The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, with several teams making moves to bolster their rosters for the playoff push. One of the most notable trades was the New Jersey Devils sending Tyler Toffoli to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick. The Devils, who are currently in third place in the Metropolitan Division, are looking to make a deep playoff run and Toffoli’s experience and scoring ability could be a valuable addition to their lineup.
Another trade that caught the attention of NHL fans was the Calgary Flames acquiring defenseman Riley Okhotiuk from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick. The Flames, who are in second place in the Pacific Division, are looking to solidify their defense and Okhotiuk’s physicality and defensive prowess could be a key factor in their success.
Coaching Changes and Playoff Races
In other news, the New York Islanders have named Lane Lambert as their new head coach. Lambert, who has been with the Islanders organization for over a decade, has been a successful coach at the minor league level and is highly regarded within the organization. The Islanders, who are currently in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, are hoping that Lambert can lead them to a playoff berth and beyond.
The NHL playoff races are heating up, with several teams vying for a spot in the postseason. The Boston Bruins, who are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division, could have clinched a playoff berth if they had defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the Lightning won in regulation. The Dallas Stars, who are in first place in the Western Conference, are looking to secure their spot at the top of the standings. The Florida Panthers, who are tied with the Boston Bruins for the most points in the Eastern Conference, dropped from the top spot in the B/R Power Rankings after a poor performance. The Colorado Avalanche, who are in fourth place in the B/R Power Rankings, are a placeholder. The Nashville Predators, who were in 15th place in the last rankings period in February, cracked into the top 10 at No. 9. The Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights are also in wild-card position.
Clinching Playoffs and Battling for Position
The NHL playoff standings show that the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and New York Rangers have clinched playoff berths. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are in first place in their respective divisions. The Nashville Predators are in the top 10 in the Western Conference. The Vancouver Canucks, who are in second place in the B/R Power Rankings, won four straight games. The Edmonton Oilers, who are in second place in the Pacific Division, are battling for the second playoff spot in the Pacific Division. The Winnipeg Jets, who are in eighth place in the B/R Power Rankings, have had four straight losses. The Jets’ goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, has had a few lackluster outings. The St. Louis Blues, who are in eighth place in the Central Division, are a team that could steal one of the Pacific Division playoff spots if their stellar play keeps up. The Los Angeles Kings, who are in third place in the Pacific Division, are battling for the second playoff spot in the Pacific Division. The Anaheim Ducks, who are in last place in the Pacific Division, are eliminated from playoff contention. The Chicago Blackhawks, who are in last place in the Central Division, are also eliminated from playoff contention. The San Jose Sharks, who are in last place in the Pacific Division, are also eliminated from playoff contention.