The first month of the 2025-26 NHL season has produced its share of surprises. It has also produced its share of disappointments. Here we take a look at five teams and players who have so far not matched preseason hopes. The Rangers were banking on Mike Sullivan coming in from the Pittsburgh Penguins and helping to stabilize a roster that badly disappointed during the 2024-25 season, missing the playoffs entirely. So far, it is looking like Sullivan simply went from one aging, badly flawed team to another aging, badly flawed team. The Rangers have failed to impress through the first month of the season and look almost exactly as they did a year ago with no consistent scoring depth and a disappointing lack of on-ice results. The Rangers clearly thought they were going to contend this season, but entering play on Friday, they’re in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs finally decided to make a significant change to their core, and they made Mitch Marner the scapegoat by allowing him to lea
