Happy Halloween, hockey world!

It’s that special time of year where anyone can dress up (nearly) however they want, and many around the league have done exactly that throughout October. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up our favorite Halloween costumes from around the league for our first-ever power rankings costume contest.

From Rick Tocchet’s impression of Jacques Lemaire to Jake Neighbours dressing up as hockey’s Jimmy Buckets, here’s the best costume on each team. Some of them just might stick.

1. Vegas Golden Knights, 6-1-3

Last week: 4
Sean: 1
Dom: 1

Pavel Dorofeyev’s costume: Joe Malone

Back in 1917-18, the NHL was very different with very strange passing rules. So different and strange that ol’ Joe (Phantom) Malone scored 44 goals and added just four assists in 20 games. With an electric 9-1-10 stat line to start the season, including two goals in a win over Carolina on Tuesday, Dorofeyev looks determined to challenge that with what could be the great modern Cy Young season. To really celebrate the spirit of 1917, we’re rooting for something truly nutty.

Pavel Dorofeyev is now on pace for 74 goals and 8 assists this season lmao hell ya

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) October 29, 2025

2. Utah Mammoth, 8-3-0

Last week: 5
Sean: 2
Dom: 4

Logan Cooley’s costume: A member of the 2026 edition of the NHL’s 10 best contracts list

Every year, Dom puts together a top 10 list of the best contracts in hockey, and you’d better believe that Cooley’s will make the cut next season. He’s been sensational to start the year, ranking 16th in Net Rating thanks to his eight goals in 11 games. Cooley is a superstar in the making.

Also considered: Nick Schmaltz and his 127-point pace as Nick-ita Kucherov.

3. Colorado Avalanche, 6-1-4

Last week: 2
Sean: 3
Dom: 3

Cale Makar’s costume: Bobby Orr

The brief moment in which people genuinely debated the best defenseman in the world was fun, but let’s be serious: It’s Makar.

He looks like he’s in peak form to start the season and currently leads the league in Net Rating at plus-6.0 — 1.5 more than the next best player. He has 15 points in 11 games, a 62 percent xG and the Avalanche are up 15-5 in his minutes. This is generational domination from Makar, and our hope is that he keeps it up. It’s been far too long since a defenseman was even a Hart Trophy finalist and Makar looks ready to change that.

4. Carolina Hurricanes, 7-3-0

Last week: 1
Sean: 5
Dom: 2

Carolina’s costume: A #RealGoals team instead of an #ExpectedByWhom team

We’re all used to seeing the Hurricanes near the top of the league in expected five-on-five goals; through nine games, their 3.21 per 60 was third overall. What’s new, though, is that even more than their share of pucks is finding the net — they’re leading the league with nearly 3.8 actual goals per 60.

That’s a pretty serious gap, and it feels even larger when you account for the “Corsi Canes” reputation. We’ve never seen anything like it under Rod Brind’Amour; in 2024-25, the gap was nearly a half-goal in the other direction. If that sort of finishing talent is part of Carolina’s mix for good, look out.

5. New Jersey Devils, 8-3-0

Last week: 3
Sean: 4
Dom: 5

Dawson Mercer’s costume: A core piece

Mercer took plenty of deserved heat for his play last season, but he’s gotten the train back on the tracks so far in 2025-26. He leads the Devils in average Game Score — remember for a second some of the names on that roster — and has clicked playing right wing on a line with Nico Hischier. Through 10 games, New Jersey outscored opponents 5-1 with them on the ice and controlled more than 66 percent of the expected goal share.

6. Montreal Canadiens, 8-3-0

Last week: 9
Sean: 6
Dom: 6

Nick Suzuki’s costume: A franchise center

When we were putting together this year’s Player Tiers, we had a large group of players in 3A — right on the cusp of franchise status. Our question: Which one of these players will prove their worth?

It’s early, but within that group of 13, it’s Suzuki that has made the strongest case for himself. Suzuki is currently fifth in the league with a plus-3.9 Net Rating thanks to his 16 points in 11 games and sensational 60 percent xG. He looks worthy.

7. Winnipeg Jets, 8-3-0

Last week: 8
Sean: 7
Dom: 8

Connor Hellebuyck’s costume: A brick wall

In 2023-24, Hellebuyck saved 0.65 goals above expected per game and won the Vezina Trophy. In 2024-25, he saved 0.79 goals above expected per game and won the Vezina Trophy. Somehow, Hellebuyck looks even better this year, saving 1.36 goals above expected per game. It’s enough to hide that the Jets are dead last in xG percentage to start the year. Without Hellebuyck, Winnipeg has looked lottery-like.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-4-2

Last week: 32
Sean: 8
Dom: 9

Tampa Bay’s costume: John Wick

Never doubt our power. Rankings HQ sources could not confirm that Tampa Bay’s ranking last week was given prime real estate on the locker room bulletin board — but either way, the Lightning responded accordingly with three straight dominant wins. You’re welcome, Tampa Bay.

On Saturday, they forechecked the Ducks so hard for the last three minutes that Anaheim couldn’t even pull their goalie. On Sunday, they outplayed Vegas. On Tuesday, the Lightning put up a 94 percent xG rate at five-on-five (not a typo) against the Predators. And on Thursday, Jake Oettinger was the only reason they didn’t blow out the Stars.

9. Edmonton Oilers, 5-4-3

Last week: 7
Sean: 11
Dom: 7

Connor McDavid’s costume: A marathon runner

Ahead of Thursday night’s games, the best player on the planet was averaging 4.8 miles per game in skating distance, which leads the league and is up a full mile year-over-year. Add that to the list of ways he gives the Oilers more for their money. He scored twice against Utah earlier this week, by the way, in case you thought that “slow start” stuff could stick.

10. Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-2-0

Last week: 15
Sean: 9
Dom: 11

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s costumes: Themselves from 2009

Crosby has 15 points in 12 games. Malkin has 17. The Penguins woke up on Friday with the most points in the league. Their coach’s first name is Dan. What year is this?

11. Dallas Stars, 6-3-2

Last week: 10
Sean: 10
Dom: 10

Mikko Rantanen’s costume: Martin Nečas with a slightly thicker wallet

And we do mean “slightly.” Nečas on Thursday signed an extension worth $11.5 million annually, just $500,000 less than the one Rantanen signed over the summer. The two, of course, were traded for each other last season, with Nečas heading back to Colorado as the centerpiece of the deal that put Rantanen in Carolina for a pre-Dallas pit stop. What was the point of all that? The world may never know.

12. Washington Capitals, 6-4-0

Last week: 6
Sean: 13
Dom: 12

Logan Thompson’s costume: Team Canada’s starting goalie

Once again, Thompson has started like a house on fire; he’s top five in save percentage (.938) and goals saved above expected (8.5), and the Caps have had a chance in all seven of his starts, winning five of them. For Washington, it’s a welcome replay of 2024-25.

Maybe the follow-up will be enough for Team Canada to correct its 4 Nations mistake and bring Thompson to Milan. He’s been significantly better than Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault, each of whom is lugging around a negative GSAx.

13. Detroit Red Wings, 8-3-0

Last week: 12
Sean: 12
Dom: 14

Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s costume: A 20-year-old who’s played a dozen games in North America

Sometimes a rookie defenseman steps in and dominates from the get-go, like Moritz Seider. More often than not, though, there’s a steep learning curve. Sandin-Pellikka is feeling that through his first 10 games of NHL action, with a 35 percent xG rate while getting outscored 10-2. He doesn’t look NHL-ready. Emmitt Finnie, on the other hand …

14. Anaheim Ducks, 5-3-1

Last week: 11
Sean: 14
Dom: 15

Jacob Trouba’s costume: An $8 million defenseman

The Ducks are off to a fast start and Trouba’s shockingly strong contributions have been a massive part of that. Anaheim is up 11-4 in his minutes and his 51 percent xG leads all defenders. Add five points in nine games and Trouba actually looks worth the money. For Ducks’ fans sake, we’re hoping this one isn’t a costume and he can keep it up all season.

Also considered: Cutter Gauthier and his 16.6 shots per 60 as 2008-09 Alex Ovechkin.

15. Philadelphia Flyers, 6-3-1

Last week: 22
Sean: 15
Dom: 17

Rick Tocchet’s costume: Jacques Lemaire

The Flyers were already a decent defensive outfit under John Tortorella with a top five expected goals against rate, but they’ve upped the ante further under Tocchet. The Flyers’ five-on-five xGA/60 has improved from 2.31 last year to a league-leading 2.11 to start the season. And they’re getting the results to match with just 2.15 GA/60. Couple that with the Canucks sitting in the bottom five in xGA/60 without him and Tocchet sure looks like the second-coming of Lemaire: A defensive savant.

16. Los Angeles Kings, 5-3-4

Last week: 20
Sean: 19
Dom: 13

Adrian Kempe’s costume: The “Monopoly” man.

Already a productive, increasingly well-balanced first-liner, Kempe has put up 15 points in 12 games. He won’t need to keep up a 103-point pace to become a very, very rich man. The better question — after the last batch of new contracts — might be whether his AAV is closer to $15 million than $10 million.

17. Florida Panthers, 5-5-1

Last week: 14
Sean: 17
Dom: 16

Sam Bennett’s costume: A bank robber

Take the money and run, Sam! If you were wondering whether Bennett could be a true No. 1 center, the answer is starting to look like an emphatic “no.” In 11 games, Bennett has just one goal, no assists and is getting badly outscored at five-on-five. For $8 million per year and with a spot on Team Canada on the line, it might be time for Bennett to step up.

18. Seattle Kraken, 5-2-3

Last week: 23
Sean: 16
Dom: 19

Jaden Schwartz’s costume: A major trade-deadline prize

If the Kraken fall off from their early-season pace, Schwartz could easily end up being one of the best players available at the March 6 deadline. Does that bode well for buyers? Not really! Still, he’s a pending UFA with a reasonable $5.5 million cap hit, he’s coming off a 26-goal season and he’s producing enough (4G, 5A in nine games) to offset some iffy five-on-five numbers.

19. Ottawa Senators, 6-5-1

Last week: 28
Sean: 18
Dom: 18

Linus Ullmark’s costume: The ghost of goaltenders’ past

The Senators have a long lineage of weak starts and goaltending issues. Since 2007-08, only two goalies have saved over 10 goals above expected with the team: Andrew Hammond and Anton Forsberg. In that same span, the Senators have had 11 goalies below minus-10. Ouch.

Ullmark may not be the next Alex Auld, Mike Condon, Brian Elliott or Pascal Leclaire — but he sure looks the part to start. If he can’t get back to his usual elite level, the Senators will have a tough time getting back to the playoffs.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-4-0

Last week: 25
Sean: 20
Dom: 22

Columbus’ costume: A sleeping giant

Since 2007-08, six teams have played a full season with a goal share above 60 percent, most recently the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins in 2022-23. All six ended up winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

The Blue Jackets have managed to clear that mark despite playing one of the five hardest early schedules. Regression may be likely and there have been issues — the penalty kill has been rough, and the power play has been unlucky — but they’re showing the look of a team that deserves to be taken seriously.

21. New York Rangers, 5-5-2

Last week: 18
Sean: 22
Dom: 21

The Rangers’ costume: The Undertaker.

It wasn’t all bad through Mike Sullivan’s first 10 games, but the locals were getting restless. Two straight wins — including a comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Oilers — goes a long way. They’re not back from the dead, but it’s close enough.

22. Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-5-1

Last week: 13
Sean: 23
Dom: 20

Craig Berube’s costume: Randy Carlyle

Toronto’s five-on-five xG in 2012-13: 45.4 percent. Toronto’s five-on-five xG in 2025-26 heading into a game against Columbus where they got blown out: 46.3 percent. Not great! The Leafs are up to 49.4 percent after that game, somehow, which is on par with last year’s mark, but considering the team’s soft schedule, that’s not a good thing.

Also considered: Auston Matthews and his 45 percent xG, as Tyler Bozak.

23. Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4-2

Last week: 24
Sean: 21
Dom: 25

Connor Bedard’s costume: An eye test

Bedard, even after his incredible performance on Tuesday night, was still rocking a 37-percent expected goal share — last among the team’s forwards. Now, Chicago has out-scored opponents 10-7 with Bedard on the ice, and his effort and engagement have been solid, according to the fellas who watch the team every night. That’s good enough for us.

24. Vancouver Canucks, 6-6-0

Last week: 16
Sean: 26
Dom: 24

Adam Foote’s costume: An E.R. doc

When Brock Boeser left Vancouver’s game against the Blues, he departed a lineup that was already missing Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland, Nils Hoglander, Filip Chytil and five other players. The Canucks might not be playoff-caliber on their best night. The fact that they beat Edmonton and St. Louis in their current state is legitimately amazing.

#Canucks have no extra healthy forwards on this trip. If Boeser is out, may have to call someone up from Abbotsford. And it’s getting to the point that I mean just some random guy off the streets of Abbotsford, no one left down on the farm team

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 31, 2025

25. Buffalo Sabres, 4-4-3

Last week: 26
Sean: 27
Dom: 23

Alex Lyon’s costume: The starting goalie

Ahead of his start against the Bruins on Thursday night, Lyon was one of nine goalies with an above average GSAx in each of the last four seasons. The others: Connor Hellebuyck, Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Sergei Bobrovsky, Frederik Andersen, Lukas Dostal, Anthony Stolarz and Stuart Skinner. All are starters.

In 97 games in that span, Lyon is plus-25 in GSAx. Backup Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, on the other hand, is at 1.3 in 143 games. The net should be Lyon’s, rough night against the Bruins aside.

26. Boston Bruins, 6-7-0

Last week: 29
Sean: 24
Dom: 29

Morgan Geekie’s costume: David Pastrnak

Geekie’s goal against the Sabres on Thursday was his ninth in 12 games and 32nd since Jan. 12 — two more than Pastrnak and everyone else in the league. For good measure, he also registered the second hardest shot of the season, according to NHL Edge.

David Pastrnak on Morgan Geekie:

“He has everything to score 50 [goals] in this league. I keep telling him, keep reminding him. He has a heck of a shot.

“And he has the goal-scoring instinct. He’s gonna get it one day.”

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 29, 2025

27. New York Islanders, 4-5-1

Last week: 19
Sean: 25
Dom: 28

The Islanders’ costume: Whatever the exact opposite of the last decade of Islanders hockey has been

After years and years of boring Islanders hockey, the new era is one very important thing: Fun. Chances in both directions, electric pace, blistering speed — it’s track-meet hockey on Long Island, baby! Who knew that the Islanders would start the season with the league’s highest scoring chance pace? It’s non-stop action.

28. St. Louis Blues, 3-6-2

Last week: 17
Sean: 29
Dom: 26

Jake Neighbours’ costume: Jimmy Butler

With six goals this year on his first 12 shots, Neighbours was shooting 50 percent from the field. That’s roughly the same as Butler’s field goal percentage last year. Since 2023-24, Neighbours has a 19.7 percent shooting percentage, good for sixth best in the league. Keep sniping, Jake!

Also considered: Joel Hofer and his .794 save percentage (!) as a shooter tutor.

29. Minnesota Wild, 3-6-3

Last week: 21
Sean: 30
Dom: 27

The Wild’s costume: A sinking ship

Minnesota is 3-6-3, they’ve won one of their last nine, they’ve lost five straight, they’re getting booed off the ice at home and they’re one of the worst five-on-five teams in the league. Other than that, everything is fine.

30. San Jose Sharks, 3-6-2

Last week: 30
Sean: 28
Dom: 31

Macklin Celebrini’s costume: A sophomore scoring champion

In Sidney Crosby’s second season, he won the Art Ross Trophy. In Connor McDavid’s second season, he also won the Art Ross Trophy. Can Celebrini do the same? It felt like a far-fetched thought at the start of the season, but he’s keeping pace after a hot week.

31. Nashville Predators, 4-6-2

Last week: 27
Sean: 31
Dom: 30

Steven Stamkos’ costume: Steven Stamkos (Barry’s Version)

“Seen Stamkos?” That was the first-year marketing that ironically preceded a small amount of Stamkos sightings to start his rookie year under coach Barry Melrose. We’re getting a glimpse of that again this season with just one goal and two points in 12 games for Stamkos while he once again gets dominated at five-on-five.

32. Calgary Flames, 2-8-2

Last week: 31
Sean: 32
Dom: 32

Nazem Kadri’s costume: A wrapped present

The sooner the Flames accept that they’re going nowhere, the better. It’s time to let Kadri play his NHL 1,000th game, open the bidding and do the sensible thing.

KADRI MAKES NO MISTAKE

A beautiful passing play from the Flames makes it a 3-2 lead! pic.twitter.com/P0Ak86R1m0

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 31, 2025