NHL Power Rankings: One player from each team still waiting for a goal

No goal-scorer wants to be stuck on a goose egg for long.

The start of every season brings another chance to experience the joy of that first one, the goal that gets you on the board and officially kicks off another year of (hopefully) filling the net.

But what happens when you go two, three or maybe even four games without finding the back of the net when that’s supposed to be your calling card?

With more than a week of the 2026-27 campaign in the books, most stars have had at least once chance to throw their hands in the air and bask in the glow of a red light. Those who haven’t, though, are surely tightening their grip with each passing shift that doesn’t produce a tuck.

So, with the season in full swing and some crooked numbers being hung all over the league, we’re using this week’s Power Rankings to highlight one guy on all 32 teams still looking for that first strike.

1. Colorado Avalanche (2-1-0) Nazem Kadri wasn’t repatriated by the Avs to be a scoring star, but he’s found the net in just three of 19 games (with four total goals) since being acquired from Calgary before the trade deadline last winter. He’s 0-for-3 so far this season. 

2. Vegas Golden Knights (3-1-0) Ivan Barbashev has scored exactly 23 goals in each of the past two seasons, but somehow hasn’t buried one this season despite playing with Jack Eichel (10 points already!) and Mark Stone.

3. Minnesota Wild (2-0-1) Matt Boldy made a huge leap to 42 goals last year (up from a previous career-best of 31) and many predicted an additional bump for him this season. Maybe once Boldy bags one he’ll get a bunch. 

4. Utah Mammoth (3-1-0) Logan Cooley has four points through four games, but none of them are tucks. 

5. Washington Capitals (2-1-0) We now know this is officially Alex Ovechkin’s last NHL season, so it will be interesting to see what his final goal total is. Right now, the game’s all-time leading goal-getter is stuck on zero. More shockingly, Ovie has just three shots on goal through a trio of outings. 

6. Carolina Hurricanes (2-1-1) It took Nikolaj Ehlers 12 games to get his first goal as a Cane last fall in his debut year with the club. We’re not there yet, but four games into Year 2 he’s still looking to get off the schneid. 

7. Edmonton Oilers (3-0-1) The Oilers are the highest-scoring club in the league so far and they’d love to see sophomore Isaac Howard join the party. 

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-0) Nobody on Tampa has more than one goal so far and centre Anthony Cirelli is still in search of his first. 

9. Florida Panthers (2-0-2) Sam Reinhart has gone from 57 goals three seasons ago to 39 the next campaign to 29 last year. With Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand both sidelined, the Cats need Reinhart to get going. 

10. Dallas Stars (1-2-0) Nobody needs to worry about Wyatt Johnston, but the young sniper — on the heels of a bust-out 45-goal showing — has just one assist through three games so far. 

11. Winnipeg Jets (3-0-1) The Jets are off to a wonderful start despite the fact top centre Mark Scheifele has yet to hit the net. 

12. Ottawa Senators (2-1-0) Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto are each pegged to pot about 25 goals this season, so getting on the board would feel great for both centres. 

13. Buffalo Sabres (2-1-0) The Sabres need a few guys to pitch in to replace the offence lost when Alex Tuch departed for the Caps. A healthy season from Josh Norris should result in some goals, but he’s been skunked so far. 

14. Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0) Jackson LaCombe probably wouldn’t mind not having a goal yet if he wasn’t also tied with A.J. Greer for a team-worst minus-4 mark on the season. 

15. Montreal Canadiens (1-1-1) Alex Newhook scored at a 25-goal pace last season and, with Ivan Demidov injured for a couple weeks, the Habs will need guys like Newhook to step up. 

16. New York Rangers (4-1-0) Goalie Igor Shesterkin has more goals than six other Rangers who’ve suited up for all five of the team’s games, including Adam Fox. Give Fox a bit a break, though, as the dangerous defenceman has accumulated five apples. 

17. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-0) Gavin McKenna got the monkey off his back earlier this week; when will fellow newcomer Darren Raddysh do the same? 

18. Boston Bruins (2-2-0) It’s surprising the B’s are .500 out of the gate with three big boys — David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha — all still in search of their first tally. 

19. San Jose Sharks (2-1-0) Many people see a breakout season for Michael Misa coming, so it would be great for him to snipe the first one and get the ball rolling. 

20. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0) Sidney Crosby had one goal through four games last October, then ripped off seven in seven. Maybe if Sid — who’s played four games without a goal this fall — gets one in Game No. 5, he’ll go on a similar run. 

21. Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1-0) Columbus has played the fewest games in the league at two, so it’s hard to get on anybody’s case just yet. That said, you know first-year Jacket Valeri Nichushkin would love to get his first with Columbus. 

22. Nashville Predators (1-1-1) Only three Preds — Steven Stamkos (three), Nils Hoglander (three) and Roman Josi (one) — have found the net so far. Basically, throw a dart at the Nashville roster and you’ll hit a guy anxious to get that first one. 

23. New York Islanders (1-2-0) Kyle Palmieri was limited to just 25 games last year, and you know the guy who’s popped 30 twice in his career would love to get going and help the Isles attack this season. 

24. Seattle Kraken (2-2-0) Seattle’s 12 goals at five-on-five through four games is a nice surprise, though that’s largely based on blasting the lowly Calgary Flames twice already this season. One guy who’d like to join the goal party is Brandon Montour, a defenceman capable of contributing more than 15 tallies in a good season. 

25. St. Louis Blues (1-2-0) It’s not that surprising to see playmaker Robert Thomas without a goal through three contests, but to see him without a point is another matter. 

26. Detroit Red Wings (1-2-0) Lucas Raymond has yet to find the net, but — with both Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson potentially getting moved — Red Wings fans have bigger fish to fry right now. 

27. Los Angeles Kings (0-2-1) The Kings need 20-goal production from Mats Zuccarello, even if he is 39 years old. 

28. New Jersey Devils (1-2-0) From captain Nico Hischier, to newcomer Anthony Mantha, to wingers Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, a lot of Devils are gipping the stick right now. 

29. Philadelphia Flyers (0-2-2) It’s been a gruesome start for the Flyers and Travis Konecny is dash-4 with zero goals. 

30. Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0) The Canucks have shown real spirit out of the gate and you know Zeev Buium’s mood would lift a little if he got his first tally after inking that massive contract extension in the summer. 

31. Chicago Blackhawks (1-3-0) You can’t expect the world from a rookie, but so far Roman Kantserov — who arrived with justifiable fanfare from the KHL — has yet to get that first NHL marker. 

32. Calgary Flames (0-3-0) Ugh. The Flames have but three goals this year, so somebody — anybody! — is going to have to step up. Captain Mikael Backlund leads the team with nine shots, but none of them have gone in.