Which 7 NHL Stars Are Underperforming so Far?

So far we're about eight to 12 games into the season for each team.

This is the time when some serious evaluations can begin to be made about how well certain teams and players are performing so far.

Some teams have made out like bandits with their offseason moves while others are starting to scratch their heads about the amount of money they handed out a few months ago.

Other than summer acquisitions, some teams are also wondering why the players that normally produce on most every night are being somewhat ghost-like 10 games in. 

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla has been the epitome of consistency for the past decade in Calgary. He's posted 10 straight 30-goal-or-more seasons and hasn't missed a game since 2007. 

For that reason, fans in Calgary shouldn't be worried about Iginla only posting four points in eight games so far this season.

That being said, Iginla has to be put on this list because Calgary itself isn't doing very well so far and are currently 14th out of 15th in the West.

Iginla needs to step up and start scoring some more goals and quickly. 

Dwayne Roloson

So far Roloson has shown his age in net. At 42, it is no surprise that Roloson's numbers have dipped a bit to start the season.

He has a 4.54 GAA, a .869 save percentage and has won one of his four starts. His other aging netminder, Mathieu Garon, has had to pick up Roloson's slack. 

If Roloson doesn't return to his 2011 playoff form, this could be a long season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Eric Staal

With Jeff Skinner posting 10 points in nine games for Carolina, questions have to be raised about the productivity of Eric Staal.

So far he has five points in nine games and a minus-nine rating while his Hurricanes have rolled onto a mediocre 3-3-3 record. 

Eric Staal needs to pick his game up or else the Hurricanes will once again barely miss the playoffs in April. 

Erik Cole

Erik Cole has underperformed while the Montreal Canadiens have struggled to start this season.

Montreal is off to a 3-5-2 start.

Erik Cole has four points and a minus-two rating in 10 games. 

If Montreal can start to turn around their season with a couple of wins in a row, then look for Cole's production to increase as well. If he doesn't pick up the pace, Montreal may be locked into yet another big, bad contract, this time to the tune of $4.5 million a year. 

Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo has been atrocious for the six games he's played for Vancouver so far.

That being said, Luongo has never played well in October, a fact he's admitted himself.

Still, a 2-3-1 record, a 3.45 GAA and a .868 save percentage is very disconcerting for Vancouver and their star netminder. 

Ville Leino

Ville Leino was the recipient of a huge six-year, $27 million contract this past offseason when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres.

He was expected to put up close to his 53-point production that he posted for the Flyers a season before.

Sadly, that hasn't been the case so far.

Leino has just two points in nine games for Buffalo, collecting a minus-four rating as well. 

If Leino doesn't step up and start scoring some goals, the brass in Buffalo could be kicking themselves for making this signing come next summer. 

Alex Ovechkin

With so much hype surrounding both the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin, it seems as if all the pressure has gotten to this 26-year-old star. 

The Capitals are off to a phenomenal start, 7-1 with their first loss coming just last night to Edmonton, but their captain has done anything but stun audiences.

Sure you can try and pawn his seven points in eight games on a more "defensive" style that he has supposedly adopted, but watching the games, that just isn't the case.

It looks more like Ovechkin hasn't fully shaken off the summer rust. Hopefully Ovechkin can start pulling out more multi-point games or else fans in Washington will start to get antsy.