NHL Playoff Standings After the 2025-26 Trade Deadline

The NHL trade deadline on Friday marked a frenzy of moves that have reshaped the playoff landscape for the 2025-26 season. Nazem Kadri returned to the Colorado Avalanche, John Carlson bolstered the Anaheim Ducks’ defense, and the Buffalo Sabres added veterans Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, and Sam Carrick to fuel their surge. With no more deals possible and about 20 games remaining until the April 16 finale, the focus shifts squarely to the postseason races.[1][2]

In the East, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes hold firm at the top of their divisions, but the Atlantic is a dogfight with Buffalo matching Tampa’s 80 points. Out West, the Central Division trio of Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild looks locked in, while the Pacific wild-card battle promises chaos. Playoff probabilities from Stathletes highlight the stakes, with six Western teams over 90% and intriguing underdogs like the San Jose Sharks at 74.8%.[3]

Eastern conference overview

Tampa Bay Lightning lead the Atlantic with 80 points in 60 games, pacing for 109.3 but facing pressure from the Buffalo Sabres, who sit at 80 points in 62 games after their deadline spree. The Lightning’s next test comes Saturday at Toronto, where a win could solidify their edge. Detroit Red Wings lurk at 77 points, holding A3, while Montreal Canadiens occupy WC1 at 76 points. Boston Bruins hold WC2 at 73, but Columbus Blue Jackets, fresh off adding Conor Garland, trail by one point.

The resurgent Sabres boast 31 regulation wins, giving them tiebreaker edge in some scenarios, and their 99.1% playoff odds reflect newfound momentum. Tampa’s 99.9% chance feels secure, yet the Atlantic’s parity—four teams within five points—evokes memories of the 2023 playoff squeeze where late surges flipped seeds. Detroit’s 91.6% projection hinges on consistency, with 19 games left.

Metro Division sees Carolina Hurricanes dominating at 86 points and 113.7 pace, their lead comfortable over Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders at 75 each. Isles have played two more games, adding intrigue. Penguins’ 78.4% odds contrast Isles’ 49.8%, underscoring regulation wins’ importance (27 vs. 23). Carolina’s next clash at Calgary could extend their buffer.

Wild-card spots intensify the drama, with Montreal and Boston in, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals four back at 69. Columbus at 72 pushes hard, their 56% odds boosted by Garland. For deeper projections on bubble teams like Ottawa, check our NHL bubble watch. Historical parallels, like Boston’s 2023 wild-card grind, show how goaltending and special teams decide these races.

Current Eastern matchups:

• A1 Tampa Bay vs. WC1 Montreal
• A2 Buffalo vs. A3 Detroit
• M1 Carolina vs. WC2 Boston
• M2 Pittsburgh vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western conference landscape

Colorado Avalanche top the Central at 93 points with 38 regulation wins, on 125.0 pace and 99.9% locked. Dallas Stars follow at 86, Minnesota Wild at 84— all near-certain playoff teams per Stathletes. Utah Mammoth hold WC1 at 70 points despite modest pace, their 98.3% odds firm. Nashville Predators at 64 chase Seattle Kraken’s WC2 spot at 67, but Kraken’s mere 33.1% projection signals vulnerability.

Pacific leads with Anaheim Ducks at 73 points and astonishing 45 regulation wins, P1 despite 96.6 pace. Vegas Golden Knights at 72 (P2 in matchups? Wait, standings list P3), Edmonton Oilers at 68 with 85% odds despite recent loss to Carolina. San Jose Sharks at 65 hold 74.8%—highest non-clinched team—while Los Angeles Kings at 64 eye comeback. Anaheim’s shootout thriller over Montreal underscores their grit.

The West’s depth is stunning: six teams over 90%, Oilers teetering, Kraken exposed despite position. Kings and Predators, both 64 points, three back of Seattle, mirror 2022’s late Pacific chaos where three points separated four teams. Trade impacts shine—Carlson’s Ducks arrival timed perfectly for their surge. For deadline deal breakdowns, see our 2025-26 trade tracker.

Wild cards pit Utah vs. Anaheim and Seattle vs. Colorado in hypotheticals, but volatility reigns. St. Louis Blues at 57, Chicago Blackhawks at 56 fight for pride, their low odds echoing rebuild phases.

Current Western matchups:

• C1 Colorado vs. WC2 Seattle
• C2 Dallas vs. C3 Minnesota
• P1 Anaheim vs. WC1 Utah
• P2 Vegas vs. P3 Edmonton

Weekend slate and recent results

Saturday’s loaded card could swing races. Washington at Boston (12:30 p.m. ABC) tests Caps’ longshot bid. New York Rangers at New Jersey (3 p.m. ABC) irrelevant for playoffs but divisional fireworks. Buffalo hosts Nashville (5:30 p.m.), Sabres aiming to leapfrog Tampa. Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Tampa at Toronto (NHLN), Utah at Columbus highlight stakes.

More: Vancouver at Winnipeg, Montreal at Los Angeles, Carolina at Calgary (10 p.m.), Islanders at San Jose, Ottawa at Seattle. Stream most on ESPN+ barring blackouts. Friday’s scores set tone: Florida 3-1 over Detroit, Colorado 5-4 SO vs. Dallas, Anaheim 6-5 SO vs. Montreal, Minnesota 4-2 Vegas, St. Louis 3-2 OT San Jose.

These results tightened Central—Colorado-Dallas shootout—and boosted Anaheim, who sit P1 post-deadline. Weekend outcomes could clinch seeds or bury pretenders, much like March 2023’s pivotal tilts.

Expanded standings reveal paces: Tampa 109.3, Buffalo 105.8, Carolina 113.7 top East; Colorado 125.0, Dallas 113.7 lead West. Tragic numbers loom for chasers like Florida (30 at 65 points, 2.3%).

Draft lottery positioning

Vancouver Canucks lead the race for No. 1 pick odds at 45 points, followed by Calgary Flames (55), Chicago (56), Rangers (56). St. Louis (57), Winnipeg (60), Devils (64), Nashville/LA (64) round top 11 eligible. Lottery caps upward moves at 10 spots; top prize Gavin McKenna from Penn State.

Toronto (65, pick to Boston unless top-5), Florida (65), San Jose (65) hover. Low-odds teams like Vancouver (59.5 pace) eye rebuild via draft. Ties in points demand regulation wins scrutiny.

This bottom battleship contrasts top-heavy playoffs, where clinchers eye seeding.

Looking ahead to the stretch run

With 19-22 games per team, every point counts—regulation wins increasingly key for ties. East’s Atlantic quartet and West’s wild cards (Kraken’s 33.1% vs. Sharks’ 74.8%) promise twists. Central’s juggernauts eye Presidents’ Trophy, but history warns against peaking early.

Monitor Stathletes updates daily; races evolve fast post-deadline. For full ESPN wild-card view, visit here.[2] Contenders must convert deadline boosts into wins—Sabres, Ducks, Avalanche lead that charge. The road to April 16 favors the relentless.