NHL Sour Rankings: Early Season Overview
The first NHL Sour Rankings of the 2025-26 season highlight the teams struggling the most right now—those likely hoping for a high draft lottery pick. After a month of play, the league standings remain quite close, with only six teams holding records below .500, reflecting a strong competitive balance.
Current Standings and Parity
The NHL continues to showcase parity as the majority of teams hover near the middle of the pack. Nevertheless, this monthly tradition at The Hockey News focuses on the league's basement-dwellers.
Top Prospects for Struggling Teams
Teams stuck at the bottom will be eyeing the upcoming draft, where the premier prospect is Gavin McKenna. A dominant WHL forward the past few seasons, McKenna now impresses at the NCAA level with Penn State. His creativity and dynamic playing style have generated high excitement among NHL clubs.
Alongside McKenna, the 2025 draft is considered deep and strong, offering plenty of top-tier talent. One notable player is Tynan Lawrence, widely regarded as the best center available. He combines skill, speed, and power elements to round out a compelling profile for teams in need of impactful players.
"The 2025 NHL draft is widely considered strong with more depth at the top than recent years."
"Gavin McKenna’s dynamic skill and creativity have teams excited for the possibility of adding the winger."
Overall, while the league remains competitive, the bottom teams have promising prospects to rebuild around if they secure top draft positions.
Author's summary: The NHL exhibits strong parity early this season, but struggling teams are focused on top prospects like Gavin McKenna and Tynan Lawrence to fuel future success.