NHL power rankings: Avalanche’s big deadline swing for Kadri has them back on top

With Hunter Crowther

You can breathe easy again, hockey fans. The Trade Deadline has passed, and while it was very underwhelming, we still saw some big moves and a couple of surprises.

Now, it’s the final stretch. Twenty-two teams are still reasonably within the playoff race, and most of them are fighting for something important, whether it’s home-ice advantage or tickets to the dance. So after buying and selling, where do the 32 teams stand? Let’s find out.

Hunter and I navigate through the season with another year of our co-op power rankings. I have my same old system in which I aggregate six stats (points %, 5-on-5 goal differential, 5-on-5 xGF/60, 5-on-5 xGA/60, power play xGF/60, and shorthanded xGA/60, all coming courtesy of Natural Stat Trick) to come up with a list that eliminates my own biases, along with a rule that no team can be above a team that’s more than five points ahead of them in the standings, regardless of where the aggregate places them. On the other hand, Hunter goes off his own intellect and pure vibes, and together we find a way to combine it and meet in the middle.

1. Colorado Avalanche

Record: 43-10-9, +83
Last Week: 2nd (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 1st

Scott: Well you can’t say the Avs don’t know how to make a splash. I was a fan of the moves they made to strengthen their blueline with Nick Blankenburg and Brett Kulak, and to throw a Nazem Kadri return for the vibes on top of that is just an incredible deadline. Even Nicolas Roy as a fourth-line center is a luxury, even if they gave up too much to get him. You can’t award them the Cup just yet (remember when everyone did that with Dallas last year and Vegas the year before?), but boy do the Avs look good now, especially if Kadri can fix their power play. He didn’t in his first game back on Sunday, though, as the Avs went 0-for-5 against the Wild and allowed a shorthanded goal.

Hunter: There are few players in the league who can immediately change the vibe for a team, and even at this stage of his career, Kadri is one of them. He hasn’t played postseason hockey since winning with Colorado in 2022, but I can’t think of a better addition for the Avs to make, especially in a division like the Central whose entire purpose is to shatter the dreams of two hockey franchises. 

Scott: That is, until he makes a dangerous hit and is suspended for the rest of the playoffs.

Hunter: There’s an old saying in Denver — I know it’s in Toronto but it’s probably in Denver — that says, “Fool me once, shame on … shame on you. Fool me three times, we can’t get fooled again!” 

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 40-17-6, +41
Last Week: 1st (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: 2nd

Scott: I was a bit disappointed the Canes didn’t try to swing for an elite forward with all the cap space they have, but if the market wasn’t there, no sense in overpaying. Bringing in Nic Deslauriers is a bit of a net-negative addition, so unless he’s mostly a veteran presence in the locker room and not actually in the lineup, I’m not a fan of that being Carolina’s only move. Regardless, this is the most wide-open the Eastern Conference has been, especially in the Metropolitan Division, so the Hurricanes need to make the most of it even without any reinforcements.

3. Dallas Stars

Record: 39-14-10, +47
Last Week: 4th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: 3rd

Hunter: The Stars saw their 10-game win streak snapped by the Avalanche in a shootout loss, thanks to Colorado scoring the tying goal with 15 seconds left in regulation. Now seven points back in the division, they’re all but assured to play the Wild in the first round. Dallas kept things light at the deadline, acquiring Tyler Myers for depth on the blueline, then Michael Bunting from the Predators, who has “random double-overtime goal in Game 5” written all over him. The Stars may not have picked up any “big names,” but if it ain’t broke…

Scott: Still, if there was a time to take a big swing, it was this season when they had all the cap space they did from Tyler Seguin’s season-ending LTIR placement. I don’t mind Bunting as a depth-forward addition, but Myers as their solution on defense is underwhelming, especially since Jim Nill continues to acquire slow, bad defensemen every year.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 39-19-4, +51
Last Week: 3rd (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Scott’s Rank: 4th

Hunter: Tampa lost three of four games last week and have dropped five of their past six. Still, their matchup against the Sabres was arguably the game of the year, an 8-7 loss that saw fights, scrums and more than 100 penalty minutes. Those are the types of games that galvanize a team.

Also, let’s talk about the Lightning’s acquisition of Corey Perry. The 40-year-old has two goals and a fight in his first two games since the trade, and while his offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, his performance in last spring’s postseason with Edmonton was impressive (10 goals in 22 games). Some say Tampa “guaranteed” they will lose in the final, but you need players to drag you into the fight, and there aren’t many men with bloodier knuckles than Perry. 

Scott: I know Colorado has all the hype surrounding them after their deadline, but I think Tampa’s “deadline additions” will just be getting healthy. For my money, they’re still the team to beat right now.

5. Minnesota Wild

Record: 37-16-11, +30
Last Week: 5th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Scott’s Rank: 5th

Scott: I was of the opinion that the United States winning the Olympics would be better for the game long-term (political catastrophe aside), and I think an underrated aspect of that statement is that it’s made Bill Guerin believe he is some hockey mastermind. You big-brain leaving off Cole Caufield, Adam Fox and Jason Robertson one time and suddenly you’re throwing a second-round pick at Michael McCarron and telling Minnetonka product Bobby Brink playing for the Wild isn’t a family reunion while also acquiring Nick Foligno to specifically have a family reunion with Marcus (he’s reaching Paul Fenton-lizard territory with his quotes these days). Guerin is getting too big for his britches and he needs to be stopped!

I will at least say that, family restrictions aside, I like the Brink addition for Minnesota.

6. Buffalo Sabres

Record: 39-19-6, +32
Last Week: 8th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Scott’s Rank: 7th

Scott: I’m going to be honest, I wasn’t a fan of the Sabres’ deadline. I like that they tried to swing big for a guy like Colton Parayko or Robert Thomas (although I think Parayko nixing them saved them from a possibly bad trade), because if there was a place to improve, that was it. I otherwise thought their lineup was good as is and they didn’t need to spend to add depth that would disrupt their chemistry, but not only did they add depth, they added bad depth. I like Sam Carrick as a defensive center, but Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn played a surprisingly big role in sinking the Jets defensively this season (sub-45% 5v5 expected goal share when either player is on the ice, 52.17% when neither player was on), they are gonna do some serious damage to Buffalo’s momentum when they play. I don’t mind bringing Schenn as a veteran for when the noise gets crazy come playoff time, but yeah, they should have just left the team as is.

Also, mark your calendars folks: Apr. 6, Sabres vs. Lightning. This may be the NHL’s next exciting rivalry, and we get at least one more matchup of them after the barnburner they played on Sunday. This could even be a potential second-round series too, so we may be spoiled in the next couple months. 

Hunter: We know the Parayko trade leaked before he nixed the move, but I wonder how many others around the league used their veto in potential deals with Buffalo. I know “winning cures all” and some players could be more open to a trade, but the Sabres’ reputation still precedes them. Does their pool of available assets grow with a playoff run this spring and continued success next season?

7. Detroit Red Wings

Record: 36-21-7, -1
Last Week: 7th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 7th
Scott’s Rank: 6th

Hunter: Last week, I scoffed at reports of the Red Wings being interested in Tyler Myers, arguing that if you’re going to make a move, go after Justin Faulk. Well, that’s exactly what they did. The price was steep, giving up a first- and third-round pick along with a talented prospect in Dmitri Buchelnikov, but for this year and next, they get a legitimate top-four defender with offensive upside. 

Scott: Good job Stevie, you broke the cycle of generational (management) trauma and got an actually decent defenseman.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 32-17-14, +25
Last Week: 6th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 9th
Scott’s Rank: 8th

Scott: After making a ton of trades prior to last week, the Penguins were quiet during the deadline, only adding the massive but still young Elmer Soderblom for a third-round pick. Pittsburgh is clearly content with the group they have going into the playoffs, and we obviously think it’s a good one here at Daily Faceoff. The key now is going to be weathering the storm with both Sidney Crosby (injury) and Evgeni Malkin (suspension) out of the lineup. The Pens got three of four points over the weekend without both, so it’s gone well thus far.

9. Montreal Canadiens

Record: 34-18-10, +13
Last Week: 9th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 8th
Scott’s Rank: 11th

Hunter: I’m torn on the Canadiens, who lost twice in California and allowed 15 goals in three games. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes know they’re not good enough to be serious contenders, but most players saw last spring’s playoff berth as a stepping stone for this season.

There’s a balance between staying on track and giving fans and players something to rally around, and that doesn’t mean throwing around first-round picks. There’s a middle ground in acquiring someone who can come in and say, “I’ve been there before, let me show you how it’s done.” Montreal didn’t do that, and it feels like an opportunity missed. 

Scott: I mean, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki were both on the 2020-21 team who went to the Cup Final, as were Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher. Outside of maybe adding a veteran presence in net (Sergei Bobrovsky?), it’s not like it’s a pressing need for them.

Hunter: You don’t think Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov want to go on a run that isn’t an automatic elimination? It’s not a pressing need, but players want to know management believes in them. Also, with just five points separating them and the Blue Jackets, the chance of missing the playoffs and taking a step back is worth making a move.

10. Boston Bruins

Record: 35-22-6, +12
Last Week: 11th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 10th
Scott’s Rank: 10th

Hunter: The Bruins haven’t won or lost more than two games in a row since Jan. 17, but they still hold the second Wildcard spot. Boston mostly stood pat at the deadline, although I’m curious if Lukas Reichel gets a shot in the lineup after they got him from the Canucks. He’s a 2020 first-round pick, his AHL numbers suggest something’s there, and the Bruins have a German head coach in Marco Sturm who might be better equipped than most to unlock the German-born Reichel.

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Record: 32-21-9, +2
Last Week: 16th (+5)
Hunter’s Rank: 12th
Scott’s Rank: 9th

Hunter: I’ll be honest: I’m rooting for the Blue Jackets. They’re 13-2-2 since replacing Dean Evason with Rick Bowness, and Adam Fantilli has found his game, scoring five goals in the six games since the Olympic break. I don’t know about the Conor Garland trade, but perhaps getting out of Vancouver could be what fixes him. Columbus is just three points back of a Wildcard spot — I say they do it.

Scott: While I think Columbus’ bigger need is on defense, I think Garland is a fantastic addition to the team, at least right now with how strong of a two-way player he is. The contract is concerning, especially with how he’s produced this year, but I’m going to cut him some slack considering he played for the Canucks. For the Blue Jackets to add a good top-six forward without dealing a first-round pick is some tidy work.

12. Vegas Golden Knights

Record: 29-21-14, +4
Last Week: 10th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 11th
Scott’s Rank: 12th

Scott: Many wondered if the Golden Knights had a last-minute stunning trade up their sleeves like the Tomas Hertl trade from two years ago, particularly in net, but they were pretty quiet by adding Nic Dowd and Cole Smith. It’s on this current group to get out of their current funk, which saw them go more than three months without beating a playoff team until their 4-3 overtime win over the Red Wings. THREE MONTHS. Vegas wouldn’t even be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference right now. I’ve seen plenty of people group Vegas in with the other Stanley Cup contenders, and they may be on paper, but I need to see more than this to be convinced.

Hunter: If the Golden Knights draw the Oilers in the first round, the likes of Adin Hill and Akira Schmid will face the wrath of a hellbent Connor McDavid, and there’s no world where that works out for Vegas. Also, isn’t it maddening that none of the Pacific Division teams would be in a playoff spot in the East? What’s going on? 

Scott: You say that like Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram won’t be equally out of their element against Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and company.

Hunter: Nothing about Marner in the spring scares me. 

Scott: True, playoff Marner will make Jarry look like prime Carey Price.

13. Utah Mammoth

Record: 34-25-4, +28
Last Week: 19th (+6)
Hunter’s Rank: 13th
Scott’s Rank: 13th

Scott: As a big MacKenzie Weegar fan (big enough to suggest he should have been considered to play for Canada at the Olympics), I love this addition for the Mammoth. I was already higher than most on this group, and I think inserting a legit top-pair defenseman does wonders to their outlook. If they hang on to the first Wildcard spot and set themselves up with a path through the Pacific Division to start the playoffs, I think they might be a sneaky contender to go on a deep run.

14. New York Islanders

Record: 36-23-5, +5
Last Week: 12th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 15th
Scott’s Rank: 15th

Scott: Did Lou Lamoriello sneak back into the office to make one final trade? I’ve liked what the Islanders have done so far this season to maintain a retool while being competitive, but the trade for Brayden Schenn is a perplexing one. He doesn’t fit the Islanders’ timeline, they didn’t retain any of his salary, they gave up a ton to get him and he’s also just not a good player anymore. This feels like something Lamoriello would have done five years ago, not based on what we’ve seen from Mathieu Darche so far. It’s not back-breaking, but it’s not a step in the right direction either.

Hunter: Doesn’t it feel like every playoff team in the East thinks they have a shot at making a run? I’m not saying they’re right (e.g. the Islanders), but with the Panthers out of it, they’re thinking: “What the hell, go for it.” Does that mean they’re better than the Lightning or Hurricanes? Of course not. But in a two-week series with Ilya Sorokin, anything is possible.

15. Ottawa Senators

Record: 31-22-9, +14
Last Week: 14th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 14th
Scott’s Rank: 16th

Hunter: The Senators played themselves out of a position where Steve Staios could feel comfortable spending assets at the deadline. Even after Ottawa earned five of six points last week, they’re still five back of the Bruins for the final Wildcard spot. It’s hard to believe a team with the third-best 5v5 expected goals percentage could miss the playoffs, but that’s what poor goaltending gets you. 

16. Anaheim Ducks

Record: 35-25-3, -10
Last Week: 18th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 17th
Scott’s Rank: 14th

Hunter: The Ducks sit at the top of the Pacific Division with fewer than 20 games to go, a sentence I couldn’t imagine typing going into the season. Anaheim has won 13 of their last 17 games, an impressive response after a 2-11-2 stretch between Dec. 11 and Jan. 10. Even more impressive is Pat Verbeek getting a top blueliner in John Carlson for a modest return, then trading away Ryan Strome and his $5-million cap hit without retention.

17. Edmonton Oilers

Record: 31-25-8, +9
Last Week: 15th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 16th
Scott’s Rank: 19th

Hunter: The Oilers didn’t make any flashy moves, but Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson give them much-needed depth they lacked through the first three quarters of 2025-26. Neither has seen playoff action since 2020 and both were major reasons for Chicago’s top-ranked penalty kill (how the hell did the Blackhawks have the best PK in the league?).

But in the crease … I get it, Edmonton “used their bullet” with Tristan Jarry, but he’s looked awful, posting a minus-6.1 goals saved above expected in his last 10 games and an .862 save percentage since being acquired. I’m sure the prices for Jordan Binnington and Jesper Wallstedt were astronomical, but you only have so many years with the best player in the world in Connor McDavid. You might as well go for it. 

Scott: I hear there was a guy in Pittsburgh who’s done well this season too… maybe the Oilers should have dealt Jarry and a second for Stuart Skinner?

Hunter: I’d make that deal! 

18. Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 29-22-11, -13
Last Week: 17th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 19th
Scott’s Rank: 18th

Scott: The Flyers didn’t sell aggressively as they could have, but I wouldn’t say they missed out on selling any player whom they couldn’t also sell in the summer. If the market isn’t there, there’s no need to rush a trade right now for the players signed for next season. I was a bit confused by the Brink trade, but for a team lacking a strong option on the blueline for the future, David Jiricek is a decent gamble if they develop him properly.

19. Washington Capitals

Record: 31-26-7, +8
Last Week: 13th (-6)
Hunter’s Rank: 18th
Scott’s Rank: 20th

Scott: Okay, I have a hot take: I actually didn’t hate the Capitals’ Trade Deadline. Don’t get me wrong, David Kampf and Timothy Liljegren aren’t Dowd and Carlson, especially with the hit to the morale of Alex Ovechkin and co. it caused. But they managed to get a first-, a second- and two third-round picks for Carlson and Dowd, and only gave up a fourth and sixth to replace them in the lineup, with Liljegren still providing some upside at 26. It’s a horrible look optics-wise, but these moves are the kind of forward-thinking ones which have given the Capitals a second life and positioned them for success beyond Ovechkin and Carlson.

20. Florida Panthers

Record: 31-29-3, -19 
Last Week: 20th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 22nd
Scott’s Rank: 17th

Hunter: Imagine being Jeff Petry: You sign with the Panthers in the offseason, thinking you will be a depth piece on a Cup contender, and it just so happens to be the year Florida gets hit with injuries and plummets in the standings. Now he’s been shipped to the Wild and will play that same role. And hey, did you know the Panthers have lost nine of their last 12? Now you do!

21. Los Angeles Kings

Record: 25-23-14, -23
Last Week: 21st (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 21st
Scott’s Rank: 21st

Hunter: The Kings traded Perry to the Lightning; acquired Scott Laughton from the Leafs, and one day earlier sent Warren Foegele to the Senators. On the ice, they dropped two of three and have now lost seven of their last nine … yet they’re just three points back of a Wildcard spot. Still, it wasn’t an inspiring Trade Deadline in Anze Kopitar’s final season.

Scott: I wonder if Artemi Panarin regrets not waiting until the end of the season before signing an extension with the Kings.

Hunter: I wonder if Ken Holland would have given him even more term if they waited until July 1. 

22. Seattle Kraken

Record: 29-24-9, -9
Last Week: 23rd (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 20th
Scott’s Rank: 25th

Scott: Say what you will about the Kraken, they know their type. Bobby McMann perfectly fits in with what they have going on with their group. He’s an ideal middle-six forward, one who doesn’t drive the bus but acts as a strong complementary piece to a line with playdriving talent. The problem is every player on Seattle is this type of player! They still don’t have the talent and are likely poised to either make the playoffs and be cannon fodder for the Avalanche or miss the playoffs and, if they’re lucky, just sneak into the top 10 of the draft and not get a talented forward. At this point, it’s impressive how they’ve maintained mediocrity for so long.

Hunter: Not a trade or on-ice observation, but I was happy to see the team sign Jordan Eberle to a two-year extension that will keep him under contract until he’s 38. I’m sure he could have fetched a decent return for the Kraken if he asked to be moved, and even at his age, he would have commanded a healthy AAV in free agency. But he seems happy in Seattle, and it wasn’t long ago that Eberle was toiling away in a rudderless Edmonton lineup. 

Scott: I get where you’re coming from a “good vibes” perspective, but moves like that are part of the problem in Seattle.

Hunter: I think Seattle’s in a position where they need reliable veterans who can steer the ship, and if they overpay Eberle to wear the ‘C’ and be a stable voice, I’m fine with it. Plus, his contract is set up where the Kraken can move him elsewhere. 

Scott: Yeah, it makes more sense with the captaincy, but they aren’t exactly lacking in reliable veterans.

23. New Jersey Devils

Record: 32-30-2, -26
Last Week: 24th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 23rd
Scott’s Rank: 23rd

Scott: The Devils were inactive at the deadline, and to be honest, that may have been the smart play. Their big names on the market were Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec, and it just didn’t make sense to move either player. Sure, Hamilton frees up cap space, but he’s a talented defenseman and New Jersey was going to get pennies on the dollar. Nemec just makes no sense to move considering the talent he’s begun to show this season, unless he’s a piece the Devils move to bring in a high-end player. Keeping both players around is probably the smarter play for the long run.

24. Nashville Predators

Record: 28-27-8, -29
Last Week: 22nd (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 24th
Scott’s Rank: 22nd

Hunter: The Predators have lost 11 of their last 16 games, including three in regulation last week. How are they still three points back of a Wildcard spot? Is the Western Conference that bad? They traded away Bunting, Michael McCarron and Cole Smith for picks, but Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos stayed put. I’m curious to see what Barry Trotz’s replacement decides to do with them. 

25. Winnipeg Jets

Record: 26-26-10, -11
Last Week: 27th (+2)
Hunter’s Rank: 26th
Scott’s Rank: 24th

Hunter: In a lost season for the Jets, they moved Tanner Pearson, Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to the Sabres, acquiring three draft picks and Isak Rosen, who produced in the AHL and could find a full-time NHL job with a Winnipeg squad that’s offensively starved. And hey, they won three games this week! Everything’s coming up Jets!

Scott: I don’t think the Jets trading Stanley and Schenn and then winning both games with them out of the lineup is a coincidence. I pointed out how different the Jets play with and without those two on the ice, and I wonder if we see Winnipeg go on a late run late in the season now that they’ve moved on from those two.

Actually, they’re only five points out of a playoff spot… do we see them sneak into that last spot? Their competition (Los Angeles, Nashville, San Jose, Seattle) aren’t exactly making it hard for them. I’m not saying it will happen, but it’s something to keep your eye on.

Hunter: Don’t. Don’t give me hope. 

26. San Jose Sharks

Record: 30-25-6, -23
Last Week: 26th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 25th
Scott’s Rank: 26th

Scott: Oh boy, that Kiefer Sherwood contract. Why does every fun up-and-coming team make this kind of move? I still remember when the Leafs did this (to a much lesser extent) with Matt Martin, but the Sherwood contract will be back-breaking once the Sharks have to start paying their stars. They have the cap space for it now and the next couple seasons, but will they in 2029 or 2030? I doubt it. Sherwood is the type of player who is valuable when you sign him to a $1.5 million contract in free agency, not when you trade multiple second-round picks and sign him to almost $6 million. 

27. Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 27-26-11, -24
Last Week: 25th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 27th
Scott’s Rank: 27th

Scott: Off the ice, the Leafs did… alright… for the first time in a while. They surprised a lot of people when they managed to get a first-round pick for Roy without retaining on his $3 million cap hit, and while the returns for McMann and Laughton (go Kings go) weren’t as rich, they at least got something for the two free agents they had to move, and can explore players like Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the summer.

On the ice, it’s a trainwreck. While they haven’t played at the same low level as their first week out of the Olympic break, the Leafs are now in a seven-game losing streak and plummeting down the standings. I joked with a friend about the Leafs having another stretch of play like they did in 2011-12 or 2013-14 to really bottom out, but they just might at this rate. They’re the ninth-worst team in the league, and it’s not out of the question they sink lower. Of course, the most-realistic spot they end up in if they were to fall off more is… sixth. Enjoy the pick, Boston!

Hunter: Forget the trades, which at this point seem menial compared to the big picture: They’re so bad. They’re so, so, so bad. There was a clip from last week of Craig Berube yelling at the players during a TV timeout, and each of them had the same thousand-yard stare Mark Wahlberg had in Boogie Nights when he realizes his life is falling apart. It’s a trainwreck fans will talk about years down the road, or use as a comparison when other teams completely crash out. But hey, at least they got a first-round pick for Roy. Atta boy, Tree! 

28. St. Louis Blues

Record: 25-29-9, -46
Last Week: 31st (+3)
Hunter’s Rank: 29th
Scott’s Rank: 29th

Scott: You certainly can’t complain about the work the Blues did at the deadline. While they didn’t commit to a fire sale like many thought they would, they moved on from their biggest veteran pieces who clearly didn’t have futures with this group in Faulk and Schenn and in return for two firsts, two thirds and two solid prospects in return, and Jonathan Drouin isn’t a bad roster player to have around either, especially as a reclamation project. He’s already got his first goal as a Blue!

29. Calgary Flames

Record: 25-30-7, -34
Last Week: 29th (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 28th
Scott’s Rank: 30th

Hunter: Craig Conroy did well at the deadline, sending Weegar to the Mammoth and Kadri to the Avalanche for a total return that included a first-round pick and four second-round picks. Combined with the Rasmus Anderson deal from last January, Calgary has six first-round picks, eight second rounders and four third-round picks between 2026 and 2028.

30. New York Rangers

Record: 24-30-8, -29
Last Week: 28th (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 30th
Scott’s Rank: 28th

Hunter: The Rangers shipped Sam Carrick to the Sabres for draft picks, but … wasn’t it a foregone conclusion Vincent Trocheck was on his way out? He’s on the wrong side of 30 and his value has never been higher after winning Olympic gold. Trocheck has three years remaining on a contract that pays him more than $5.6 million annually, so why not take the best available deal and move on?

Scott: I’ve said this before already in the rankings, but it seems like the market for the high-end players wasn’t there. Why take Trocheck for less than you think he’s worth when he still has term on his contract and can be dealt in the summer or next season at the price you want for him?

Hunter: Because I don’t think that return will be there next season, and I feel like we’re entering a dark era of the Blueshirts that will torpedo all their statlines. But then again, this is the NHL: someone (almost) always overpays.

Scott: There will certainly be someone in the summer still willing to pay a premium to bring on a player like Trocheck.

31. Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 23-29-11, -36
Last Week: 30th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 31st
Scott’s Rank: 31st

Hunter: On the ice, the Blackhawks lost three games. Off the ice, the reality of another lost season set in, as Kyle Davidson traded Murphy, Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Oilers in separate deals, as well as captain Nick Foligno to the Wild. Chicago got a first- and second-round pick out of it, but we’re six years into the rebuild with nothing to show for it. This summer, ownership will need to review if Davidson is the right person for the job. 

32. Vancouver Canucks

Record: 19-36-8, -71
Last Week: 32nd (0)
Hunter’s Rank: 32nd
Scott’s Rank: 32nd

Scott: It wasn’t quite the fire sale Canucks fans hoped for, but Vancouver jumped on a couple opportunities to move Garland and Myers for the right price and have two seconds, a third and a fourth to show for it. It’s too bad they couldn’t get anything for their pending UFAs (or UFA, let’s be real, nobody wanted Evander Kane), but beyond that, there was no need to sell any of the big names if the Canucks weren’t going to get the right prices for them.

Now the real mission begins – keep up the tank job. It’s hard to see Vancouver blowing the 10-point (dis)advantage they have over the Rangers, but the Canucks can’t let up at any point if they want the best chance at the first pick!

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Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about – it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.

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Recent Power Rankings

• NHL power rankings: Hurricanes join three-team race for top spot
• NHL power rankings: Avalanche have finally been dethroned… who takes top spot?
• Olympic men’s hockey power rankings: Canada remains on top after preliminary rounds
• Olympic men’s hockey power rankings: USA’s roster mismanagement leaves Canada favorites entering tournament
• NHL power rankings: Do the Panthers have enough juice to make the playoffs?