We're nearly a month into the NHL season and while there remains a large chunk of hockey to be played, a handful of stars are struggling off the hop.

A number of the game's upper echelon players are struggling to put the puck in the net. Whether it be due to bad luck or bad performance, some players have simply been snake-bitten.

Here are eight players still searching for their first goal of the season:

Brent Burns

Last season, Burns paced the league with 320 shots on goal, setting career-highs with 29 goals and 76 points.

To begin this campaign, however, Burns has been limited to just six assists in 10 games. That being said, he has still thrown 43 shots at the opposition - good enough for a share of 11th in the NHL so far. It should be just a matter of time before he gets into the goal column.

Erik Karlsson

The fact Karlsson has yet to collect his first goal of the season is not a slight, but simply an observation.

The Ottawa Senators captain has played just six games - missing the beginning of the season as he nursed a foot injury - and while he has picked up nine assists, he is still searching for his first goal.

Karlsson's averaging just under three shots per contest and already has three multi-point games. Goal No.1 is coming sooner than later.

Dustin Byfuglien

Byfuglien continues to log insane minutes for the Winnipeg Jets, but doesn't have a goal to show for his time on ice.

The 32-year-old has five assists in seven games, but no goals to his credit. What's more surprising is that Byfuglien has taken just 18 shots so far, an average of 2.57 per game. Last season, he finished 22nd in the league with 241 shots on goal, an average of over three per contest.

The case here seems simple: shoot the puck.

Jason Spezza

Spezza might be the victim of opportunity.

To begin the 2017-18 campaign, the 34-year-old is logging an average of just 13:07 minutes of ice time per game, nearly three minutes fewer than last season. He's also been moved to the wing from his native center, tallying just five assists in 11 games.

He might need to score more goals to earn the ice time, but might need more ice time to score goals. It's a tricky situation.

Henrik Sedin

Henrik has never been known as a goal scorer and the Vancouver Canucks are transitioning into a younger squad, but still, the fact he's gone goalless is a bit surprising.

Sedin has just three assists through 10 games, but what's more shocking is he's logging the eighth-most ice time among the team's forwards - even Derek Dorsett is seeing the ice more.

The Sedins are getting older and their careers are surely winding down, but no one expected their production to drop so drastically.

Sebastian Aho

The Carolina Hurricanes are struggling to find offense to begin the season and subsequently Sebastian Aho is without his first goal.

After tallying 24 in his rookie campaign, Aho could be falling victim to the infamous sophomore slump. That being said, he is still playing on the team's top line and is logging the third most ice time on the club among forwards. He should break the goose egg in time.

Kyle Okposo

Behind a struggling club, you're sure to find struggling players.

Look no further than the Buffalo Sabres and Kyle Okposo. The team has gone 3-7-2 to begin the year and Okposo has just two assists in 10 games to boot. He's averaged just over 23 goals per 82 games over the last three seasons so it's unlikely he goes too long without a goal. Both he and the Sabres could really use some.

Ryan Johansen

Johansen's knack for scoring goals has really dropped off over the last two seasons. He's posted back-to-back 14-goal campaigns, yet, has still topped the 60-point plateau each time.

Despite being goalless, he still centers the Predators' top line and his linemate, Filip Forsberg, has already tallied eight goals through 11 games. Johansen's glaring issue appears to be the fact he has mustered just 16 shots through 11 games.

He mans the top line and the team's top power-play unit, the theme here seems clear: shoot the puck and good things might happen.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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