Top Shelf, theScore’s flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the trendiest topics and most contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP2Kk4izcfo
Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, Kyle Cushman, and John Matisz break down the season’s biggest surprises and disappointments three weeks into the campaign.
The team picks their All-Surprise Team and All-Disappointing Team based on early season performances.
Episode Breakdown
The hosts examine which players have made the strongest impressions through the first few weeks:
• All-Surprise Team forwards – Three players who’ve exceeded expectations (1:23)
• All-Surprise defensemen – Two blueliners making unexpected impacts (11:06)
• All-Surprise goaltender – One netminder standing out early (15:10)
• All-Disappointing forwards – Three players underperforming (16:33)
• All-Disappointing defensemen – Two defenders struggling to start the season (26:26)
• All-Disappointing goaltender – One goalie not meeting expectations (34:23)
The episode wraps up with Top Shelf trivia focusing on players carrying their team’s offense (36:37).
Early season evaluations often reveal which players have adapted quickly to new systems or roles. The hosts dive into both ends of the spectrum – from pleasant surprises to concerning starts.
