The holiday season is fast approaching, but there's little to celebrate for certain teams around the NHL.

Here's a look at three of the most disappointing teams so far this season:

Denver malaise

The premature departure of Patrick Roy was seen as a bit of a blessing in disguise for the Colorado Avalanche.

While the club did achieve a measure of success early in the former head coach's tenure, the consensus was Colorado was stuck with a failed system, as evidenced by poor possession numbers over the past few seasons.

It's only been 24 games, but things haven't improved much under Jared Bednar. The Avalanche sit 30th overall with just 19 points (9-14-1) and a 29th-ranked goal differential (minus-21). The underlying numbers don't paint much of an optimistic picture either, as Colorado's 5-on-5 Corsi rating of 47.97 is good for 25th.

Perhaps a bit of bad luck is working against Colorado, as the club's shooting and save percentages rank low as well. Losing captain Gabriel Landeskog to injury doesn't help either.

Still, at this point in the season, it's difficult to envision much of a turnaround, with on-ice personnel changes maybe next in line for general manager Joe Sakic.

Losing sleep in Brooklyn

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the New York Islanders have tumbled down the standings.

Losing both Kyle Okposo (Buffalo) and Frans Nielsen (Detroit) in free agency was certainly a blow, and, to make matters worse, Andrew Ladd - with whom the club invested $38.5 million over seven years - has underperformed, to say the very least.

With an unprecedented lack of support around him, John Tavares' numbers are below his career averages, and questions are being raised in regards to his long-term future with the team as he approaches potential free agency in 2018.

Somehow still behind the bench, Jack Capuano has taken the team from a second-round playoff appearance last spring to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, and the Islanders' 5-on-5 Corsi rating of 45.93 is a testament to the fact things just aren't working.

Texas toast

Expectations have been very high in the Lone Star state after general manager Jim Nill was able to overhaul the roster and form as dynamic a duo up front as they come in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.

Yes, the Dallas Stars have been hit with the injury bug, and a literal virus in the case of Jiri Hudler, who's been limited to four games with the team after signing in the offseason.

The fundamental flaw, however, remains a two-headed goalie system that just isn't working out. The numbers posted by Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi really speak for themselves.

An average possession team (49.08 5-on-5 Corsi), the Stars have allowed a league-high 87 goals, and, unlike years' past, the offense isn't clicking enough to make up for the defensive failures.

The Stars are seven points clear of the last-place Avalanche, but the reigning Central Division champions will be in tough to clinch a playoff spot if this trend continues.

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