The Most Surprising Impact Players so Far in the 2015-16 NHL Season

The first month of the NHL's 2015-16 season is about to wrap up. As always, fans have seen plenty of surprises.

Our first coaching change has already occurred, in Columbus. Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames are struggling unexpectedly near the bottom of the league standings.

On a more positive note, players across the league's age spectrum have performed above their preseason projections, making big contributions to their teams in the early going.

Position by position, here's a look at the six players who have been most surprising this October.

Mike Cammalleri, LW, New Jersey Devils

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By the Numbers

8 GP, 3-8-11, tied for fifth in NHL scoring

Why He's Surprising

Now 33 years old, Mike Cammalleri is seven years removed from his best offensive season. He scored 39 goals and collected 82 points as a member of the Calgary Flames in 2008-09 but hasn't managed more than 50 points in any year since then.

Cammalleri is now in the second season of a juicy five-year contract with the New Jersey Devils, which pays him $5 million annually, according to General Fanager. In 2014-15, he finished second in team scoring with 42 points in 68 games.

This year, he's on pace for a 113-point season. Even more importantly, the Devils have won four straight one-goal games and are hanging around the playoff contenders in the Metropolitan Division for the first time since they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.

Can He Keep It Up? 

Early impressions are positive for the new era in New Jersey, with Ray Shero handling personnel decisions and John Hynes managing things behind the bench.

Cammalleri leads the Devils' scoring race, but teammates such as Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac and Adam Larsson are also off to good starts. Lee Stempniak is looking like a bargain on his $850,000 contract, per General Fanager.

New Jersey ranked 28th offensively in 2014-15 but has climbed into a tie for 18th overall through the first eight games of the new season. There's still room for improvement, but for the first time in his three seasons in Newark, it looks like goaltender Cory Schneider will get some help up front.

If he can stay healthy, it's conceivable that Cammalleri could once again become a point-per-game player.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Washington Capitals

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By the Numbers

7 GP, 3-8-11, tied for fifth in NHL scoring

Why He's Surprising

Evgeny Kuznetsov posted 11 goals and 37 points in his first full season with the Washington Capitals in 2014-15. His hot start, which included a five-point explosion against the Edmonton Oilers, has him on pace for 129 points over a full 82-game schedule this year.

Can He Keep It Up? 

With three goals and six assists during the Caps' three-game trip to Western Canada, Kuznetsov was named the NHL's first star for the week ending October 25. That's impressive for sure but not a sustainable pace going forward.

Kuznetsov has shown enough chemistry with his countryman Alex Ovechkin that he has retained his spot on Washington's first line even with Nicklas Backstrom back in the lineup after his hip surgery.

It's unlikely that Kuznetsov will become the NHL's first 125-point player since Joe Thornton in 2005-06. Look for him to match a typical Backstrom point-per-game pace if he spends his entire season setting up the NHL's most prolific scorer, Ovechkin.

Jaromir Jagr, RW, Florida Panthers

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By the Numbers

8 GP, 6-4-10, tied for 11th in NHL scoring

Why He's Surprising

Two seasons ago, Jagr turned heads with 10 points in 12 games to kick off the 2013-14 season with the New Jersey Devils. Now 43 years old, the highest-scoring active player in the NHL is ahead of that pace on the top line with the Florida Panthers.

Can He Keep It Up? 

Jagr's six goals this season have come on just 23 shots—an accuracy rate of 26.1 percent, which is nearly double his career average of 13.7 percent.

So—he has been lucky. He has also been rejuvenated by his young linemates Jonathan Huberdeau (22) and Aleksander Barkov (20), but they haven't been the only reason for the old man's early-season success.

Barkov suffered a broken hand on October 22 that is expected to keep him sidelined for two to four weeks, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald. With Nick Bjugstad (23) in Barkov's place for Saturday's 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars, Jagr picked up two more points, as his line combined for the Panthers' first three goals, including the game-winner.

In the four seasons since his return from the KHL, Jagr's best year so far was his 67-point outing with the Devils in 2013-14. The way he's going, he could eclipse that number with the Panthers after he turns 44 in February.

Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis Blues

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By the Numbers

8 GP, 3-2-5, tied for 14th among defensemen in scoring; tied for fifth among defensemen in plus-minus (plus-5)

Why He's Surprising

Colton Parayko is one of those rookies who seem to be fully formed by the time they first enter the spotlight.

A third-round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues in 2012, the Edmonton area native used his 6'5", 226-pound frame and right-handed shot to earn a place during training camp. He then quickly moved up the depth chart when Kevin Shattenkirk was injured three games into the season.

Parayko, 22, spent three years developing at the NCAA level with the University of Alaska before joining the Chicago Wolves for 17 games in 2014-15. He joined the Blues with a heavy shot that was compared to Al MacInnis' by Louie Korac of NHL.com. It looks like Parayko has earned the trust of taskmaster coach Ken Hitchcock, who has played him for more than 22 minutes in the Blues' last two games.

Can He Keep It Up? 

Parayko appears to have all the tools to succeed on the blue line—size, speed and a rocket of a right-handed shot.

Typically, defensemen need some time to settle into the NHL game. Parayko is off to an excellent start.

Andrei Markov, D, Montreal Canadiens

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By the Numbers

9 GP, 1-9-10, tied for first among defensemen in scoring and plus-minus (plus-10) with partner P.K. Subban

Why He's Surprising

Now 36 years old, Andrei Markov has patrolled the blue line for the Montreal Canadiens since the 2000-01 season.

At a stage of his career when many players start to decline, Markov looks like he's cresting. He's on pace to beat his previous career high in points (64) from 2008-09 and has put up the best plus-minus numbers of his career in his three most recent seasons.

P.K. Subban has earned plenty of recognition for his top-level abilities as a defenseman. As the Canadiens have dominated the first month of the 2015-16 season, Markov has matched him stride for stride.

Can He Keep It Up? 

Yes, he probably can.

Markov is a savvy veteran who doesn't seem to be losing steam as he slides into the NHL's old-boys club. 

Averaging 23:31 per game, Markov is ranked 28th among NHL defensemen in terms of ice time. He plays two minutes per game less than Subban, who's 10 years younger. That difference should help keep Markov fresh through the long season.

At some point, Montreal is bound to drop some games. Markov's world-class numbers will take a hit, but he and Subban—and their team—look like they're the gold standard in the NHL this season.

Antti Raanta, G, New York Rangers

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By the Numbers

2 GP, 2-0-0, 1 shutout, 0.50 goals-against average, .978 save percentage (both first in NHL) 

Why He's Surprising

Antti Raanta played his last game with the Chicago Blackhawks on February 22, 2015, before he was deposed by Scott Darling during the late stages of the 2014-15 season.

The Rangers traded for Raanta in the offseason as the replacement for traded backup Cam Talbot.

Behind a solid Rangers defense, Raanta has given up just one goal in his two starts, earning four points for his team and cheers from the faithful at Madison Square Garden.

Can He Keep It Up? 

Though Raanta's time in Chicago ended on a sour note, his numbers last season were respectable for a backup: 7-4-1 with a 1.89 GAA, .936 save percentage and two shutouts.

The 26-year-old is a competent goaltender who should continue to shine behind the Rangers' airtight defensive system.