As of December 3, 2024, the article highlights a starting lineup of the biggest overachievers and underperformers in the NHL.

The NHL is renowned for its unpredictability, often showcasing surprising performances from players.

The ongoing 2024-25 NHL season has already revealed several unexpected player performances, both positively and negatively.

To assess player performance, an adjusted Goals Above Replacement (GAR) metric is utilized, comparing players to their performance over the previous three seasons.

One notable overachiever is Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals, who has scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in just 24 games, significantly surpassing his previous three-year GAR of 2.1 with a current pace suggesting a total GAR of 22.3, resulting in a remarkable +20.2 differential.

While some players have emerged as unexpected stars by exceeding their established performance levels, others have struggled and underperformed relative to their past standards.