With the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline behind us, we can now work through the carnage of an exciting week, with trades taking place all the way up until the last second. Even if it wasn’t the busiest deadline in recent years, a number of blockbuster deals still went down that could reshape the balance of power across the league.
While we won’t know the true winners and losers of the deadline for months (or years), that doesn’t mean that this week of action hasn’t helped us have a better understanding of the NHL at large. First, it was a true arms race in the Central Division, with top contenders loading up for a postseason war that will take place in a few weeks. On the other side of the coin, we had some surprise sellers and holdouts who waited until the last minute before deciding to sell, to a varying degree of success.
All this to say, the 2026 Trade Deadline is just an appetizer for the 2026 NHL Playoffs. All bets are off as teams sprint to the end of the season, looking to either lock down their spot in the postseason, or secure a prime pick ahead of a top-heavy draft. So, with the playoffs looming large ahead of us, let’s take a look at Week 19 of THW’s 2025-26 NHL Power Rankings.
32-16: Maple Leafs’ Miserable Season Continues
32. Vancouver Canucks (Previously: 32)
31. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previously: 28)
30. New York Rangers (Previously: 31)
29. Chicago Blackhawks (Previously: 29)
28. Los Angeles Kings (Previously: 24)
27. Florida Panthers (Previously: 23)
26. Calgary Flames (Previously: 23)
25. San Jose Sharks (Previously: 26)
24. Seattle Kraken (Previously: 20)
23. Winnipeg Jets (Previously: 25)
22. Philadelphia Flyers (Previously: 21)
21. St. Louis Blues (Previously: 30)
20. Washington Capitals (Previously: 16)
19. New Jersey Devils (Previously: 27)
18. Nashville Predators (Previously: 19)
17. Edmonton Oilers (Previously: 17)
16. Vegas Golden Knights (Previously: 15)
The worst thing you can have in sports is a lack of vision, whether it’s in-game or off the ice in the management office. The 2025-26 Maple Leafs have been many things this season, but not once have they shown a true understanding of the situation they were in. While you could like the roster on paper heading into the season, the team quickly proved to have fatal flaws that needed to be addressed, and by January, it was clear they needed to sell at the trade deadline.
However, a three-game winning streak before the 2026 Olympic Break seemed to give leadership the false hope they needed to keep moving forward as if the Maple Leafs were a potential playoff team. Since returning from the break, Toronto have lost seven-straight games and are visably miserable on and off the ice. Plus, the team had an underwhelming trade deadline and doesn’t own their own 2026 First Round Draft pick, so things can get a lot worse before they get better for the storied franchise.
When it comes to selling teams finding success on the ice, the Blues, Devils, and Jets went on runs this week of three or four games. While this is likely too little, too late for all three teams, it did show a sign of life from three franchises I expected to be in the playoff picture when the season started, not deadline sellers. At least the Blues were willing to pivot and make some big moves at the deadline while still winning games for a change.
Also, we just can’t get away from the mediocrity of the Pacific Division. Currently, I have seven of their teams at the bottom of the Rankings, and none of them seem capable of taking the golden opportunity in front of them. As of now, the Kraken and Oilers are still in a playoff spot, but neither of these teams have looked passable in recent weeks. If the Kings, Predators, or Sharks could just win three straight games, it would push them into the postseason. However, they keep losing, so apparently no one wants to make it this season.
15-8: Senators Looming in Eastern Wild Card Hunt
15. Boston Bruins (Previously: 12)
14. Ottawa Senators (Previously: 18)
13. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previously: 13)
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previously: 5)
11. Detroit Red Wings (Previously: 9)
10. New York Islanders (Previously: 11)
9. Utah Mammoth (Previously: 14)
8. Anaheim Ducks (Previously: 10)
To say that the Senators have had a tumultuous 2025-26 NHL season would be a bit of an understatement. The franchise has had a tough go of it both on and off the ice, and back in January, it looked like they were well out of the playoff race.
However, 62 games into the season, Ottawa finds itself just five points out of the final wild card in the Eastern Conference, with the Blue Jackets and Bruins ahead of them. I don’t know if they will be able to pass both of these teams, but there is room for them to make a run at the postseason for the second-straight season, which felt impossible very recently.
The middle of the Rankings has stayed small in recent weeks, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of storylines still in this group. The Penguins, for example, will be without Evgeni Malkin for five games after the future Hall of Famer decided to try to decapitate Rasmus Dahlin. Obviously, I’m being a little hyperbolic with that statement, but this suspension came at a terrible time for Pittsburgh, who have been inconsistent since the Olympic break and are at risk of losing third place in the Metropolitan Division to the Blue Jackets.
Another team that is holding on right now are the previously mentioned Bruins, who are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games played. While Boston have been expected to fall out of the playoff race for most of the season, they have managed to win enough to stay above water so far. I still think this team makes the playoffs, but they really need a five-game stretch where they win four games to lock down their spot in the postseason. The team also largely stood pat at the deadline, which was a bit of a surprise given where they were in the standings.
7-1: Sabres Proving They Are Postseason Contenders
7. Montreal Canadiens (Previously: 8)
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previously: 3)
5. Colorado Avalanche (Previously: 6)
4. Minnesota Wild (Previously: 4)
3. Buffalo Sabres (Previously: 7)
2. Dallas Stars (Previously: 2)
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Previously: 1)
Back in January, the Sabres felt like a fun story that was destined to fall off. Heck, in the three years I’ve been creating these Rankings, I’ve had multiple experiences with Buffalo where I thought they were back, only for the team to melt down after a big winning streak. However, the fall hasn’t happened yet, and not only has the franchise been playing great this season, but they were buyers at the trade deadline for the first time in something like 15 years.
Now, the 2026 Trade Deadline did not go as planned for Buffalo, but they still made some smart moves to reward a team that has a real shot at winning the Atlantic Division. With the Lightning being decimated by injuries, the Sabres have a pathway forward to a top spot in the Division and a deep postseason run. Most importantly, if you haven’t watched this team play yet, take some time this week to check out one of their games, as they are so much fun on the ice.
Now, in the Western Conference, the Central Division is, frankly, one of the most top-heavy divisions we have ever seen. The Wild and Avalanche broke the bank at the trade deadline, while the Stars added some depth pieces during a 10-game winning streak to remind us all just how good they can be… which of course was ended by Colorado on Saturday.
To put it simply, every game between these teams feels like the Stanley Cup Final right now, because it might as well be. These three franchises sit first, second, and fourth in the league, and they all know that the Western Conference runs through the Central. It might be a bit cruel that they have to play each other so early in the playoffs, but that’s the format we all have to live with.
2026 NHL Postseason Push is Here
With the trade deadline behind us, there are only a few more weeks until the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which, we can all agree, is the most exciting time of the year. Unlike some seasons, this time there’s real intrigue in all of the playoff races, as there are only a few teams that have solidified their place in the standings.
Related: Mangiapane Fiasco Has Oilers Management Looking Extremely Incompetent
So, it’s time to lock in for the push to the playoffs. Expect teams to hit that next gear to make the most out of every opportunity presented to them. And as always, look forward as THW continues the 2025-26 Power Rankings as we wait to see how these big deadline additions adapt to their new teams.
