With the 2008-09 NHL season a couple of weeks old, there are already some surprises brewing.

The Good
First, are the New York Rangers really this much better than everyone else? In eight games, the Rangers are 6-1-1 with no signs of slowing down in the immediate future. Granted, it’s very early on, but they appear to be the team to beat in the Atlantic.

Second, the San Jose Sharks are flourising under rookie coach Todd McLellan. They are a disciplined bunch, and playing very inspired hockey. All the pieces that have been assembled are finally working well together.

Finally, the St. Louis Blues burst out of the gate, and got the jump in the Central division. They’re playing perfect hockey at home, and their power play is a thing of beauty right now.

Honorable mentions: Four teams are still currently unbeaten. Montreal, Buffalo, Edmonton and Minnesota are all playing well, and may continue this trend deep into the regular season.

The Bad
Tampa Bay headed into this season with a lot of promise, especially around rookie Steven Stamkos. Instead, the Lightning find themselves winless in their first five games. New head coach Barry Melrose has shown a bit of inconsistency, but the team has lost everything by one goal (including a 0-0 tie that was lost in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild).

The Philadelphia Flyers are another team that has had a rocky start. Following a season in which they returned to form, these Flyers are looking more like their 2006-07 team. Keep an eye on this weekend’s home and home against New Jersey, as it could be a turning point.

Dishonorable mentions: Calgary, Toronto, Dallas. With maybe the exception of the Maple Leafs, these teams should all be performing better. Again it’s early, and we’ll see what happens from here.

The Ugly
What’s wrong with the Anaheim Ducks? When your leading offensive guys are Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen, there’s a problem. This team hasn’t looked ready, and the top four offensive guys have one goal amongst them (courtesy of Teemu Selanne). The only bright note so far is that Ryan Carter has been playing well.

Not Mentionable: Nobody has been playing as bad as the Ducks.

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