As the Olympic flame was extinguished in Milan, National Hockey League players reignited their competitive fires for the final nine weeks of the regular season. The transition back to NHL play may not immediately match the frenetic intensity of Olympic medal rounds, but compelling playoff chases and the looming March 6 trade deadline create a backdrop of high-stakes drama amid a compressed schedule.
Where Do the Playoff Races Stand?
The standings will heavily influence trade market dynamics in less than twelve days. Reflecting this season's historic parity, a mere eight points separate ten teams in the Eastern Conference. This includes clubs in unsecured home-ice playoff positions, two third-place contenders, two wild card hopefuls, and four outsiders within six points of contention. Such tight margins make it challenging for general managers to decisively label themselves as buyers or sellers without observing how the next two weeks unfold.
In the East, Tampa Bay and Carolina concluded the pre-Olympic break with substantial leads in the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions, respectively. Columbus emerged as the league's hottest team with seven consecutive victories, though this streak still couldn't propel them into the top eight.
The Western Conference exhibited more separation near the end of last month. Utah and Anaheim made strong pushes to secure wild card spots, leaving Los Angeles, Nashville, and San Jose in a pack five points behind before a significant drop-off. According to most forecast models, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and San Jose have the easiest strength of schedule remaining, while Pittsburgh, Boston, and Columbus face the most difficult paths.
Which Fading Teams Could Figure in Trades?
The Los Angeles Kings executed a major pre-Olympic deal for prized New York Rangers scorer Artemi Panarin. With the roster freeze now lifted, other teams are poised to enter the trade fray. The perennial need of playoff-bound teams for veteran defensemen could see Dougie Hamilton depart the New Jersey Devils, who have regressed this season partly due to injuries. As relations with the team soured before the break, speculation increased that Hamilton might expand his list of 21 teams with no-trade clauses, possibly to include San Jose, where he reportedly blocked a trade last year before Macklin Celebrini revitalized the Sharks. Hamilton's $9 million US cap hit would likely necessitate the Devils retaining some salary.
Also sliding from contention are the St. Louis Blues, who are attracting interest in Justin Faulk. The Blues are in the final stages of dismantling their 2019 Stanley Cup roster, which could involve center Brayden Schenn, Jordan Kyrou, and the still-in-his-prime Robert Thomas. Thomas, only a few seasons into a $65-million extension with a no-trade clause, has been sidelined since Jan. 10 with a leg injury but has resumed practicing.
This wouldn't mark the first time rugged Nashville forward Ryan O'Reilly has been moved at the deadline. Another St. Louis Cup alumnus, he could be traded if the Predators falter in the coming weeks. Such a scenario would also fuel rumors that proven playoff performers like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault might exit Music City.
The two-time Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers, perennial tinkerers at the deadline, could part ways with veteran forward Andrew Mangiapane to address other needs. Impact goalies are scarce in trade talks thus far. Approaching unrestricted free agency, Alex Nedeljkovic in San Jose could become expendable behind Yaroslav Askarov, while Toronto, if they drop out of contention, has 2024 Cup winner Anthony Stolarz at an affordable price and AHLer Dennis Hildeby with 25 games of NHL experience.
What's the Fatigue Factor with Returning Olympians?
When Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter returned with Canadian gold from Sochi in 2014, the last NHL Olympics, their Los Angeles Kings proceeded to win the Stanley Cup. This precedent offers hope for teams with returning medalists.
We anticipate the Hughes brothers will return on a high for the Americans, while Connor McDavid, after his third significant final-stage defeat in less than two years including Cups, should be highly motivated to maintain his lead in the Art Ross Trophy race and propel Edmonton's playoff push. The same narrative applies to his Canadian linemate and current scoring derby runner-up Nathan MacKinnon upon his return to Colorado with Cale Makar.
Meanwhile, American captain Auston Matthews, who has never advanced beyond the second round of playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, faces the imperative of guiding his team over the postseason hump.
Who Are the Significant Injuries Post-Olympics?
Sidney Crosby's absence from Canada's final two games due to an apparent knee injury dealt a fatal blow to gold medal aspirations, but he is expected to play soon for Pittsburgh as they defend their playoff seeding.
Center Anthony Cirelli missed the Olympics for the Tampa Bay Lightning after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Stadium Series game against Boston just before the break. Captain Victor Hedman suffered a lower-body issue in Milan, unrelated to recent elbow surgery. Both are practicing as the Lightning await the return of coach Jon Cooper, while Brayden Point recovers from a knee injury that placed him on injured reserve.
Mikko Rantanen, top scorer for the playoff-bound Dallas Stars, missed Finland's bronze-medal match after a lower-body injury against Canada and is undergoing evaluation. Defenseman Josh Morrissey, injured in Canada's Olympic opening win against Czechia, is unlikely to rejoin Winnipeg's lineup immediately. However, the Jets will rely heavily on U.S. MVP Connor Hellebuyck to win nearly every start down the stretch to reignite their playoff hopes.
What Are Other Storylines to Follow?
Florida's bid for a three-peat championship, a feat not accomplished since the New York Islanders of the early 1980s, is in jeopardy as they strive to stay above .500 and close an eight-point wild-card gap. Toronto, one of the teams contending with the Panthers, aims to extend the league's longest active streak of consecutive playoff appearances at nine years.
Retiring future Hall of Famer and Kings captain Anze Kopitar hopes to conclude his career with a playoff flourish. Meanwhile, NHL all-time goal leader Alex Ovechkin contemplates his future at age 40 as the final year of his contract unfolds amid the Capitals' postseason uncertainty.
Joel Quenneville, whose coaching career was resurrected this season in Anaheim, could join Scotty Bowman as the only 1,000-game winner when the Ducks host Edmonton on Wednesday. If Crosby accumulates ten more points, he will surpass Steve Yzerman for seventh in NHL history with 1,756 points. Colorado defenseman Brent Burns will move past Jarome Iginla for 15th in games played with his fourth appearance. The 400-goal club is poised to welcome McDavid (currently at 395) and Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay (386).
