Burning Questions Early in the 2015-16 NHL Season

The opening weeks of every NHL season produces questions about players or teams that exceed expectations or struggles to meet them in the early going. That's certainly true of the current campaign. 

From an unusual scoring drought for Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar Sidney Crosby (pictured above), to a surprising start by the rebuilding Arizona Coyotes, to several veteran coaches facing early pressure, there's no shortage of unusual scenarios leaving fans and pundits seeking answers.

The following slideshow provides analysis of several burning questions early in this NHL season. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Are the Arizona Coyotes for Real?

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Expectations were very low for the Arizona Coyotes entering this season. Having missed the playoffs over the past three seasons, they are rebuilding with younger players. However, the Coyotes started strong, winning their opening three games of the season.

One reason behind the early success is goaltender Mike Smith. Coming off the worst season of his career as a starter, he's thus far put up solid goaltending numbers. Another is the play of rookie forwards Max Domi and Anthony Duclair (pictured above, right). Both not only rank among the Coyotes top scorers, but they're also among the league's rookie scoring leaders.

Following those three victories, the Coyotes suffered regulation losses to the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins, plus an overtime defeat to the New Jersey Devils. It's too early to tell how well they'll perform over the course of this season, as they also face formidable Western Conference opponents. But if Smith, Domi and Duclair maintain their strong early performances, the Coyotes will certainly be a more competitive team.

Are the Los Angeles Kings in Decline?

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Only a year after winning their second Stanley Cup in three seasons, the Los Angeles Kings surprised the hockey world by missing the 2015 playoffs. Given their talented core, led by goalie Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty and center Anze Kopitar, last season's disappointing finish could be written off as a fluke.

The Kings, however, haven't looked like Stanley Cup contenders in early October. They dropped their opening three games before squeezing out identical 2-1 victories over the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. Of their core players, Quick's stats were average in his first five games (2.59 goals-against average, .898 save percentage), while Doughty and Kopitar managed a point each.

It's still very early in the season; the Kings have plenty of time to turn things around. However, if their inconsistent play continues and their best players keep struggling, there could be some changes to the roster and behind the bench.

How's the McDavid-Eichel Rivalry Shaping Up?

LM Otero/Associated Press

Entering this season, there was considerable hype over Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Buffalo Sabres pivot Jack Eichel. McDavid and Eichel went one-two in the first round of this year's NHL draft. With both projected as future superstars, much was made about a rivalry between the two.

The pair face each other only twice this season (Dec. 6 in Edmonton; March 1 in Buffalo), so it's not much of a head-to-head rivalry. Two weeks into the season, McDavid had five points to Eichel's two. However, lesser-known youngsters like Chicago Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin, Detroit Red Wings left wing Dylan Larkin and Arizona Coyotes forwards Anthony Duclair and Max Domi overshadowed them in rookie scoring.  

McDavid and Eichel will likely improve as they grow more comfortable with their teammates and more confident at the NHL level. They could eventually dominate the rookie-scoring lead. But given the play of the other talented young stars, this season's race for the Calder Memorial Trophy could be more wide-open than originally thought.

Is Johan Franzen's Career Over?

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

After playing in only two games this season, Detroit Red Wings right wing Johan Franzen was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 15. He continues to deal with symptoms related to the concussion that ended his 2014-15 season. 

It's a significant setback for the 35-year-old Franzen, who worked hard during the offseason to overcome those symptoms and continue his career. While the Wings have depth in young forwards to draw upon, none of them can replace a healthy Franzen's experience, leadership and offense.

Unfortunately, this latest setback puts Franzen's career in jeopardy. If he cannot continue playing without the exertion bringing back the concussion symptoms, he could be facing the end of his playing days.

Is Martin Jones Having a Breakout Season?

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Having parted ways with longtime starting goaltender Antti Niemi last summer, the San Jose Sharks acquired Martin Jones from the Boston Bruins as their new starter. Jones, 25, spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings as Jonathan Quick's backup. A promising young goalie, he had yet to establish himself as an NHL starter.

In his first four games with the Sharks, however, Jones was nothing short of stellar between the pipes. Not only did he win those games, but two of them were via shutout. After five games, Jones had an outstanding .957 save percentage and a minuscule 1.18 goals-against average. 

Five regular-season starts, however, hasn't turned Jones into a full-fledged starter just yet. He needs a strong performance throughout the season to achieve that goal. Still, it's apparent he intends to make the most of this opportunity. The Sharks could have a rising star between the pipes.

What's Behind Jaromir Jagr's Strong Start?

Karl B DeBlaker/Associated Press

Entering this week, an old, familiar face turned up among the NHL's top 20 goal scorers. Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr tallied four goals in his first six games. It's an astonishing performance by the 43-year-old veteran, who needed 23 games to net his first four goals last season with the New Jersey Devils.

Jagr's early offensive success can be tied to his Panthers linemates. After the club acquired him on Feb. 26, he was placed on a line with young forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. They clicked immediately, with Jagr netting 18 points in 20 games. With Jagr also acting as inspiration and mentor, Barkov and Huberdeau also benefited from the veteran's skills and experience.

It will be interesting to see how long Jagr remains among the league's scoring leaders. What's clear is he, Barkov and Huberdeau have given the Panthers a solid offensive punch that was missing before his arrival. The trio could be a crucial factor in the club's pursuit of a playoff berth.

What's Wrong with the Rangers' Top Line?

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

After winning their first three games of this season, the New York Rangers suffered two regulation defeats and one in overtime. Part of the blame for that losing skid was the play of first-line forwards Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello.

In their first five games, Zuccarallo had three goals, Brassard had a goal and an assist and Nash only had an assist. Following a loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Post's Zach Braziller reported coach Alain Vigneault swapped Brassard for second-line center Derek Stepan. In their 4-0 win on Oct. 19 over the San Jose Sharks, Zuccarello scored a goal, and Nash picked up an assist. 

Nash is the offensive powerhouse of the Rangers' first line. His numbers after seven games are a far cry from last season's production, when he had nine points over the same period. Until the 31-year-old returns to form, the Rangers' top line will continue to sputter.

Which Coaches Are in the Hot Seat?

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

The NHL season is only two weeks old, but already a handful of head coaches could find themselves unemployed if their respective teams fail to improve in the near future.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun predicted Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards (pictured above) could become this season's "first coaching casualty." Sure enough, Richards was replaced on Oct. 21 by John Tortorella. Others he listed in the coaching hot seat include the Anaheim Ducks' Bruce Boudreau, the Bostons Bruins' Claude Julien and the Los Angeles Kings' Darryl Sutter.

Boudreau, Julien and Sutter have enjoyed considerable NHL success, so their reputations could help them buy time to reverse their fortunes. But if they fail to snap their clubs out of their early-season doldrums, they also risk losing their jobs.

Why is Sidney Crosby Struggling to Score?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

For a decade, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby has consistently (when healthy) ranked among the NHL's leading scorers. A two-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy, the 28-year-old Penguins captain is again expected to be one of this season's scoring leaders, especially with the addition of veteran sniper Phil Kessel on his wing.

Five games into this season, however, Crosby had yet to collect his first point, matching the longest pointless skid of his career. Linemate Kessel managed only two points over the same period. That lack of production is also affecting the Penguins' power play, failing to cash in with the man advantage in those games. Crosby finally ended the drought on Oct. 20 with a three-point effort against the Florida Panthers.

Crosby and Kessel (who also scored against the Panthers) could still be adjusting to each other's styles and simply need more time to click. Crosby's now in his 11th NHL season, and perhaps it takes a little longer for him to return to form. Maybe he should focus more on shooting the puck than passing. His breakthrough against the Panthers likely signals a return to his usual offensive consistency.

Will the Buffalo Sabres Pursue a Goaltender?

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

The Buffalo Sabres got off to a rocky start when starting goaltender Robin Lehner (pictured above) suffered a high ankle sprain in their season opener, sidelining him six to 10 weeks. It left the Sabres without an experienced starter, prompting rumors they might pursue a short-term replacement via trade for Lehner.

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reported Sabres general manager Tim Murray wasn't interested in dealing for a netminder just yet. He intends to give Chad Johnson the opportunity to fill in for Lehner and called up Nathan Lieuwen as Johnson's backup. 

LeBrun, however, speculated Murray could change his mind if his goalies struggle or if Lehner is out longer than anticipated. He noted the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche are among teams willing to deal a goaltender. The Sabres' performance over the next several weeks could determine Murray's course of action.

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