NHL Sour Rankings: Early Overview
As the NHL season gets underway, it's time for the first Sour Rankings, highlighting teams struggling the most so far. A month into the 2025-26 season, the standings remain closely contested with only six teams below .500, illustrating the league's strong parity.
Teams at the Bottom and the Draft Lottery
Each year, The Hockey News tracks the league’s lowest-performing teams through the Sour Rankings. While these teams lag in performance, they have a chance at the upcoming draft lottery, offering hope for future improvement.
Top Prospect to Watch: Gavin McKenna
The most coveted player in this year’s draft is Gavin McKenna, a forward who has excelled in the WHL and is now posting impressive stats at Penn State in the NCAA. His creativity and skill have generated excitement among NHL teams.
“His dynamic skill and creativity have teams excited for the possibility of adding the winger.”
Other Leading Prospects
Beyond McKenna, this draft class is seen as deeper and more talented than recent years. One of the top centers is Tynan Lawrence, known for combining speed, skill, and physical power.
“Tynan Lawrence is the top center for most people, blending skill and speed with some really interesting power elements.”
Summary
The tightly packed standings highlight the league’s competitive balance, while teams near the bottom focus on promising talent like McKenna and Lawrence to boost their futures.
Author’s summary: Early NHL standings reveal strong parity, with struggling teams hopeful about adding top prospects like Gavin McKenna in a deep 2025 draft class.