The NHL Trade Deadline is officially behind us, and rosters are set as teams jockey for position in the race for the postseason.
In the Pacific Division, things have been a bit volatile this season. Coming into the year, most expected this to be the league’s weakest division, and while I would argue that it is, that has not meant that it looks the way we all anticipated it would look.
While the Vegas Golden Knights were widely expected to win the division, it is instead the Calgary Flames that are leading the way, followed by the second-place Los Angeles Kings and the third-place Edmonton Oilers.
Vegas comes in in a position that leaves a lot of work left to do if the team hopes to reach the playoffs. In a similar situation are the Vancouver Canucks, while the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks sit further behind. The Seattle Kraken find themselves near the bottom of the NHL standings in their first season.
How did each Pacific Division team do at the trade deadline?
The Pacific was not nearly as flashy as the other NHL divisions as the clock ran out on making trades. Most teams, like the Kings, Sharks, and Canucks, made minor moves that will not significantly impact their short-term performances.
Seattle was the busiest team at the deadline in this division, taking on a seller’s approach. The Ducks joined the Kraken as a team content to ship high-profile players out of town in exchange for draft capital.
The Flames made a couple of solid depth acquisitions as the only true buyer in the Pacific this year. Edmonton also seemed to want to add players, though I don’t think they were as effective as their rivals in doing so.
Vegas was perhaps the most confusing team in this division, as the organization deviated from its typical trade deadline strategy.
Though these teams approached the trade deadline with different mindsets and goals, any team can emerge as a winner at the end of the NHL’s most hectic handful of hours. So, with that said, how did each Pacific Division squad fare this March?
Here are trade deadline grades for each team in the Pacific.