The 13th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings was put together by editors Ian McLaren, Cory Wilkins, and Craig Hagerman.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (51-20-4)
Previously 1st
This squad has been cruising all season, and tops the NHL in goal differential (+59). Expectations are high, and one gets the sense they'll strike hottest once the postseason rolls around. - McLaren
2. Winnipeg Jets (46-19-10)
Previously 4th
The Jets aren't resting on their laurels as the season winds down, as evidenced by a recent fight during practice and a current five-game win streak. Patrik Laine staying in the lineup after a foot injury scare sent history's biggest sigh of relief into the atmosphere. - McLaren
3. Boston Bruins (47-17-10)
Previously 3rd
Boston keeps rolling despite a host of injuries, and there's still a very real chance the Bruins can leapfrog the Lightning atop the Eastern Conference standings. For now, the priority is getting healthy, and getting Patrice Bergeron back is a huge first step. - McLaren
4. Nashville Predators (48-16-11)
Previously 2nd
Nashville already boasts a deep and talented roster, and the Predators appear set to add top prospect Eeli Tolvanen for the stretch run. A shootout loss to Winnipeg on Sunday, however, was their third straight game without a win. - McLaren
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (45-23-7)
Previously 6th
Toronto's in the midst of one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history, and will be rewarded with a playoff path that involves matchups with Tampa Bay and Boston (likely without home-ice advantage). Chances are these young guns are up to the task. - McLaren
6. Vegas Golden Knights (47-21-7)
Previously 5th
Vegas reached 100 points and is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. There's not much more to be said about the Golden Knights' inaugural season, but the history books will be even more kind to them if it translates into a playoff run. - McLaren
7. San Jose Sharks (43-23-9) ▲
Previously 13th
San Jose is the hottest team in the league, and the acquisition of Evander Kane is paying off. Joe Thornton doesn't seem close to returning, though, and Logan Couture appears to have suffered an injury Saturday. Without those two, the Sharks have far less bite, but for now, they're swimming pretty. - McLaren
8. Washington Capitals (44-24-7) ▲
Previously 9th
Alex Ovechkin is scoring, Nicklas Backstrom is dishing, and the Capitals are back atop the Metropolitan Division. A refreshed and healthy Braden Holtby is needed for them to go any further in the playoffs this year. - McLaren
9. Minnesota Wild (42-24-9) ▼
Previously 8th
Coming off a big win over Nashville, the Wild are flying under the radar out West, while Eric Staal is playing some of the best hockey of his career. - McLaren
10. Pittsburgh Penguins (43-27-6) ▼
Previously 7th
This team can never be counted out, and will only get stronger as the quest for Lord Stanley's mug approaches. - McLaren
11. Colorado Avalanche (41-26-8) ▲
Previously 18th
Three more wins will see the Avs double last year's abysmal 48-point finish, with center Nathan MacKinnon producing at a clip that should make him a strong Hart Trophy candidate. To say it's been a turnaround year in Denver would be an understatement. - Wilkins
12. St. Louis Blues (42-28-5) ▲
Previously 20th
For the second consecutive year, St. Louis sold off a key player and pending unrestricted free agent at the trade deadline. This time it was Paul Stastny, but his departure hasn't halted the streaking Blues. - Wilkins
13. Columbus Blue Jackets (42-29-5) ▲
Previously 14th
The 10-game win streak was snapped, but that string of victories is likely enough for the Blue Jackets to hold on to their playoff hopes. Deadline addition Thomas Vanek has been a surprising success since arriving in Columbus. - Wilkins
14. Anaheim Ducks (39-24-13) ▼
Previously 10th
The Ducks didn't play Saturday, but that didn't stop them from sliding to the second wild card, then out of the playoffs, then up to the third spot in the Pacific. Expect more of the same in Anaheim as the Ducks close out their regular season schedule. - Wilkins
15. Philadelphia Flyers (38-25-13) ▼
Previously 11th
The bloom has come off new goaltender Petr Mrazek, who put up a strong showing through his early goings in Philadelphia but now owns just five wins and an ugly .886 save percentage across 13 appearances. - Wilkins
16. New Jersey Devils (39-28-8)
Previously 16th
With star netminder Cory Schneider struggling, other Devils have stepped up, including Nico Hischier, who put up four goals in his last six outings. That stretch included New Jersey's third win over the Lightning. - Wilkins
17. Los Angeles Kings (41-28-7) ▲
Previously 19th
For a team in the thick of the playoff race, the Kings certainly aren't making things easy on themselves, as they've picked up just three wins in their past seven contests. Los Angeles will need to up its game over its final six outings. - Wilkins
18. Florida Panthers (38-28-7) ▼
Previously 15th
The Panthers still hold games in hand in the Eastern Conference's wild-card race, but they haven't done themselves any favors. Losses to basement clubs like Buffalo, Edmonton, and Ottawa (twice) could come back to bite them. - Wilkins
19. Dallas Stars (38-30-8) ▼
Previously 12th
The Stars' "road trip from hell" is over, and apparently just in the nick of time. After dropping six straight away from home, it's now all about picking up points, but that may be difficult for Dallas with starter Ben Bishop back on the shelf. - Wilkins
20. Calgary Flames (35-31-10) ▼
Previously 17th
Imagine trading a lottery pick (and more) for Travis Hamonic and then missing the playoffs. That's the reality the Flames face as they sit nine points back of a postseason berth. - Wilkins
21. Carolina Hurricanes (33-31-11)
Previously 21st
The chase is all but over in Carolina, with the Hurricanes sitting nine points out of the playoff picture. The offseason overhaul now begins, with new owner Thomas Dundon concluding his search for a new GM. - Wilkins
22. Edmonton Oilers (34-36-6)
Previously 23rd
The Oilers have been the talk of the league recently. Scratch that. Connor McDavid has been the talk of the league. Elsewhere, Edmonton's mediocre play has continued. - Hagerman
23. New York Rangers (33-34-8)
Previously 24th
The Rangers continue to play .500 hockey down the stretch. They could benefit from losing a couple more games, though. That could very well happen, as the team will dress a less experienced lineup going forward, with star rookies Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil set to get some valuable playing time. - Hagerman
24. Chicago Blackhawks (31-36-9)
Previously 26th
Two. That's the number of teams the Blackhawks have a better record than in the Western Conference after dropping six straight games. GM Stan Bowman will have lots of work to do in the offseason. - Hagerman
25. New York Islanders (31-34-10)
Previously 22nd
A team that sat on the edge of a playoff spot for much of the season has plummeted in recent weeks. Now 14 points out of the final wild-card spot in the East, it will be interesting to see how the John Tavares saga concludes. - Hagerman
26. Detroit Red Wings (27-37-11)
Previously 27th
With one win in their last 10 games, the Red Wings are two points away from sitting second-last in the East. Of course, with eight draft picks in the first four rounds, their late-season slump is likely for the best. - Hagerman
27. Montreal Canadiens (27-37-12)
Previously 25th
Carey Price is back and healthy, but he has allowed 11 goals in the two games since his return. He and Montreal need a reset, and perhaps a legit No. 1 center come next season. - Hagerman
28. Arizona Coyotes (25-39-11)
Previously 29th
The Coyotes have gone 5-5-0 in their last 10, but their hot play of late has taken them out of the best lottery position. They're still in the league basement, but should be careful they don't play themselves out of it in the final weeks. - Hagerman
29. Ottawa Senators (26-37-11)
Previously 28th
The Senators just allowed 18 goals during their three-game homestand. That about sums up their season. It's been bad on the ice and off, and luckily the sweet release of golf season isn't much further. - Hagerman
30. Vancouver Canucks (27-40-9)
Previously 31st
The Canucks have scored just 17 goals in 10 games since rookie phenom Brock Boeser went down with an injury. They're putting up decent efforts nightly, but the results aren't there. To be honest, it's the best-case scenario for a rebuilding club. - Hagerman
31. Buffalo Sabres (23-40-12)
Previously 30th
Much like the Canadiens with Price, the Sabres got their top star in Jack Eichel back from injury but have little to show for it. The 21-year-old has one assist in five games since his return and the team has lost four straight. Makes you wonder if it was worth bringing him back in the first place. - Hagerman
The collective thoughts and prayers of the Ottawa Senators organization, the city of Ottawa and entire hockey community rest with Erik and Melinda Karlsson following the loss of their son.
We ask that you respect the family's wishes for privacy during the grieving process.
Karlsson has been ruled out of Tuesday's game, and there's no word on his status moving forward.
The 12th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings is put together by editors Josh Gold-Smith, Craig Hagerman, and Cory Wilkins.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (48-17-4)
Previously 1st
The Lightning became the first NHL club to reach the 100-point plateau this season with a victory over the Canadiens on Saturday. They've won five straight games and are 5-0-1 since our last edition, leaving little doubt that they remain the league's pace-setters. - Gold-Smith
2. Nashville Predators (44-14-10)
Previously 3rd
The Predators are also 5-0-1 in their last six, and they had a 10-game win streak snapped by the Devils in a shootout Saturday night. They look primed to make another run to the Stanley Cup Final, and while they won't take anyone by surprise this time, this is a deep, versatile club that's well prepared to weather the home stretch and beyond. - Gold-Smith
3. Boston Bruins (43-16-8)
Previously 6th
Boston entered Sunday's game having won six straight games, and even though they lost to the Blackhawks, what they've done without Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy, and now Brad Marchand has been nothing short of remarkable. - Gold-Smith
4. Winnipeg Jets (41-18-9)
Previously 4th
The Jets had four straight wins before Saturday's road loss to the Flyers, a game in which Patrik Laine matched Alex Ovechkin for the league lead with his 40th goal. Laine has been on an absolute tear with nine goals in his last five games, and deadline acquisition Paul Stastny has made an instant impact. - Gold-Smith
5. Vegas Golden Knights (44-19-5)
Previously 2nd
Vegas righted the ship with road victories over the lowly Red Wings and Sabres and still has a comfortable lead atop the Pacific Division. But, the Golden Knights needed a late tying goal and a shootout to beat Buffalo and now have a 5-4-1 record in their last 10. - Gold-Smith
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-22-7)
Previously 5th
Road losses to the Sabres and Capitals were cause for mild concern, but a controversial yet decisive victory over the Penguins on Saturday allayed those concerns for now. The win came at home, where the Leafs have won a franchise-record 10 straight games. - Gold-Smith
7. Pittsburgh Penguins (40-26-4)
Previously 8th
The Penguins had won three in a row before Saturday's loss in Toronto, and Evgeni Malkin continues to put pressure on Nikita Kucherov in the Art Ross Trophy race with 11 points in his last six games. - Gold-Smith
8. Minnesota Wild (39-23-7)
Previously 10th
The Wild have reeled off seven wins in their last 10, and three of those have come in the team's last four. What Eric Staal is doing at age 33 - namely ranking fourth in the NHL with 37 goals coming into Sunday's games - continues to be one of the best stories of the season. - Gold-Smith
9. Washington Capitals (38-23-7)
Previously 9th
Braden Holtby hasn't been himself of late and he's getting some time to "reset," but Philipp Grubauer has been excellent in his stead. The Capitals need Holtby to get right before the playoffs, but the backup netminder's steady play has to be reassuring for Barry Trotz's club. - Gold-Smith
10. Anaheim Ducks (34-23-12)
Previously 11th
Ryan Getzlaf has been on fire with 12 points in his last five games. The captain's surge bodes well for the Ducks, who remain a deeper team than the Sharks, their Pacific Division rivals who sit just a single point ahead of them for second place with a game in hand. - Gold-Smith
11. Philadelphia Flyers (35-23-11)
Previously 7th
You've heard this one before: Poor goaltending is hurting the Flyers, as the team has allowed 23 goals and has come up with just one win in its last six outings. New netminder Petr Mrazek has allowed four or more in five of his last six. - Wilkins
12. Dallas Stars (38-25-6)
Previously 12th
Despite goaltender Ben Bishop being on the shelf, the Stars have hung with it in his absence, posting an even 1-1-1 record. Tyler Seguin has also impressed, with 10 points in his last six appearances. - Wilkins
13. San Jose Sharks (36-23-9)
Previously 15th
As has been the case this year in San Jose, the Sharks owe a lot of their success to goaltending. While the team fails to manufacture much offense, Martin Jones is shutting it down between the pipes, having allowed just eight goals in his last five games. - Wilkins
14. Columbus Blue Jackets (36-28-5)
Previously 16th
Winners of four straight, the Blue Jackets are doing their part to nail down a wild-card position in the East. Defenseman Seth Jones is certainly chipping in, pocketing three goals - including two-game winners - in the past two games. - Wilkins
15. Florida Panthers (34-25-7)
Previously 19th
No Eastern Conference club has a better record since the All-Star break than Florida, and the results are starting to show. The Panthers sit two points back of a playoff position and hold three games in hand. - Wilkins
16. New Jersey Devils (25-26-8)
Previously 14th
Taylor Hall pieced together an astounding 26-game point streak, but it might not be enough, as the Devils have won just two of their past six and are in danger of slipping out of a playoff position. - Wilkins
17. Calgary Flames (34-26-10)
Previously 17th
The return of injured goaltender Mike Smith could not come soon enough, as the Flames have fallen out of a playoff seed in his absence. Entering Sunday's contest, Calgary had won just two of its past six games. - Wilkins
18. Colorado Avalanche (36-24-8)
Previously 22nd
Colorado continues to build its case as the comeback story of the year, as the team has already accumulated 32 points more than last season and remains in the thick of the playoff race. Center Nathan MacKinnon remains a potential Hart Trophy candidate. - Wilkins
19. Los Angeles Kings (37-26-5)
Previously 17th
Los Angeles remains in the playoff chase in the West, but the team hasn't made life easy on itself with a pedestrian .500 record in its last four. That stretch includes Saturday's embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Blues, another team in the hunt for a wild-card spot. - Wilkins
20. St. Louis Blues (36-27-5)
Previously 18th
While there are signs of life in St. Louis, any recent credit must go to goaltenders Carter Hutton and Jake Allen, who have allowed just eight goals in the last four games. - Wilkins
21. Carolina Hurricanes (30-27-11)
Previously 21st
The Hurricanes have gone 3-2-0 since the last rankings and put up a noble effort against the Jets despite falling 3-2.
The Ron Francis demotion/promotion shocked much of the hockey world, but the team's on-ice play has remained stagnant. - Hagerman
22. New York Islanders (30-29-10)
Previously 20th
The playoffs were within the Islanders' grasp at the trade deadline, but appear to be wilting away.
The club has dropped eight of its last nine games and now sit seven points out of the final wild-card spot in the East. It would take a comeback of epic proportions to have any chance of making the dance. - Hagerman
23. Edmonton Oilers (30-34-4)
Previously 24th
The Oilers could be much lower on this list, but, they do have Connor McDavid.
He's on a seven-game point streak with six goals and 13 points and sits just four points back of Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross Trophy. - Hagerman
24. New York Rangers (30-32-7)
Previously 28th
For so long, the Rangers remained in the playoff hunt, even after the organization made the decision to start a rebuild. The fruits of the team's deadline activity are finally coming to fruition as the club has dropped three straight and are now 10 points out of a playoff spot and 14 from 31st overall. - Hagerman
25. Montreal Canadiens (25-31-12)
Previously 26th
No Carey Price, no Shea Weber, and no Max Pacioretty, so there's little reason to expect much from the Canadiens heading down the stretch, except maybe better lottery odds for the first overall pick. - Hagerman
26. Chicago Blackhawks (30-32-8)
Previously 25th
This season has been an off one for the Blackhawks. The club is on pace to finish with 35 wins, which would be their lowest total since the 2006-07 season when they had 31 wins in a miserable 71-point campaign.
Chicago has shown glimpses of their elite skill, look no further than the team's win over the Bruins on Sunday, but for now, the club will get a rest from playoff hockey for the first time in 10 years. - Hagerman
27. Detroit Red Wings (26-31-11)
Previously 23rd
Six straight losses says it all.
Luckily the team looks to be on board the rebuild train, and with eight picks in the first four rounds of the draft this June, Detroit should get a nice boost this summer. The Red Wings are closer to last than a playoff spot and that's the direction they should aim for down the stretch. - Hagerman
28. Ottawa Senators (23-33-11)
Previously 29th
One step forward, two steps back. That's the best way to sum up the Senators' season and their most recent stretch.
After an emotional win against the Golden Knights, they dropped a decision to the Coyotes. Ottawa then topped the Stars but followed that up with losses to the Sabres and Flames. The end of the season can't come quick enough. - Hagerman
29. Arizona Coyotes (22-35-11)
Previously 27th
The Coyotes' 6-3-1 run over their last 10 is impressive, but it's too little too late at this point. - Hagerman
30. Buffalo Sabres (22-35-12)
Previously 31st
The Sabres have rattled off five wins in their last 10, but still find themselves stuck with the second-worst record in the league. - Hagerman
31. Vancouver Canucks (25-35-9)
Previously 30th
With two regulation wins in their last 10 games, there is little positivity around the Canucks' locker room these days. And if things weren't bad enough, it looks as though Brock Boeser - who has been the team's best player all season - will be out until next fall. - Hagerman
We're now just over three quarters of the way through the season, so it's time once again to check in on the award races around the NHL. This edition was compiled by editors Josh Gold-Smith and Craig Hagerman. Our previous edition was assembled back in early January at the halfway point.
Hart Trophy - Nikita Kucherov
Previously: John Tavares
The Tampa Bay Lightning star is leading the Art Ross Trophy race with 82 points in 63 games, and he's tied for fourth in the hunt for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy with 33 goals.
Kucherov has been dominant virtually all season long, and along with Steven Stamkos, he's helped the Lightning remain at or near the top of the league since the fall.
There are certainly others worthy of consideration, like Evgeni Malkin, Taylor Hall, Nathan MacKinnon, Patrice Bergeron, and even Eric Staal, but considering the impact Kucherov's tremendous production has had on his club's unmatched success so far in the regular season, the Hart Trophy is his to lose. - Gold-Smith
Vezina Trophy - Andrei Vasilevskiy
Previously: Vasilevskiy
Several other netminders have made their case for goalie of the year, such as Pekka Rinne and Connor Hellebuyck, but Vasilevskiy still has the inside track.
The Lightning netminder paces the league in wins and shutouts, while rocking a .927 save percentage and a 2.34 GAA.
He's faced the third-most rubber this season and turned away the second-most shots. He's also been between the pipes for 37 of Tampa Bay's 43 wins this season, and aside from Kucherov, could be considered the club's 2017-18 MVP. - Hagerman
Norris Trophy - Victor Hedman
Previously: Drew Doughty
The Lightning are primed to win a bevy of individual honors, including the award for the NHL's best defenseman, for which it's hard to argue Hedman is undeserving.
John Klingberg has a legitimate case himself, leading all rearguards in assists and points for an improved Dallas Stars squad, and P.K. Subban's contributions with the best-in-the-West Nashville Predators deserve recognition, too. But Hedman has been both productive and instrumental to the Lightning's success when healthy while averaging nearly 26 minutes of ice time.
Others, like Doughty and Erik Karlsson (regardless of the Ottawa Senators' record) will always be in the conversation as well, but Hedman should take home the Norris for the first time in his career if he continues to play at an elite level for arguably the NHL's best team. - Gold-Smith
Calder Trophy - Mathew Barzal
Previously: Brock Boeser
With 18 games remaining, the New York Islanders phenom is just two points shy of matching Auston Matthews' 69-point output from his Calder Trophy-winning season last year.
Barzal sits 15th in league scoring, has outscored teammate John Tavares, and has put up 13 more points than his Vancouver Canucks rookie counterpart Boeser.
His vision and speed have been otherworldly, and with three five-point games this year, he's proven he can seamlessly take over a game at just 20 years of age. - Hagerman
Selke Trophy - Patrice Bergeron
Previously: Bergeron
The four-time Selke winner is on pace to challenge career highs in goals and points despite being slowed by injuries, and while his offensive production has been impressive, his defensive prowess at the center position remains unparalleled.
No forward in the NHL is as sound in all three zones as Bergeron, and there's no reason to bet against the Boston Bruins pivot being named the league's best defensive forward for a fifth time - Gold-Smith
Jack Adams Award - Gerard Gallant
Previously: Gallant
What else can be said about Gallant and the Vegas Golden Knights that hasn't already been said about their miraculous first season?
Vegas sits second in the NHL standings, just three points back of the Lightning, while holding a 10-point advantage and a game in hand on the San Jose Sharks, who sit second in the Pacific Division.
Gallant has his trail mix of players playing at an elite level and it's likely for that reason that the team made very few moves to improve the roster at the deadline. - Hagerman
GM of the Year - David Poile
Previously: Poile
The Nashville Predators general manager will become the winningest GM in NHL history with his club's next victory, and he won this award last year, but he's done enough this season to justify claiming it once again.
His work last summer and this season has been well documented, namely signing Nick Bonino and trading for Kyle Turris. Throw it all together and he's put the Predators in position to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.
George McPhee has done impressive work with the Vegas Golden Knights, but he benefited from unprecedented expansion-draft rules. And while cases could be made for others such as Ray Shero of the New Jersey Devils and Kevin Cheveldayoff with the Winnipeg Jets, Poile is the NHL's best GM until proven otherwise. - Gold-Smith
The 11th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings is put together by editors Craig Hagerman, Cory Wilkins, and Sean O'Leary.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-17-3)
Previously: 1st
The rich get richer.
The Lightning are still the top team in the league and only improved with the additions of Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller on Monday. McDonagh gives a huge boost to the back end, while the forward group remains elite.
The Golden Knights could have very well jumped into first had they been able to land Erik Karlsson. They didn't, but nevertheless, they added Tomas Tatar without subtracting from the current roster, which only helps their chances of doing something truly historic when the playoffs roll around. - Hagerman
3. Nashville Predators (39-14-9) ▼
Previously: 2nd
The Predators are playing tremendous hockey and reports surfaced this past week that the team also had interest in Karlsson - could you imagine?
Still, the team bolstered its forward depth by acquiring Ryan Hartman. With Pekka Rinne in stellar form and Nashville's defense corps being what it is, the Predators are arguably the team to beat in the West. - Hagerman
The club has been electric of late, and with arguably the biggest surprise deal of the deadline - acquiring Paul Stastny from the Blues - the team has cemented its place as a potential Stanley Cup favorite. - Hagerman
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (39-20-7) ▲
Previously: 6th
The Maple Leafs didn't get the defensive upgrade they desired, but they did add Tomas Plekanec, giving the club more depth at forward.
Toronto's gone 10-2-2 in February, most recently taking four of a possible six points from the Bruins, Lightning, and Panthers without Auston Matthews at their disposal. The Leafs will look to ride this wave down the stretch. - Hagerman
6. Boston Bruins (38-15-8) ▼
Previously: 4th
The Bruins are starting to come back to earth after an incredible stretch from late November to early February. The team's posted a 6-4-0 record over their last 10, and appear to be going all-in.
Boston acquired Rick Nash from the Rangers to help bolster the offense. The team will be dangerous, but Patrice Bergeron's fractured foot is certainly concerning. - Hagerman
7. Philadelphia Flyers (34-19-10) ▲
Previously: 16th
Don't look now, but the Flyers are suddenly in the hunt for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
The team played well enough to warrant Ron Hextall acquiring Petr Mrazek from the Red Wings, and Mrazek's gone 3-0-0 with a .948 save percentage for the Flyers. Their top line remains elite, their defense is deceptively good, and with a capable goalie, they could be a dark horse in the East. - Hagerman
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-24-4) ▲
Previously: 10th
The Penguins made their annual "of course they got him" deal when they acquired Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators last week.
Thanks to some help from Vegas, they were able to fit Brassard in under the cap, and now they easily have the most center depth in the league (if they didn't already).
There is no reason to believe Pittsburgh couldn't three-peat as champs. - Hagerman
9. Washington Capitals (36-21-7)
Previously: 9th
The Capitals have hit a bit of a bump in the road with just four wins in their last 10, but still hold top spot in the Metro.
The team didn't do much at the deadline aside from adding a couple of depth defensemen, but they still have the talent to compete. However, they have also had that in the past, and we all know how that worked out. - Hagerman
10. Minnesota Wild (36-20-7) ▲
Previously: 11th
The Wild have quietly climbed up the Western Conference standings.
They've ripped off five straight wins on the back of Eric Staal, who's posted 12 points in those games. They didn't make any significant upgrades at the deadline but, like the Maple Leafs, could look to ride the hot hand. - Hagerman
11. Anaheim Ducks (31-21-12) ▲
Previously: 12th
The Ducks are built to win in the playoffs and reinforced that quality Monday by picking up gritty veteran Jason Chimera from the Islanders. A healthy John Gibson is key to an extended postseason run. - Wilkins
12. Dallas Stars (36-23-4) ▼
Previously: 8th
No action out of Dallas prior to the trade deadline could come back to haunt a club in the thick of the playoff race. Still, the Stars may be satisfied with the addition to their lineup from earlier in February - the return of injured blue-liner Marc Methot. - Wilkins
13. Calgary Flames (32-23-9) ▲
Previously: 14th
Despite starter Mike Smith being on the shelf, the Flames have held their own, turning to rookie netminder David Rittich. Finding offense down the stretch is needed to secure a playoff berth. - Wilkins
14. New Jersey Devils (33-22-8) ▲
Previously: 20th
Kudos to Devils general manager Ray Shero, who made a pair of savvy deadline additions in Michael Grabner and Patrick Maroon at a low price. - Wilkins
15. San Jose Sharks (34-21-9)
Previously: 15th
It's no secret the Sharks need offense, and GM Doug Wilson got one of the best bargains of the deadline in acquiring Evander Kane from the Sabres to round out his forward group. - Wilkins
16. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-26-5) ▲
Previously: 18th
The Blue Jackets weren't big-game hunters at the deadline, but made some under-the-radar tweaks in trading for Thomas Vanek, Ian Cole, and Mark Letestu. Time will tell if that's enough to help Columbus return to the playoffs. - Wilkins
17. Los Angeles Kings (35-24-5) ▼
Previously: 13th
The Kings were relatively quiet at the deadline, but the team's biggest pickup is likely a healthy Jeff Carter. The veteran scorer missed 55 games with an ankle injury before returning to the lineup Saturday. - Wilkins
18. St. Louis Blues (34-26-4) ▼
Previously: 7th
For the second straight deadline, the Blues shipped out a pending unrestricted free agent they didn't plan to re-sign in Stastny. It's good asset management, but risky for a team in the playoff hunt. - Wilkins
19. Florida Panthers (29-25-6) ▲
Previously: 24th
Panthers GM Dale Tallon balked at the deadline prices - the team was reportedly in the mix for blue-liner McDonagh. In the end, it was a quiet deadline in South Florida, meaning the Panthers will need to look within if they are to climb into a playoff position. - Wilkins
20. New York Islanders (29-27-7) ▼
Previously: 19th
Earlier this month, Islanders GM Garth Snow stated he's comfortable with the tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. He wasn't bluffing after all - he didn't add a netminder at the deadline, meaning the Islanders will look to the duo to carry them to the postseason. - Wilkins
21. Carolina Hurricanes (27-25-11)
Previously: 21st
It's been a problem all season, but ranking 30th in save percentage isn't going to get the Hurricanes anywhere, no matter how many good pieces they have up front or on the blue line. - O'Leary
22. Colorado Avalanche (33-24-5) ▼
Previously: 17th
Since the conclusion of Colorado's 10-game winning streak Jan. 23, the Avs rank 26th in the NHL with just 36 goals in 16 games. Combine that with Semyon Varlamov's .892 road save percentage and the Avalanche's odds in the Western Conference wild-card race are slim. - O'Leary
23. Detroit Red Wings (26-26-10) ▲
Previously: 26th
It was a confusing deadline for the Red Wings, as the club failed to deal Mike Green but somehow managed to pull a first-, second-, and third-round pick for Tomas Tatar and his 28 points. - O'Leary
24. Edmonton Oilers (27-32-4) ▲
Previously: 25th
There's been lots of finger-pointing throughout Edmonton's disastrous season, but it feels the production of Leon Draisaitl hasn't gotten any attention. The 22-year-old has 57 points - 51 of them at even strength - in 59 games.
See? It's not all bad, Oilers fans. - O'Leary
25. Chicago Blackhawks (27-28-8) ▼
Previously: 23rd
After last season's first-round sweep, Chicago appeared to hit rock bottom. However, with just three wins in their last 10 games, it turns out things can be much worse.
The Blackhawks will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and it will be interesting to monitor how the club plans to fix things during its longest offseason in a decade. - O'Leary
26. Montreal Canadiens (23-29-10) ▲
Previously: 27th
No Shea Weber for the rest of the season and no Carey Price for the foreseeable future. It appears the Habs are fallin' for Dahlin. - O'Leary
27. Arizona Coyotes (18-34-10) ▲
Previously: 31st
Congratulations to the Coyotes, who come in ranked higher than 28th for the second time this season.
On the strength of Antti Raanta, Arizona has actually won a handful of games recently - which, in the grand scheme of things, may not be a positive when it comes to draft-lottery positioning. - O'Leary
28. New York Rangers (27-30-6) ▼
Previously: 22nd
The Rangers' brass promised some changes, and delivered, hauling in a ton of assets for Grabner, Nash, and McDonagh. It will take a while to see if the accrued picks and prospects pan out, but on the surface, it looks like New York did all right. - O'Leary
29. Ottawa Senators (21-31-10) ▼
Previously: 28th
Boy, a Karlsson trade would have been fun. Let's revisit this topic in the offseason. - O'Leary
30. Vancouver Canucks (24-32-7) ▼
Previously: 29th
While most of the basement-dwellers made a point to go out and acquire future assets by dealing expendable contracts, the Canucks figured re-signing Erik Gudbranson for three more seasons was a good idea. - O'Leary
31. Buffalo Sabres (19-33-11) ▼
Previously: 30th
The Sabres had better hope Kane is interested in staying with the Sharks, because if the most valuable asset Buffalo acquires for one of the biggest names on this year's trade board is a second-round pick, that deal will be considered nothing but a failure. - O'Leary
Veteran forward Joel Ward is reportedly available ahead of the trade deadline.
The San Jose Sharks have asked Ward to submit his six-team no-trade list to management within 24 hours, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Ward, 37, is in the final season of his contract, earning $3.275 million. He has five goals and six assists in 46 games, averaging just shy of 12 minutes of ice time per game.
There could be a market for the winger, who's been productive in the playoffs in his career, with 22 goals and 52 points in 83 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs center has a shoulder injury and while he's officially listed as day to day, head coach Mike Babcock was a little more forthcoming Saturday when he confirmed Matthews won't play against Boston, with Josh Leivo stepping into the lineup.
"We always tell you day to day, that usually means 10 and we go from there," Babcock said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.
"He's fine, he's injured, he's fine," Babcock added. "He's going to get better. He'll be back soon."
Matthews leads Toronto in goals (28), points (50), and average ice time among forwards (18:19). His dominance at even strength - he has only two goals and five assists on the power play - is impossible to replace.
The price to land Erik Karlsson would undoubtedly be a steep one, but several teams are well equipped and well positioned to make reasonable pitches to the Ottawa Senators.
Karlsson is once again in the spotlight with Monday's trade deadline approaching, as the Senators have reportedly been engaged in trade dialogue about the superstar defenseman with more than six NHL clubs.
Teams would need to meet several criteria for a deal to make sense. They would need enough cap space to absorb Karlsson's $6.5-million cap hit this season and next, they'd need to possess elite prospects or young players already at the NHL level, and they would presumably be win-now teams.
Here are three teams that have the cap space, assets, and incentive to put together a package significant enough for Ottawa to consider parting with Karlsson before the deadline:
Tampa Bay Lightning
Projected deadline cap space: $9.7 million
Senators receive
Lightning receive
D Mikhail Sergachev
D Erik Karlsson
F Tyler Johnson
F Taylor Raddysh
1st-round pick (2018)
1st-round pick (2019)
Why it works for the Lightning: Parting with Sergachev less than a year after landing him in the Jonathan Drouin trade wouldn't be ideal for Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman, but if it means landing Karlsson, it would be worth it.
Adding Karlsson would turn arguably the league's best team into even more of a juggernaut, and pairing him with Victor Hedman would almost be unfair to the rest of the NHL.
The Lightning's forward depth would make jettisoning Johnson and promising prospect Raddysh bearable, and two late first-round picks would simply be the cost of doing business, considering what the Bolts would get back.
They have space to accommodate Karlsson's contract, and if the opportunity to sign the all-world defenseman to a mega-extension were to present itself on July 1, few NHL GMs are better than Yzerman at maneuvering under the cap to secure the club's core.
Why it works for the Senators: If you're going to give up arguably the game's best offensive defenseman, you should be getting a top defensive prospect or an NHL-ready rearguard with a high ceiling, and that describes Sergachev to a tee.
Few other teams have the assets to compete with what the Lightning can offer. If Ottawa does decide trading Karlsson is the right move, the possibility of getting Sergachev, a dependable forward with years of NHL experience in Johnson, another enticing prospect in Raddysh, and two first-round selections would be an offer worth considering for Senators GM Pierre Dorion.
Johnson is under contract until 2023-24, but he's a proven offensive contributor who's being trusted with top-line minutes alongside Steven Stamkos and getting power-play time, while Raddysh is excelling with the OHL's Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, entering Wednesday with 27 points in 17 games. - Josh Gold-Smith
Vegas Golden Knights
Projected deadline cap space: $36.2 million
Senators receive
Golden Knights receive
1st-round pick (2018)
D Erik Karlsson
1st-round pick (2019)
F Bobby Ryan
2nd-round pick (2018)
F Nick Suzuki
F Alex Tuch
Why it works for the Golden Knights: In the spirit of Sin City, Vegas should go all in heading into the postseason and adding Karlsson would be just that.
The key to this deal is that Vegas is one of the few clubs that can fit both Karlsson and Ryan into the picture, which would help bring the asking price for Karlsson down.
Two first-round picks, a second, Suzuki, and Tuch is a high ask and the argument could be made that Vegas would be sacrificing a lot of their future. However, the counter to that is Vegas is so close to a Cup and nothing is ever certain so you have to go for it when you have the chance.
Why it works for the Senators: The Senators' return is obvious in its enticement: three draft picks (including two firsts), a potentially elite producer in Suzuki, a budding star in Tuch, and they get Ryan off the books.
The draft picks are key for the Senators, especially since the club traded their first-rounder in this year's draft to Colorado Avalanche in the Matt Duchene deal, with the condition that if it's a top-10 pick, the Senators will retain the pick and the Avalanche will receive the team's 2019 first-rounder.
Suzuki is a dynamic center who can transition to the wing if needed, while Tuch is a 2014 first-round pick who's shown great offensive upside in his rookie season.
Finally, getting Ryan off the books frees up $7.25 million in cap space, providing flexibility to make a move in free agency and rebuild quickly on the fly. - Craig Hagerman
Nashville Predators
Projected deadline cap space: $14.9 million
Senators receive
Predators receive
D Ryan Ellis
D Erik Karlsson
F Eeli Tolvanen
F Pontus Aberg
1st-round pick (2018)
2nd-round pick (2019)
Why it works for the Predators: Do the Predators need a defenseman? No. But Karlsson would not only give them forward-like production from the back end, but he'd help them form what could legitimately be considered the best defense corps of all time.
Ellis will demand a raise from his $2.5 million AAV when his contract is up after next season. The upgrade from Ellis to Karlsson would be well worth the proposed cost. With Scott Hartnell and Alexei Emelin as their only pending UFAs, the Preds are well equipped to make a Stanley Cup run not only this year, but next as well.
Why it works for the Senators: Ellis would give the Senators an NHL-ready replacement for Karlsson, albeit a significant downgrade. At 27, he still has plenty of good years ahead of him and would be much easier than Karlsson to sign long-term after next season.
Tolvanen is a blue-chip, can't-miss prospect. Drafted 30th overall in 2017, the Finn has 17 goals and 17 assists in 47 KHL games this year - outstanding numbers for a teenager. Aberg, 24, has shown flashes of brilliance, put up great numbers in the AHL, and seemingly just needs a chance to play top-six minutes - something he isn't getting in Nashville. - Josh Wegman
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images) (Salary information courtesy: CapFriendly)
