Why these 7 NHL teams are in danger of getting stuck in the mushy middle

The NHL's 'mushy middle' refers to teams that are neither strong Stanley Cup contenders nor poor enough to secure top-5 to top-10 draft picks needed to rebuild through elite prospects. Seven NHL teams are identified as being at risk of getting stuck in this mediocre territory for the medium term, with the Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers highlighted as prime examples. The Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings are cited as recent cases of franchises that have been trapped in this no-man's-land.