NHL Sour Rankings: Fizzling Flames Lead the McKenna Sweepstakes Early
The first NHL Sour Rankings of the season highlight teams that would rather avoid attention. With the season just a month old, league standings remain tight, and only a few clubs sit at the extremes. At present, just six teams hold records below .500, reflecting the NHL’s balance and parity.
As usual, The Hockey News examines the league’s bottom dwellers in this early edition of the 2025–26 season Sour Rankings. It’s a yearly tradition to look at which clubs might be headed toward lottery territory.
The McKenna Sweepstakes
Before diving into the lowest-ranked teams, it’s worth noting the key prize in this year’s draft lottery race. The leading prospect is Gavin McKenna, a highly skilled forward who has excelled in the WHL and is now shining at Penn State in the NCAA. His creativity and scoring talent have NHL teams eager at the chance to draft him.
“The top prospect in this year’s NHL draft is Gavin McKenna, a superstar forward who has dominated the WHL and is now putting up impressive numbers at the NCAA level with Penn State.”
Beyond McKenna, scouts regard the 2025 draft class as one of the deepest in recent seasons. Tynan Lawrence stands out as the top center choice, combining speed, precision, and power to make him another compelling option for rebuilding teams.
Draft Depth Outlook
Many front offices believe this year’s draft pool has more elite-quality players at the top than in recent years. With that in mind, teams struggling early may already have their strategic eyes on 2025 prospects.
Author’s summary: The 2025–26 NHL Sour Rankings highlight struggling teams and spotlight Gavin McKenna as the most desired prospect in a deep draft class that promises competitive balance across the league.