What happened: Adam Lowry was put on a 252-assist pace, Kyle Connor on an 884-shot pace and Tyrel Bauer on a 1,134-penalty-minute pace. The projections show how a single early outing can distort full-season rates almost immediately.

Why it matters: Early pace stats can swing sharply before any meaningful sample forms, especially at the front end of the preseason calendar. Connor's shot volume and Bauer's penalty count become more useful indicators only after a few more games are logged.

What to watch: Watch whether Connor keeps driving shot volume and whether Bauer's penalty rate settles as the preseason sample grows.