Ranking the 5 worst NHL front offices

Which teams are being run poorly? These NHL teams are being run poorly, and their direction is making their fans question whether they have a good plan or if they’re making the team worse.

Notable teams that have made some interesting moves are the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and Edmonton Oilers.

MORE: Top 5 NHL players to start a franchise with, & Connor McDavid isn’t ranked first

#5 Seattle KrakenApr 9, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (29) skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The Seattle Kraken have been in the NHL for five seasons. Unfortunately, they haven’t gotten the success that the other expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, had. Vegas has been to a few Stanley Cups, and Seattle hasn’t gotten as much success. 79 points last year, and they don’t have a superstar to build off of.

They have serviceable players, but no player you look at and say is our franchise guy. Matty Beniers needs to do more as a player. The team doesn’t have enough to contend.

#4 Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are currently facing significant challenges and are in the midst of a lengthy rebuild. They have made several trades that have impacted their core roster, indicating a commitment to restructuring the team. While they are focused on rebuilding, the new players they have acquired may not yet meet the expectations of their fans.

Last season, the Canucks scored 210 goals, averaging just 2.56 goals per game, with Elias Petterson leading the team with only 51 points. This performance is insufficient, and their current strategy will need to improve if they aim to become competitive in the near future.

MORE: NHL teams least likely to win the Stanley Cup in the next 10 years

#3 Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates with the puck at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Steve Yzerman plan has faced significant challenges. Acquiring talent and replacing it with other players has not yielded the desired results. Dylan Larkin’s future with the organization is uncertain, and while there have been few offers for him, the Red Wings are exploring options. Patrick Kane has moved on, and although John Gibson is a solid goaltender, the overall strategy has not panned out as hoped.

The 2022 free agency period was disappointing for the Red Wings, highlighted by the signing of Andrew Copp to a substantial $28 million contract over four years and Ben Chiarot for $19 million over the same duration. Yzerman’s tendency to sign players past their prime, such as Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, has raised concerns about the team’s direction.

#2 Los Angeles Kings 

The Kings are an interesting team because they run into the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs far too often. They haven’t been able to keep a head coach, but they’ve turned their attention to former New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.

Laviolette reunites with Artemi Panarin, who put up solid numbers when they were together. Signing Cody Ceci and Brian Dumolin to long-term deals was not a good strategy. 

#1 Edmonton OilersSep 24, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) and forward Leon Draisaitl (29) discuss a play during a break in play against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

The Oilers are poorly run because they don’t do enough to support Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. These are two of the best players in the world, and they can never find a goalie who can get them over the hump or depth on their bottom six. They need to find a way to get players who gel together and have four solid lines of offense and defense.

They made a solid trade moving off of Darnell Nurse but then signed Trent Fredric to a big deal for someone who won’t be a big point producer. The biggest question is the goalie in the blue paint. Can they get a solid season from Fredrick Anderson? That will be their biggest question for the Oilers.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —