The early winners around the NHL trade deadline are already starting to line up ahead of the Monday afternoon trade window closure.
The Chicago Blackhawks stand as a big winner after landing former forward Andrew Ladd in a pricey trade with the Winnipeg Jets, where GM Stan Bowman surrendered both a first-round pick, and a solid prospect. That set the tone for all other Western Conference teams hoping to be in the mix for a deep playoff and put forth a challenge for teams such as the Kings, Blues, Ducks and Stars to also make upgrades ahead of the playoffs.
The Florida Panthers were acually in on Ladd initially, but that young, talented and inexperienced group wasn’t ready to fork over a first-round pick at that point on Thursday night.
The San Jose Sharks made a big splash to add Roman Polak and Nick Spaling to their roster still holding strong with a playoff spot in the Pacific Division, but they paid a heavy price shipping a pair of second-round picks that could become a heavy price if San Jose sputters in the playoffs.
Without further ado here are this week’s power rankings:
1. Washington Capitals (44-11-4, rank last week: 1)
The Capitals have 10 more points than anybody else in the NHL, and sit as the odds on favorite to end many, many narratives about both Alex Ovechkin and Barry Trotz.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (38-20-5, LW: 4)
The Blackhawks have actually lost a couple of games in a row, but they filled a big need in trading for Andrew Ladd. The rich get richer thanks to Stan Bowman.
3. Dallas Stars (38-18-6, LW: 2)
The Stars are in the midst of a down period, and have given up a ton of goals lately. It doesn’t bode well for potential playoff showdowns with battle-hardened teams.
4. Florida Panthers (35-18-7, LW: 3)
One more year of Shawn Thornton in Florida is a very good thing for the Panthers, and for No. 22.
5. Los Angeles Kings (35-20-4, LW: 6)
Six goals in the last five games for a Kings offense that’s really slowed down as of late.
6. New York Rangers (35-20-6, LW: 5)
A big 2-1 win over the banged up Blues allows the Blueshirts to stick above them in the rankings.
7. St. Louis Blues (35-19-9, LW: 7)
The Blues are down Alex Pietrangelo and Alex Steen, and continue to get pounded with injuries and little salary cap leeway to deal with them.
8. Anaheim Ducks (32-19-8, LW: 8)
Six wins in a row as the Ducks continue to surge through the Pacific Division. Can they pass the Kings?
9. New York Islanders (33-19-7, LW: 9)
The Isles have won seven of their last nine games, and are elevating their game again after a lull in the middle of the season.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-22-4, LW: 12)
Four wins in a row indicates that the Lightning are finally, truly making their move.
11. San Jose Sharks (32-21-6, LW: 11)
The Sharks traded for Roman Polak. So they have that going for them, which is nice.
12. Boston Bruins (33-22-6, LW: 13)
Wildly inconsistent team, but pretty good wins against Dallas and Pittsburgh in two of their last three games. The defense really, truly needs some work.
13. Nashville Predators (30-21-11, LW: 14)
A very big 3-1 win for the Predators over the Blackhawks earlier this week. Pekka Rinne has elevated his game as of late.
14. Detroit Red Wings (30-20-11, LW: 10)
The Red Wings snapped a four game losing streak against the Blue Jackets, but they need to be much better with so much pressure on the Eastern playoff spots.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-21-8, LW: 15)
The Penguins have survived admirably without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, but it feels like it’s starting to catch up with them.
16. Colorado Avalanche (32-27-4, LW: 17)
The Avalanche can’t keep losing to teams like Buffalo and Vancouver, and hope to be taken seriously.
17. New Jersey Devils (30-25-7, LW: 16)
The Cory Schneider for Hart Trophy is definitely gaining some momentum, and may get real consideration if it looks like the Devils are in for the postseason.
18. Carolina Hurricanes (28-24-10, LW: 21)
Seems like the Eric Staal era is just about over in Carolina, doesn’t it?
19. Philadelphia Flyers (27-22-11, LW: 22)
The Flyers have taken points in four of their last five games, and have started Michael Neuvirth in all five of those contests. I sense a pattern developing there in LA.
20. Minnesota Wild (27-24-10, LW: 19)
I guess that John Torchetti magic has faded a bit with two losses following a quick hot streak on the heels of Mike Yeo getting fired.
21. Ottawa Senators (29-26-6, LW: 24)
Four wins in a row for the Senators. Is it too little, too late?
22. Arizona Coyotes (27-28-6, LW: 18)
Four losses in a row for a Coyotes team that simply ran out of the steam in the dog days of January and February.
23. Montreal Canadiens (29-27-5, LW: 17)
A lot of tension going on with the Canadiens right now. There could be some big, big moves on the horizon. Not a PK Subban move, but a few other ones.
24. Vancouver Canucks (23-24-12, LW: 22)
It would appear that Jim Benning is going to start tearing things down in Vancouver. He just needs to find a dance partner or two to swing some deals.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets (25-29-8, LW: 30)
The Blue Jackets have become a much more hardnosed team to play against now that their season is in the dumpster.
26. Calgary Flames (26-30-4, LW: 26)
The Dennis Wideman saga is the appropriate ending to a really unsatisfying season for the Flames after last year’s promise.
27. Winnipeg Jets (26-30-4, LW: 27)
The Jets have traded their captain in Andrew Ladd, and got their bounty of a first round pick and a prospect.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (21-28-10, LW: 28)
Shawn Matthias, Roman Polak and Nick Spaling are in a better place right now.
29. Edmonton Oilers (22-33-6, LW: 29)
The Oscar Klefbom injury has really destroyed the Oil’s chances of competing this season, and underscored their need for much greater defensive depth.
30. Buffalo Sabres (24-30-7, LW: 25)
Three wins in their last 10 games. That’s the Buffalo Sabres team I know so well.