The sophomore slump. You'd like to think it's just a hockey myth, and Jonathan Toews probably would, too. With most teams nearing the 10-game mark, there are early indications that a few NHL sophomores have been hit by second-year struggles — but not all of them:

Sophomore slumps

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals: In a recent chat with sportingnews.com, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau suggested that Alex Ovechkin's slow start had as much to do with Backstrom's issues than anything.

Boudreau even used the word "slump." Backstrom went into the weekend looking for his first goal after nine games. He had four assists during that stretch. Slowed by a season-opening ankle injury, Backstrom is starting to get healthy. He had assists in three consecutive games. Don't forget, Backstrom started slow last season too and finished with 69 points.

Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta Thrashers: We knew Enstrom's offensive numbers would drop because the talented defenseman wasn't being used as much on the power play with the addition of Ron Hainsey and Mathieu Schneider. But we didn't anticipate Enstrom looking lost at times on the ice.

Coach John Anderson is willing to take part of the blame for Enstrom's slow start, since he's asking Enstrom to leave his comfort zone and hang on to the puck more often to help the transition game. Enstrom has one point in 10 games and is pace to be a minus-25.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks: Through nine games, Toews was without a goal, but it isn't from a lack of effort. His 30 shots tie Patrick Kane for the team lead, but that shooting percentage of zero isn't getting it done.

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Toews is trying to keep a positive attitude, joking with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lacy J. Banks when Banks brought it up: "Thanks for reminding me that I haven't scored yet," Toews said Wednesday. "I'm not happy about it, but I've just got to keep on believing that once I do score that I'm going to start piling them in there and make up for lost time."

Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers: Like the three previous sophs, Gagner is looking for his first goal. He was stoned on a penalty shot by Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo but at least got an assist against the Canucks to register his only point of the season. Gagner gets points for the best line about his slow start. "I'm only two goals behind Ovechkin," Gagner told Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.

Sophomore standouts

Brandon Dubinsky, New York Rangers: The 22-year-old forward is perhaps the biggest reason the Rangers have emerged as an elite team in the Eastern Conference. His 12 points (four goals, eight assists) are tied with Nikolai Zherdev for the best on the team. Dubinsky plays with a serious edge and trails only Paul Mara for the team lead in penalty minutes.

Peter Mueller, Phoenix Coyotes: After a solid 22-goal rookie season, Mueller, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2006 draft, is on pace for his first 30-goal season with three goals through eight games. Of his three goals, two were game-winners. Mueller is showing an early knack for clutch scoring.

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: There's not another player on this list under more pressure to succeed than Price, but you'd never know it by the way he performs. Price was great in the Canadiens' win over the hot Minnesota Wild and is 5-1 with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. Price, Tim Thomas (1.95) and Henrik Lundqvist are the only NHL starting goalies with a GAA under 2.00.

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