growing pains are inevitable, but Buium's upside is equally undeniable.

2.   Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, Vegas Golden Knights

When Mitch Marner arrived in Vegas this summer, it was unclear how the move would affect Pavel Dorofeyev's role. During training camp, the Golden Knights briefly experimented with Shea Theodore in Dorofeyev's old spot on the team's top powerplay unit, the same position from which he scored 13 of his 35 goals last season.

However, that experiment didn't last long. Dorofeyev reclaimed his powerplay spot before Vegas' season opener, recording a hat trick and following it up with a goal in each of the next two contests, giving him five goals in three games to start the year. If he remains healthy and continues clapping pucks on Vegas' top powerplay unit, Dorofeyev will have every opportunity to top the 40-goal mark for the first time this season.

1.   Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

Unlike some other recent first-overall picks like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer entered the league with relatively little buzz, perhaps a result of playing just 17 games with the Erie Otters last season. Despite his injury-riddled campaign, Schaefer still managed an impressive 22 points with the Otters last year, and his elite skating ability drew attention during his first NHL training camp:

Just an absolutely insane defensive backcheck from Matthew Schaefer on Matvei Michkov 😱

In the first overall pick's first NHL game too 😳

(via @OSulr81) pic.twitter.com/CqRBhSJOdg

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 22, 2025

Now in the regular season, Schaefer is quickly living up to his draft position. The 18-year-old defenceman has recorded two points in his first two games, including an impressive eight-shot, 26-minute performance in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Washington. Schaefer may have entered the NHL relatively quietly, but he's already making serious noise with his stellar play.

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That's all for this week! Follow me on X @SmoothE27 for more fantasy hockey content and analysis, and feel free to DM me with any questions about your team.

Stay tuned for the next Top 10 on Monday, October 20. Have a great week everyone!