Hockey's greatest buffet returns on Tuesday, Oct. 13, as the Frozen Frenzy returns to ESPN. All 32 teams battle on the same night, giving fans a chance to sample the contenders, pretenders and those teams that are downright fascinating so far this season.
A few notes from last October's Frenzy:
109 goals were scored in 16 games
Road teams were 9-6-1
Five games went into overtime or a shootout
ESPN has a tripleheader featuring the New Jersey Devils at the Detroit Red Wings (6 p.m. ET); the Colorado Avalanche at the Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET); and the Boston Bruins facing the San Jose Sharks in the nightcap (11 p.m. ET). The start times for all 16 games are staggered to maximize channel surfing on NHL Power Play on the ESPN App.
In addition, there are five hours of continuous Frozen Frenzy whip-around coverage hosted by John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes on ESPN2, Disney+ and the ESPN App.
That's a lot of hockey. Luckily, there are a lot of reasons to watch it.
Here are compelling players, trends and storylines for all 32 teams to keep in mind as the Frozen Frenzy washes over you:
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins
Captain Pasta
David Pastrnak was named the 28th captain in this Original Six franchise's history, and for good reason: Very few star players in the NHL mean as much to their team's fortunes as Pasta does for the B's.
Since 2022-23, Pastrnak has strung together four straight 100-point seasons. He has 436 points in 329 games during that span, including 254 goals. The next-highest scorer for Boston trails him by 206 points since 2022 (Pavel Zacha, 230). It's Pasta's world.
Buffalo Sabres
Playoff rematch
The Sabres weren't simply satisfied with ending their NHL-record 14-season playoff drought. Buffalo had its eyes on a larger prize after eliminating the Bruins in six games in the opening round.
But the Montreal Canadiens shattered those dreams, eliminating the Sabres on a Game 7 overtime goal by Alex Newhook. It was a series with some animosity. One assumes that ill will carries over to the first regular-season meeting between the teams since that playoff battle.
Detroit Red Wings
The Dylan Larkin drama
The most compelling ongoing hockey soap opera is playing out in Detroit. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade despite having five seasons left on an eight-year contract with the Red Wings. Possessing a no-trade clause, Larkin provided just three teams to whom he would accept a trade -- and none of the three had the personnel or cap space to make a deal for him.
Larkin's list has reportedly expanded, but that gambit was enough to catch the eye (and a little ire) of commissioner Gary Bettman, who said the league will keep an eye on how players are using their trade protection to force moves to specific destinations.
Meanwhile, Larkin rejoined the Red Wings, who stripped him of his captaincy. He was booed on opening night, while standing in street clothes, injured. When he returned to the lineup, he was booed again. In a surreal moment, the Red Wings center was cheered by fans in Montreal who chanted "We want Larkin!" in an effort to convince him to waive his trade protection for a Canadian destination. What twist comes next?
Florida Panthers
The Tkachuks
While initially refusing to succumb to the urge, Panthers coach Paul Maurice finally gave fans what they've been asking to see: truculent brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk centered by the equally coarse Sam Bennett.
Before the season, Maurice said putting these three provocateurs together would result in them being "in jail before the puck drops." But now he admits the trio "brought a little juice" to a team missing both Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand to injury.
Montreal Canadiens
Can Juraj Slafkovsky snap the slump?
Slafkovsky, the first overall pick in the 2022 draft, leveled up to star status last season with 30 goals and 43 assists (73 points), setting new career highs. But he has just one goal in five games this season, as part of a quiet offensive start for the Habs overall.
Slafkovsky was moved off Montreal's top line in favor of free agent signee Chris Kreider, and then saw new linemate Ivan Demidov get injured. Slafkovsky was shifted back to the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield recently, but they've yet to recapture the magic.
Ottawa Senators
Brady who?
The Senators traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers -- a.k.a. "his brother's team" -- after Tkachuk informed the team he wasn't going to sign a new contract with Ottawa when his deal is up in 2028. Ottawa lost a pace-setting point-per-game player, but based on the early returns they aren't exactly missing him.
The Senators sprinted out to four wins in their first five games thanks to their stout defensive game and a blazing start by Tim Stutzle (eight points), Tkachuk's former linemate. Spite is a heck of a motivator.
Tampa Bay Lightning
High-IQ Nikita Kucherov
The Lightning star made waves before the season when he was asked about how the game has changed in his 13-season NHL career. "The game is faster but very dumb. Low IQ," he told reporters.
Of course, watching the brilliant Kucherov -- who won his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP last season -- one realizes he's playing high-speed chess while his opponents play tiddlywinks. On Frenzy night, Kucherov leads the Lightning against the Rangers, who defeated the Bolts 5-1 in their season opener.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Gavin McKenna, phenom
It's still mind-blowing to think that the Maple Leafs, one season after star Mitch Marner defected to the Golden Knights, won the draft lottery and the chance to draft another Canadian-born phenom winger -- who doubles as a beacon of hope for the franchise.
McKenna already got a taste of the Toronto media after failing to score in his first three games. He had four points in his next three games. Just 18 years old, McKenna is a young star worth searching out in the Frenzy.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Another Washington test
The reigning Stanley Cup champions didn't skip a beat, earning 11 out of 14 points to start the season. Sebastian Aho has been dominant (six goals, five assists) for a team that's getting scoring throughout the lineup -- heck, Mark Jankowski has a four-game goal streak.
But the Canes' lone regulation loss came at the hands of the Capitals, who beat them 5-2 in Raleigh. They get Washington again in the Frozen Frenzy, ready to respond against the team many feel is the Canes' toughest competition in the Metro.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Spotlight on Matthew Knies
The Blue Jackets made the season's biggest trade so far when they sent winger Kirill Marchenko to the Maple Leafs.
Marchenko wanted out, but Columbus was only going to move him for the right trade centerpiece. They jumped at the chance to land Knies, the 23-year-old power winger who scored 52 goals over the past two seasons skating with star Auston Matthews.
In Columbus, Knies will get his own chance to be a "face of the franchise" guy. Perhaps what made him most compelling for the Jackets: He's signed through 2030-31.
New Jersey Devils
The dynamic duo
Jack Hughes is the focal point of the Devils and for good reason: The 25-year-old Olympic hockey legend is one of the NHL's most dynamic talents. But Hughes is never more exciting than when he's buzzing around the ice with New Jersey's other all-world offensive talent: winger Jesper Bratt, 28, who eclipsed a point-per-game pace in two of the past three seasons.
Two players with elite skating ability, pinpoint puckhandling and endless creativity. We're not saying that we want the Devils' game in Detroit to go to the 3-on-3 to see Hughes and Bratt work their magic. But we wouldn't complain if it happened.
New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer's enthusiasm
Last season's unanimous choice for NHL rookie of the year, Schaefer's personality on and off the ice shifted the vibes for the Islanders. He also established himself as one of the rising stars among defensemen with 59 points in 82 games.
Now 19 years old, Schaefer is skating over 25 minutes per game and pulling off video-game-level moves with his skating. While team executives felt it was a bit early for Schaefer to be ranked No 16 overall in our ESPN NHL player rankings, that's just symbolic of his meteoric rise.
New York Rangers
Life without Igor
The most crushing moment so far in the NHL: Rangers star goalie Igor Shesterkin suffering a season-ending knee injury after five games. Not just because he's one of the best goalies on Earth, but because the Rangers were off to a torrid start in the Metro Division.
They've turned to 24-year-old Dylan Garand to (literally) save their season. He's a great story: someone who put in the time with AHL Hartford over the past few seasons and passed through waivers unclaimed before ascending to the Rangers' crease.
It's his net until veteran Joonas Korpisalo returns from injury -- and potentially beyond that.
Philadelphia Flyers
Averting disaster
In the span of five months, coach Rick Tocchet has seen the Flyers go from winning a playoff round to failing to win a game in this first seven tries this season.
He has heard cheers from fans after snapping a six-season playoff drought to hearing the fans chanting "Fire Tocchet!" at home games. Such is life in Philadelphia sports.
The bottom line: This talented young team has to start turning their fortunes around fast, as they welcome the Seattle Kraken to the City of Brotherly Love.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Crosby's breakout?
Thanks to his legendary preparation, Sidney Crosby is known to start fast, with a career average of 1.20 points per game in the first month of the season.
Through six games last season, the Penguins star captain had three goals and four assists; through six games this season, he's yet to get off the blocks: two assists and a minus-4 rating.
It's just a matter of time before the 39-year-old finds his groove. Does it happen in Chicago during the Frenzy?
Washington Capitals
Ovi's last ride
Alex Ovechkin finally gave a definitive answer to "is this Alex Ovechkin's last NHL season?" when he informed his teammates that this is his last run with the Capitals. (One assumes he'll play at least another season with Dynamo Moscow in the KHL, a scenario Ovechkin hasn't dispelled.)
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer faces the Hurricanes in the Frenzy, having just scored his first goal of the season -- joining the 930 club in the city that gave us The 9:30 Club.
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane comes home
The cynical reading of Patrick Kane's return to Chicago, where he won three Stanley Cups, was as a nostalgia play designed to distract from the team's current plight. But it will be a kick to see Kane back in a Blackhawks uniform, helping to shape the team's young stars on and off the ice. It's like seeing John Cena return from a prolonged absence to put on the jorts and put over the current young champion.
Hopefully Kane has as much left in the tank as Cena did in his farewell, as the Chicago winger has just one goal and one assist through six games.
Colorado Avalanche
An early test
The Avalanche were the NHL's best team last regular season and pushed all the way to the Western Conference finals before falling apart physically and losing to the Golden Knights.
So far, Colorado has looked dominant at times and vulnerable at other times. Matching up with their longtime division rivals from Dallas will be a good test for both teams but in particular Colorado, to see if Nathan MacKinnon and friends can roll against a talented contender.
Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson makes his case
It was a weird few months for Jason Robertson. The 27-year-old winger finished the second-best goal-scoring season of his career (45 goals) to enter restricted free agency. But there was no long-term contract on which he and the Stars could agree, leading to his rights nearly being traded to Seattle -- a deal denied by Robertson, who didn't want to sign there.
He's an unrestricted free agent next summer and looking to fill the net for a huge payday, in Dallas or elsewhere.
Minnesota Wild
The Quinn Hughes mystery
The Wild made a blockbuster trade for Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes last season, and he helped turn Minnesota into something of a juggernaut with 48 points in 48 games, skating over 27 minutes per game.
There was confidence that the team would be able to sign Hughes to an extension ahead of free agency next summer ... but that hasn't happened yet, leading to speculation that the defenseman might have something else in his mind regarding his future (i.e. playing with his brothers).
Hughes has started strong for the contending Wild (seven points in five games), who are in Winnipeg for a big divisional game during the Frenzy.
Nashville Predators
Stammer's still got it
At any point in the past 19 years, Steven Stamkos scoring 42 goals wouldn't have been anything out of the ordinary: Only Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have scored more goals among active players. But the fact that Stamkos did it with the Predators after his first season in Nashville was such a dud probably deserved more attention.
Stamkos has three goals in his first five games this season, again looking very much like ... well, like Steven Stamkos.
St. Louis Blues
Jimmy Snuggerud's second act
After struggling to find his stride, Snuggerud became one of the NHL's top rookie forwards last season after thriving on a line with Dylan Holloway and Robert Thomas.
While that trio has yet to get rolling in 2026-27 -- and watch out for the Blues when it does -- Snuggerud is off to a solid start with three goals in his first five games. He's a big part of what they're building in St. Louis.
Utah Mammoth
Surprise team of the West
The Mammoth have all the pieces to potentially level up to championship contender status this season. They have strong veteran scorers in Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller, and young dynamos such as Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley.
They brought in some leadership in Anders Lee from the Islanders and Vincent Trocheck from the Rangers. Karel Vejmelka is one of the league's most underrated goalies, in back of a defense that features players such as MacKenzie Weegar and Mikhail Sergachev.
How high is the ceiling for the Mammoth? The Leafs will be a good test in the Frenzy.
Winnipeg Jets
No Helly, no problem
Star goalie Connor Hellebuyck is currently suspended by the Jets after failing to report to camp following his trade demand. Not having the best goalie in the world on the roster is not ideal, but the Jets were determined to thrive without him.
The combination of veteran Stuart Skinner (.920 save percentage) and Capitals depth chart casualty Clay Stevenson (.872) have given the Jets enough goaltending to find themselves in a playoff spot through five games. Eventually, not having Hellebuyck to paper over the deficiencies in their lineup will catch up with them. But not yet, at least.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
18 million expectations
Leo Carlsson shocked the hockey world by signing an offer sheet from the Flyers that carried an $18 million average annual value, which the Ducks matched. That gave the 21-year-old center the largest cap hit in the NHL this season.
Big paydays change perceptions and expectations. Carlsson hit a career high with 67 points in 70 games last season. He has started strong with eight points in his first five games this season, carrying the extra weight of an $18 million cap hit on his back.
Calgary Flames
Silver linings
It's not expected to be a good year for the rebuilding Flames. Losing their first five games and posting a minus-19 goal differential hasn't dispelled that notion.
So in what could be a rough campaign, attention turns to the future. Can winger Matt Coronato take another step? Can forward Matvei Gridin have a breakout second season? Did defenseman Simon Nemec just need a change in scenery out of New Jersey?
Interesting questions now, but important ones for the future.
Edmonton Oilers
Is this the year?
Edmonton looks like a team possessed to start the season, with Connor McDavid doing Connor McDavid things, Evan Bouchard trying to score his way to a Norris Trophy and Buffalo castoff Devon Levi looking like he maybe ... possibly ... could be their solution in goal.
How much of this is controversial new coach Mike Babcock's doing? Or is it simply McDavid, Leon Draisaitl & Co. coming back with a vengeance after a playoff disappointment, knowing that their window to win a Stanley Cup is shrinking. Whatever the case, the Oilers are playing like a Western Conference favorite.
Los Angeles Kings
The Bread Man
The Kings acquired winger Artemi Panarin from the Rangers last season to bring some offensive flash to a team that sorely lacked it. And that's what he has done: 27 points in 26 games last season, and three goals in his first four games this season.
The 34-year-old winger is playing on the Kings' top line with center Quinton Byfield.
San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini, the next megastar
Celebrini isn't just the future of the NHL. He's also the present. The 20-year-old center was fourth in MVP voting last season with 115 points in 82 games, turning the Sharks into an unexpected playoff contender.
Surrounded by arguably the best assemblage of young talent in the NHL, Celebrini is the league's most exciting player and potentially its first crossover star in decades, with features in The Hollywood Reporter and GQ Magazine already this season.
Seattle Kraken
An early surprise
The Kraken were predicted by many to be in the mushy middle of the standings at best, or closer to the bottom of the conference at worst. But the sixth-year franchise has won four of its first six games with the league's third-best offense, leading to a plus-9 goal differential.
Granted, hanging six goals on the Calgary Flames twice will boast those numbers, but they also hit six against Vegas and Washington. How real are they?
Vancouver Canucks
The Pette-issance
Elias Pettersson scored 39 goals and 103 points in 2022-23, but that might as well have been 20 years ago based on how the Canucks center has played in the past few campaigns. Whether it was injuries or off-ice drama with teammates, there were many theories about why Petey lost his mojo ... as well as the annual hope from Vancouver fans that he could find it again, if only to convince another team to trade for his $11.6 million cap hit (through 2030-31!).
With a new coach in Manny Malhotra, Pettersson has eight points in his first seven games, a promising start for the Pette-issance.
Vegas Golden Knights
Eichel goes for 100
Jack Eichel has been dominant offensively over the past couple of seasons, with 94 points in 77 games and then 90 points in 74 games, the two highest-scoring seasons in Golden Knights history. The star center has sprinted out to a ridiculous two points-per-game average, with 12 points in six games.
Vegas has never had a 100-point season. Eichel seems like he's on a mission to change that, while getting the Golden Knights back to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight campaign.