What happened: Sportsnet's Mike Amato examines early-season numbers for Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and others in the Friday Four. The focus is small samples and whether the opening output holds as the 2026-27 schedule grows.

Why it matters: Early efficiency swings shape scoring expectations before the standings settle. Crosby enters year 22, making age-versus-output the early read.

What to watch: Watch upcoming games to see if shooting and point rates normalize with larger samples.