The first month of the 2023-24 season has come and gone, and it has presented some interesting surprises. For one, the Canucks seem genuinely good in a way that isn't too good to be true. For two, the Oilers seem genuinely bad in a way that might finally actually break Connor McDavid.
As for the East, the Bruins still somehow refuse to be mid (during the regular season, at least), the Senators aren't exactly giving us the "That'll show the haters" performance we were anticipating, and spoiler alert: The Tampa Bay Lightning aren't having some insane drop-off just because we feel they're due for it.