Red Wings, Flames and Oilers headline early NHL disappointments

Only a week into the 2026‑27 NHL season, some teams and players are already under the microscope for the wrong reasons. A league‑wide analysis flags several early disappointments, while noting that any conclusions drawn from two or three games come with a major asterisk.

Red Wings turmoil with Larkin and Edvinsson

In Detroit, the mood around the Red Wings is especially tense. The club sits at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, and off‑ice storylines continue to overshadow results. The Dylan Larkin saga, driven by his off‑season trade request, remains front and centre, and attention has now shifted to highly regarded defenceman Simon Edvinsson.

According to the analysis, Edvinsson has told the team he would rather be traded than sign a contract extension, raising fresh questions about the long‑term direction of the so‑called “Yzerplan.” With Larkin having been booed during home‑opener introductions, the piece argues that Detroit needs to start winning quickly or risk seeing frustration grow among both players and fans.

Stars, Maple Leafs and their young stars start slowly

In Dallas, the Stars have stumbled out of the gate offensively, managing just a single goal across a pair of early losses. Jason Robertson, under scrutiny after a contentious contract standoff over the summer, has yet to record a point despite logging roughly 19 minutes per night.

He sits at minus‑3 with only a handful of shots on goal and has been badly out‑chanced while on the ice. The analysis suggests this may simply be a brief slump, but warns that if it drags on, Dallas could find itself in trouble in a strong Central Division.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing similar concerns. They are 1‑2‑0 and averaging only two goals per game, well below expectations for a team that added first‑overall pick Gavin McKenna in June. McKenna, billed as an instant impact player, is still looking for his first NHL point. He carries a minus‑3 rating while averaging just over 14 minutes per game, a quieter start than many anticipated.

Oilers’ net under fire, Flames’ young blue line overwhelmed

In Edmonton, familiar goaltending worries have resurfaced. Tristan Jarry struggled badly in the opener, giving up six goals on 23 shots in a loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Devon Levi replaced him next time out and surrendered seven goals on 22 shots in a wild 9‑7 win, also against Vancouver, before rebounding two nights later with 19 saves on 20 shots in a 3‑1 victory over the Seattle Kraken.

The piece notes the Oilers do not necessarily need a Vezina‑level starter to contend for the Stanley Cup, but they do require far more consistent goaltending than they have received in recent seasons and in these first few outings.

Calgary’s situation is different but no less concerning. The Flames have invested heavily in a young defence pair of Simon Nemec and Parekh, both in terms of contracts and trade capital. Early results, however, have been rough. Nemec is logging close to 21 minutes per night without a point, sitting at minus‑6 and facing a lopsided shot deficit during his shifts. Parekh, who talked confidently over the summer, has one assist, the same minus‑6 rating and an even larger gap in shots against.

The analysis stresses that both players are still very young and that defencemen typically develop more slowly. With Calgary viewed as a bottom‑tier team this season, there is some built‑in patience. Still, given how much the organization has invested, the Flames are hoping to see signs of progress sooner rather than later. Overall, the article concludes that while it is far too early for sweeping judgments, these rocky starts are storylines worth tracking as the season unfolds.