With the 2025-26 NHL trade deadline having come and gone, teams are now set to turn their attention towards a home stretch that could serve as one of the more memorable conclusions to an NHL season in recent times.
I'll be taking a look at four of the teams that I thought did the best work at the trade deadline and analysing how they can move forward from their work on March 6th.
Does the Colorado Avalanche's re-acquisition of Nazem Kadri set the team up for a repeat of 2022?
Despite stumbling their way into and out of the Olympic break, there's now a relatively clear pathway for the Avs to win what would be their second Stanley Cup in five years.
Their trade deadline acquisitions took the form of Nashville Predators defenceman Nick Blankenburg (he was acquired on March 4th but I'm including trades completed within two days of the deadline), Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nicholas Roy, and former Avalanche/Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri. That all came at the price of Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, two conditional first-round draft picks, a conditional second-round pick, and two fifth-round picks (one of which is conditional). Though the Avalanche did lose five picks in what is already a depleted collection of draft capital, it's normal for contenders to have a considerably lower amount of picks. And if the number of picks the Avs have is of concern here, it's worth noting that a) they got a fourth-round pick back alongside Kadri and b) recent history does speak volumes about the team's ability to convert strong trade deadlines into postseason results.
The moves themselves shouldn't be seen as only a means to make the Avalanche look better on paper; the team could very well receive a massive boost in morale from the Kadri trade alone. When it comes to Kadri, we're talking about a player who loved playing for the Avalanche and who was incredibly passionate about the team. And he showed that same passion at several points during an interview completed with TSN's James Duthie.
""For the most part, yeah, with the familiarity and a lot of guys that I've been in the battle with already so it's hopefully a pretty seamless. There were a few other teams in the mix but this was certainly Number 1.""Nazem Kadri (via TSN)
""I can't wait to Denver and to get to work and see my buddies.""Nazem Kadri (via TSN)
""I've been speaking to [MacKinnon] for a bit, Gabe [Landeskog], Cale [Makar], all the guys I obviously have a reputation. Like I said, like I relayed to them, I can't wait to get into town and to see them again.""Nazem Kadri (via TSN)
The Avs should once again find themselves firmly in the drivers seat for the Stanley Cup race. While we will need to see the on-ice results before justifying or denouncing the acquisitions, there should be no argument against the fact that the Avs are a better team after the March 6th trade deadline.
Despite making just one move, are the Columbus Blue Jackets closer to a playoff return?
In a year where several teams could end their respective playoff droughts, the Columbus Blue Jackets could still end the season among such a list of hockey clubs. Though nothing compares to the feeling that would come with the Buffalo Sabres or Detroit Red Wings ending their respective decades-long playoff droughts, the Blue Jackets haven't made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, but that number becomes six if we're going off of non-pandemic years (the COVID-19 pandemic was six seasons ago?).
When the Blue Jackets were last a playoff team, they were able to pull off some noteworthy feats. In 2018, the Blue Jackets were able to earn a 2-0 lead against a Stanley Cup-bound Washington Capitals team; though they did end up losing in six, simply getting in position to command a series against an eventual Stanley Cup champion is nothing short of incredible.
The following season would see the Blue Jackets dominate a Presidents Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning team, sweeping them out of the playoffs and earning their first series win in franchise history. Despite losing in the second round to the Boston Bruins, the Blue Jackets were able to make that series a competitive effort.
Finally, the COVID-19-impacted 2020 playoffs would see the Blue Jackets generally dominate a good-but-not-great Leafs team despite requiring all five games of their "qualifying round" to eliminate them. They would lose a playoff rematch with the Lightning in five games but one of the four losses the Blue Jackets suffered during that series involved five overtime periods.
Reminiscing aside, the Blue Jackets' trade deadline business puts the team in a very good position to not only end their playoff drought but also to potentially create a postseason run akin to the ones seen during the late-2010s/early 2020s. Though they only acquired Vancouver Canucks right-winger Conor Garland, they were able to keep key depth pieces like Charlie Coyle without risking the integrity of the roster in a panic move for star talent. At the same time, the team was able to maintain its current stockpile of draft picks and their positioning in relation to the salary cap, allowing for the team to focus on both a playoff push and ensuring that their return to contention is done the right way.
While immediate playoff rivals like the New York Islanders made moves to reinforce their rosters, teams like the Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens ended up standing by or selling off pieces. That gives the Blue Jackets some form of an edge over the teams both directly ahead and behind them, which only reinforces their place in the playoff race when all is said and done.
The St Louis Blues' deadline business sees them acquire significant draft capital while setting up an intriguing offseason strategy
The St Louis Blues embraced the sell at the deadline and they ended up doing it to near-perfection.
Brayden Schenn, who won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, was dealt to the Islanders for veteran Jonathan Drouin, goalie prospect Marcus Gidlöf, a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a third-round pick (no year attached to the pick). The Blues also dealt defenceman Justin Faulk to the Red Wings for Dmitiri Buchelnikov, ex-Toronto Maple Leaf Justin Holl, a first-round draft pick, and a third-round selection.
With both moves in mind, the Blues were able to flip two veterans for some depth pieces and four early-to-mid-round draft selections. Heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, the Blues will have a total of 12 selections, three of which are in the first round. The team will also have a plethora of possible draft strategies to pursue with the 12 picks; they could use those picks in a potential draft day trade or even offer players with term like Robert Thomas for a haul that could include at least three selections.
The Blues are clearly preparing for a roster revamp; while an inability to move players like Thomas or Jordan Binnington may sour the picture, the team is still in a good position to bank on its draft capital and build through the draft.
The acquisition of Mackenzie Weegar sets the Utah Mammoth up well to replicate what the Seattle Kraken once did: make the playoffs in Year 2
A lot of things have been done well in Salt Lake City over the past two years. Not only did Ryan Smith and Co. successfully create a brand new hockey market, but they've also turned a young roster into one capable of being a consistent playoff contender.
Though Mackenzie Weegar is the Utah Mammoth's lone trade deadline acquisition, the team has been on the edge of the Western Conference's playoff picture for the vast majority of their time in the league to date. Investment into the roster could therefore be seen as due, and Weegar gives the Mammoth some additional minutes and playoff/big game experience experience to boot.
It is worth remembering that this is only one move, but the Mammoth's front office did well to protect their roster from panic moves or overreactions, something that the team has done well to avoid as they continue to work towards consistent playoff contention.