Five surprising NHL stats that probably can’t be replicated next season

The NHL‘s 2026-27 season is closer than you think, thanks in part to just the second-ever September start in league history.

A new season means new opportunities for players, coaches and entire teams. For some, these new opportunities mean a fresh start, right? 

Here are five surprising stats that NHL teams would, mostly, prefer aren’t repeated next year.

Chicago Blackhawks brutal expected goal numbers

This can’t possible happen for a sixth year in a row, right? The Blackhawks have finished 32nd in the NHL in five consecutive years in Natural Stat Trick’s expected goal model. That’s not percentage, that’s actual generation. For five straight years , Chicago has finished last in expected goals generated per 60 minutes at five-on-five. This has been true under five different coaches (Jeremy Colliton, interim Derek King, Luke Richardson, interim Anders Sorensen and Jeff Blashill).

Philadelphia Flyers need a candle

Speaking of futility, the Philadelphia Flyers have finished last in power play conversion rate in four of the past five seasons. In the lone season of this stretch not in last place in this stat, the Flyers finished in 30th place. The Flyers power play woes also transcend coaching, as Alain Vigneault, Mike Yeo (interim), John Tortorella, Brad Shaw (interim) and Rick Tocchet all led the team.

The New York Rangers and Nashville Predators struggled in the offensive zone

Nobody in the league spent their offensive zone time less effectively than the New York Rangers last season. Per NHL Edge, the Rangers finished ninth in offensive zone time, but they were 31st in all situations shots and 28th in high danger shots. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers finished 30th in the NHL in shots per 60 minutes at five-on-five. 

The Nashville Predators had similar issues, finishing sixth in the NHL in offensive zone time. They only were ranked one spot better than New York in goals-for per 60 minutes, finishing 23rd to New York’s 24th. Comparatively, the Predators generated chances at a higher rate. 

St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars role reversal

The best line in the NHL (min. 250 minutes) played for a team that missed the playoffs. The St. Louis Blues won 80 percent of the goal share in 253 minutes with their late-season top line. Wingers Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud
performed exceptionally well with center Robert Thomas. That line outscored its opposition 24-6 and led the NHL in goals for per 60 minutes, according to MoneyPuck. They were solid defensively, finishing third among 52 lines in goals against per 60 minutes.

Meanwhile, the comparative worst line played for the Dallas Stars, who finished with the third most points in the NHL (112). Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque flanked center Wyatt Johnston. Opposition lines outscored the talented trio 12-7. Their goals-for rate of 36.8 percent was worst of the 52 lines. The line finished 50th of the 52 in goals for per 60 minutes.

NHL goalies crash out

The NHL’s median save percentage in all situations was just 88.96% last season. It’s the second straight year it declined. 

Superstar goaltending was not as valuable. Three of the six best goalies in MoneyPuck’s Goals Saved Above Expected played at least 51 games for their teams. All three — Logan Thompson from Washington, Ilya Sorokin from the New York Islanders and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers — missed the playoffs. The two best goaltenders in this stat to actually make the playoffs saw their teams lose in the opening round (Jeremy Swayman of Boston, Andrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa). 

The NHL opens its season on Sept. 29.

Alex Wiederspiel

Alex Wiederspiel is a professional play-by-play broadcaster and co-host of Locked On NHL Game Night, recapping the full slate of NHL games in 30 minutes for fans three nights a week.