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It’s been a long road back to form for Jonathan Huberdeau, but the veteran forward is finally starting to look like the offensive catalyst the Calgary Flames hoped for when they signed him to an eight-year, $84 million contract.

On a team struggling to find consistent scoring, Huberdeau has quietly become a steady source of production. The 32-year-old enters Friday’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks riding a six-game point streak, with three goals and seven points over that stretch.

What’s stood out most isn’t just the offence — it’s the completeness of his game. Huberdeau’s play away from the puck has improved significantly, showing confidence and composure reminiscent of his peak years in Florida. For the first time since arriving in Calgary, he’s resembling the player who earned that $10.5 million annual cap hit.

His first two seasons in Calgary were rocky, marred by inconsistency and adjustment challenges. The transition from the Sunshine State to Southern Alberta — both on and off the ice — wasn’t seamless. Add in coaching changes and roster turnover, and it’s no surprise his production dipped.

But the signs of resurgence began last year. Huberdeau scored 28 goals and 62 points in 81 games — just two shy of his career-high in goals — hinting that the old confidence was returning.

After missing the first five games of this season, he’s picked up right where he left off. With eight points (4G, 4A) through 10 games, he’s on pace for 31 goals and 62 points if he stays healthy — numbers that would mark his best campaign as a Flame.

Meanwhile, the Flames as a team remain in tough shape. Despite back-to-back wins, they still sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 4-9-2 record. The climb back to relevance will be steep — and Huberdeau’s consistency could be key to any turnaround.

Interestingly, the narrative surrounding his contract may also be shifting. Once viewed as an “unmovable deal,” Huberdeau’s improved form, professionalism, and leadership have drawn positive attention. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman even hinted in his 32 Thoughts column that Huberdeau’s contractual perception could be changing. 

So could his name emerge in trade conversations — not as a burden, but as an asset?

Whether the Flames can right the ship remains to be seen. But one thing’s for certain: Huberdeau is playing like he’s determined to silence the critics — and perhaps, redefine his legacy in Calgary.

A month into the NHL season, the standings are still fairly tight, and there are only a few teams on the extreme ends.

There are only six teams under .500 at the moment, which paints the perfect picture of parity in the NHL. But we’re here to look at the bottom of the NHL standings as we do every month of the NHL season, in what’s become a yearly tradition at The Hockey News. It’s time to look at the NHL Sour Rankings.

Before we jump into the basement-dwelling clubs, with this being the first edition of the Sour Rankings for the 2025-26 NHL season, it’s important to get a quick look at who these teams are hoping to land if they end up sticking around at the bottom of the barrel. 

The top prospect in this year’s NHL draft is Gavin McKenna, a superstar forward who has dominated the WHL the last couple of seasons, and now he’s putting up impressive numbers at the NCAA level with Penn State. His dynamic skill and creativity have teams excited for the possibility of adding the winger. 

Beyond McKenna, there are plenty of options for who could be a top prospect this year. It’s widely considered a strong draft with more depth at the top than recent years. Tynan Lawrence is the top center for most people, blending skill and speed with some really interesting power elements as well. 

Keaton Verheoff is the top blueliner on most boards, playing a steady, poised game at both ends of the ice with some sneaky good puck handling and the ability to escape pressure in his own zone. Add in the high-octane Mathis Preston and the relentless Ivar Stenberg out of Sweden, and you have a stout top end of the draft. 

We will have a full NHL draft ranking next month ahead of the World Junior Championship at The Hockey News, but for now, let’s look at the teams vying for top-end draft picks and whether they will be sticking around the basement or not.

Calgary Flames, 4-9-2, 10 Points (.333 Points Percentage)

Last season, the Flames overachieved and pushed for the playoffs right until the final days of the season, after many had predicted they would finish near or at the bottom. This season, they have not only fallen back to earth, but they’ve come crashing down. 

This team rode timely scoring and excellent goaltending from rookie Dustin Wolf last year. While Wolf has been good at times, he’s not quite as sharp as he was last year. Even when he does look to be in peak form, the Flames don’t have the scoring prowess to stay in games. 

It wouldn’t be shocking to see them kick off the trade market sooner rather than later because they seem to be embracing the young players on the roster. They have a few interesting trade chips in Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson.

Committing to the rebuild and staying around the bottom of the standings would be much easier if they made those trades. 

St. Louis Blues, 5-8-2, 12 PTS (.400 P%)

The Blues have allowed more goals than any team in the NHL, and their minus-18 goal differential is the worst as well.

The Blues have been struggling in almost every facet of the game at this point. Pius Suter leads the team in scoring with nine points, while core players like Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich are struggling to find consistent offense. 

In goal, Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are having rough starts after looking like a very solid tandem last year. With .859 and .864 save percentages, respectively, they are virtually unplayable, but with no other options, they are both thrown back into the net.

The Blues are better than this on paper, but the question is, how much better are they really?

Minnesota Wild, 5-7-3, 13 PTS (.433 P%)

Step 1: sign your star player to the most expensive contract in the NHL by a wide margin. 

Step 2: start out in a painfully mediocre way. 

Step 3: profit?

I don’t really know what to make of the Wild. They have excellent, top-of-the-lineup players, some solid young skaters and even a nice goalie tandem.

They can’t seem to find their way and put it together early in the year, though.

Kirill Kaprizov has been fantastic after signing his new eight-year, $136-million contract extension, with 19 points in 15 games. Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi look excellent, with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Rookie Zeev Buium has been quite fun to watch, with nine points in 15 games. The rest of the roster is a bit “meh.”

They can turn it around, but they are likely fighting for a wild-card spot, not a division seed for the playoffs.

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Nashville Predators, 5-7-4, 14 PTS (.438 P%)

Smashville needs to smash this team apart and commit to the rebuild.

This is the second straight season with this roster, featuring big-name talent, not living up to its name value. The massive free agency of two summers ago has produced mediocre results, and those players – Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei – are only getting older, slower, and less effective. 

There may not be a team in the league that needs to commit to moving some of their veterans more than Nashville. Finding new homes for guys while they still have that name value will be important because the Preds are running out of time to turn this thing around, and it’s looked awful in the process. Start a new chapter. 

San Jose Sharks, 5-6-3, 13 PTS (.464 P%)

Much like last season, the Sharks aren’t great, but the vibes are immaculate thanks to Macklin Celebrini and the young guys littered throughout the lineup.

Celebrini leads the NHL in scoring, tied at 21 points with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. The Sharks' next two leading scorers are Will Smith and William Eklund, two of their young core pieces. 

While there has been some frustration at times from fans with wanting to see Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson in more prominent roles, both rookies are coming into their own, and they look like they’ll be around for the long haul.

The Sharks likely won’t be climbing out of the basement anytime soon, but this team has a bright future ahead of it. You could even say, the future is teal.

Vancouver Canucks, 7-8-0, 14 PTS (.467 P%)

This team loves to be weird.

Quinn Hughes hasn’t quite looked like himself to start the year. Elias Pettersson hasn’t been deployed at even strength as much as he probably should be. Conor Garland leads the team in scoring. They are hovering right around the .500 mark, but they can’t seem to get on a real run to get out of the basement. The return of Thatcher Demko has been nice, and he’s looked solid. Kevin Lankinen has been fine as the backup. 

So what is really going on? They have one of the worst goal differentials in the league, and they don’t have an identity at the moment. This team looks fine in every area, but they don’t really excel in anything. The Canucks have some really good players, and the health of guys like Filip Chytil will go a long way, but this team looks to be lost in the abyss at the moment.

New York Rangers, 6-6-2, 14 PTS (.500 P%)

Speaking of lost in the abyss, the New York Rangers look like a mess.

They have been quite good away from Madison Square Garden, going 6-1-1 as the visiting team. When they are at home, they haven’t won a single game, and aside from the 6-5 overtime loss to the Sharks, they have only scored one goal. In total, they’ve been outscored 18-6 on home ice. That’s wildly unacceptable, especially when that includes being shut out four times. 

Adam Fox is having a bounce-back season and leads the team in scoring with 11 points, but he’s also the only player who has more than eight points.

The goalies have been fantastic, with Igor Shesterkin (.915 save percentage) and Jonathan Quick (.941) giving the Rangers a chance on just about every night.

The lack of scoring at home is sure to rebound, but the incredible road play is likely to regress as well. That likely means that this might just be a .500 team.

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Buffalo Sabres, 5-5-4, 14 PTS (.500 P%)

When will it end?

The pain Buffalo Sabres fans have had to endure has been relentless. They have had high draft picks and elite players. They’ve drafted players who have gone on to win Stanley Cups.

None of those players had their success in Buffalo, though, and the Sabres can’t seem to get out of their own way, trading players right as they start to break out.

With players in their prime, such as Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, as well as young guys like Zach Benson and Owen Power, this team should be poised to break out. Instead, they are just fighting to stay out of the basement.

Los Angeles Kings, 6-5-4, 16 PTS (.533 P%)

The Los Angeles Kings were busy this off-season, and many felt that some of the signings they made made their team worse.

Early season results are backing that up, but this team is better than they’ve shown so far. They should be fighting for a playoff spot because they have some really high-end players. Unfortunately, slow starts by most of their top players have held them back offensively, and they don’t have the same defensive prowess that they’ve found success with in the last few years.

If Quinton Byfield and Anze Kopitar can get going a bit, they should be just fine.

Edmonton Oilers, 6-5-4, 16 PTS (.533 P%)

The Oilers' appearance in the NHL Sour Rankings isn’t something to worry about.

They are a Stanley Cup contender as long as they have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way. They’ve had bad Octobers the last couple of years and made it all the way to the Cup final in each of them. They won’t be here for long, and quite frankly, they could still very well win the Pacific Division.

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this edition of Shinny or Nothing looks at the story of Wayne Gretzky's upbringing on the outdoor rink.

It wasn't just any upbringing, it was Walter Gretzky realizing his son just wouldn't leave the nearby neighborhood outdoor rink and deciding he was done sitting in the freezing car.

And so, Wally's Coliseum was created the following winter for the future Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.

Angus Crookshank's alarm went off around 7:30 this morning. 

Stepping outside, he was met by brisk 40-degree temperatures as he jumped into his vehicle and began the 15-minute drive to Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium for his team's morning skate. 

Naturally, he was early. Inside the rink, he grabbed some breakfast and chatted with his teammates before his scheduled meetings and skate. 

Once he has fulfilled all his game day requirements at the rink, Crookshank will head back home, where he will take an hour-long pregame nap and cook his pregame meal, which consists of some variation of pasta with sauce, meat, and vegetables. 

He will walk back through the doors of Adirondack Bank Center around 3:30 with one goal in mind: earning a victory over his former team, the Belleville Senators. 

"I am excited," Crookshank said of Friday's game. "I have been with the Ottawa Senators organization for the last three years of my career, so it is kind of a weird feeling."

Over two seasons, the 2018 fifth -round draft pick played 21 NHL games with Ottawa and 202 with Belleville. 

"I am incredibly grateful for all the people that I have met and been mentored by in Belleville and Ottawa as well," he continued. "It kind of laid the groundwork for me to become a good pro and create an identity for myself within professional hockey, and knowing what that is." 

Crooker made his TV debut! Check it out 📺https://t.co/WvNiIP6eBb

— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) October 9, 2025

Crookshank signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils on the opening day of free agency. The contract breakdown is a two-way contract in the first year, worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 ($475,000 guaranteed) at the American Hockey League (AHL) level; the second year of the deal is a one-way contract worth $775,000.

Since arriving in New Jersey for training camp, the 26-year-old has been busy getting acquainted with his new teammates, coaches, and staff, as well as the on-ice systems. 

"(It) was a lot, but in a good way," he said. "It is exciting, and you learn that each organization is different. New staff, new management, new players, coaches, all that sort of stuff. Everybody was pretty good about giving me a little longer leash to get to know names. (The group) has been incredibly welcoming and has allowed me to be me here. I can't thank them enough for all that." 

While adjusting to his new team, Comets' head coach Ryan Parent had a surprise for Crookshank that revealed itself after an early October practice. 

The 38-year-old head coach called Crookshank over to him, along with forward Ryan Schmelzer, who has served as the team's captain for the past four seasons, and defenseman Colton White, who served as an alternate captain in 2024-25. Parent explained that the trio would complete Utica's leadership group and sent them off for a lap around the ice to the sounds of stick taps from their teammates. 

"I wasn't expecting it, to be honest with you," Crookshank shared of being named an alternate captain. "I didn't have a letter on my chest when I was in Belleville. I mean, a lot of guys in Utica have been here for three, four years, so there are guys who have been around and know the system and the community here. To receive that, I think it was a really nice honor."

It is an interesting situation for the North Vancouver native, who is continuing to integrate himself into the locker room while simultaneously establishing himself as a leader.

"I am still trying to find my way, but I think compared from game one to now, I am a lot more comfortable," he said. "I feel like I know guys a lot better, and they know me. It is like when you have a new coworker. Nobody really knows you, and it is kind of a feeling-out process."

That feeling-out process is slowly coming to an end, but those early days couldn't have been all that bad, as Crookshank has already received praise from his fellow alternate captain. 

"He has done a great job leading by example," White said. "Every day, he is always the first one on the ice and helping guys out. He is very competitive and helps drive others to be better. 

"Vocally, he is slowly coming around in terms of vocalizing some things, which has helped, and he is only going to get more comfortable over time with the group. With him and Schmelzer leading the way (up front), it is great, and it's only going to get better for him." 

With 64 games remaining on the Comets' schedule, there is a long runway for Crookshank to improve as both a leader and a player. He currently leads the team with three goals and has been a permanent fixture in the top six, playing both center and wing. 

"I was asked which position I prefer, and I told (Ryan Parent), wherever you need me to play, I will play there. Whatever is going to help the team the best, to be honest," Crookshank said. "I don't have a preference. I think there are pros and cons to both." 

He hopes to add on to his goal total Friday night at Adirondack Bank Center as he faces his former team. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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The early-season struggles of Steven Stamkos raised speculation about his future with the Nashville Predators.

Earlier this week, we noted that some observers suggested trade speculation could start swirling if Stamkos' production failed to improve. The 35-year-old right winger has just three points in 16 games while earning an average annual value of $8 million through 2027-28.

A report out of Vancouver claimed the Canucks had looked into Stamkos' availability. It's unlikely they'll be able to land him since he has a full no-movement clause.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports the Predators have had no trade discussions with other clubs about Stamkos, nor have they approached him about the possibility of a trade. However, LeBrun doesn't rule it out if the Predators remain out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman felt that it could happen sooner than that. Appearing on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast on Wednesday, he speculated that things could reach a point where the Stamkos camp meets with Predators management to discuss their options.

Friedman was asked if the Predators would retain part of Stamkos' average annual value to facilitate a trade. He thinks they would, provided they get an offer that makes sense.

Given the decline in Stamkos' production over the past two seasons, the Predators could end up eating half of his cap hit to move him.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Could Steven Stamkos Or Evgeni Malkin Become Trade Candidates?Steven Stamkos' slow start with the Nashville Predators has started some trade speculation, while conjecture over Evgeni Malkin's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins persists.

Turning to the Boston Bruins, Pavel Zacha remains the subject of frequent media trade chatter. The 28-year-old center is signed through next season with an affordable average annual value of $4.75 million.

Zacha has been linked to several clubs in need of an experienced second-line center. One of them is the Montreal Canadiens.

According to Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes “adores” Zacha. Hughes was Zacha's agent before moving on to his current position with the Habs.

Cloutier claimed the Canadiens are not on Zacha's eight-team no-trade list. He indicated the club discussed possible trade options during the summer, with the Bruins forward being among them.

Despite the speculation, there is nothing to suggest that the Bruins intend to part with Zacha. Their current five-game win streak has vaulted them near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. They won't be going into sell mode anytime soon.

Meanwhile, James Murphy of RG.Org reports teams are showing an interest in Brandt Clarke, but the Los Angeles Kings aren't interested in moving the 22-year-old right-shot defenseman.

Clarke is a promising young blueliner who netted 33 points in 78 games last season. He's due to become an RFA next summer, but his lack of a contract extension has some clubs wondering about his future with the Kings.

The Kings' management is currently focused on re-signing UFA-eligible winger Adrian Kempe. Once that's sorted out, Murphy believes they'll turn their attention to re-signing Clarke, who lacks arbitration rights as he completes his entry-level contract.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

It’s a question that everyone across the WHL is curious to know the answer to. 

Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke broke camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins and have opened some eyes at the NHL level. While the Calgary Hitmen and Kamloops Blazers would certainly welcome their stars back into the fold with open arms, there’s no guarantee that either will end up back in the WHL.

Kindel was selected 11th overall by the Penguins in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Through the first 12 games of his NHL career, he has registered five goals while averaging 14:03 of ice time per night. Of note, Kindel recorded a career high 22:23 of ice time in Toronto on Nov. 3, along with his first career multi-goal game in a 4-3 Penguins loss to the Maple Leafs.

Anyone who followed the Calgary Hitmen last season knew that Kindel was a special talent. After being selected in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Kindel posted 60 points in his rookie season, followed by a 99-point campaign last year. He also performed in the clutch with 15 points in 11 playoff games for the Hitmen.

Brunicke nearly made the Penguins as an 18-year-old last season. Through the first nine games of his NHL career, Brunicke has one goal while logging 15:43 in ice time per night. According to RadioNL’s Jon Keen, if Brunicke is to play one more game with the Penguins, it would kick in the first season of his entry-level contract. 

Brunicke was selected in the second round, 44th overall, by the Penguins in 2024. He was the first in a string of three WHLers to be taken in that range (Minnesota selected Ryder Ritchie 45th, while the Penguins would take Tanner Howe at 46). Throughout his WHL career, Brunicke has been a reliable blueliner for the Blazers, including playing 59 games as a 16-year-old the year that Kamloops hosted the Memorial Cup. 

Prediction: Since he's been in and out of the lineup for the Penguins, Harrison Brunicke is the more likely of the two to end up back in the WHL. From what he has shown so far and his recent uptick in ice time against Toronto, Kindel has impressed in Pittsburgh. He could stick with the NHL club for the full season, similar to what Zach Benson did a couple of years ago with the Buffalo Sabres, coming straight out of the WHL. The first year of his entry-level contract has been used up due to the number of games he has played. Both players should be considered for Team Canada's World Juniors, depending on whether the Penguins grant them permission to participate. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.     

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.