from Jimmy Hascup of USA TODAY,

As the NHL season’s first month comes to a close, Connor McDavid leads the scoring race with 11 points, the Montreal Canadiens haven’t lost in regulation and Cam Talbot tops the league with six wins.

While it’s too early to draw any concrete takeaways, several early season story lines have emerged. Should we buy or sell?

The Edmonton Oilers are a playoff team. BUY. They are not the class of the West despite a 6-1-0 start, but this team can stick in the top eight. McDavid is already one of the game's best players and can turn a game in an instant. The defense is improved and Talbot seems more comfortable in his second season as a starter. But the Oilers are still playing too much in their own zone.

Dougie Hamilton is a third-pair defenseman. SELL. The 23-year-old is logging the lowest ice time per game (13:09) at even strength on the Calgary Flames among defenseman. Hamilton, an exceptional puck mover and shot generator, is the only Flames blueliner above 50% in possession. It’s hard to envision Hamilton, with an average annual salary of $5.75 million for the next five seasons, on the Flames long-term if the third pairing remains his role.

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