Early in the 2026-27 NHL season, which features an 84-game schedule, several clubs including the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, and Edmonton Oilers have posted strong starts with high points paces that project comfortably above 90. Depth at forward, goaltending stability, and special-teams efficiency have driven these results, while teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks lag due to poor recent form and defensive issues. Historical patterns show roughly half the league typically clears 90 points in a full season, though the expanded slate and current standings parity could shift that threshold depending on how mid-tier clubs manage injuries, travel, and schedule difficulty over the remaining months.