1. Washington Capitals: 47-13-4
The Capitals maintain their stranglehold on the top spot in these rankings without making a big splash at the deadline. The team has the best offense in the game while also having the third best defense. There’s no reason why this team cannot get to 50 wins and beyond.
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 40-21-5
After a rocky offseason, the Blackhawks finally improve themselves again with the signing of Andrew Ladd. Ladd was a top liner for Winnipeg, notching 62 points last season. The two way forward could also help the Blackhawks defensively, as they are currently the eighth ranked defense in the NHL.
3. Dallas Stars: 39-20-7
As good a move as getting Andrew Ladd was for the Blackhawks, the Stars move to pick up Kris Russell was a stroke of genius. Russell has proven himself in the last two years to be a top line defender, which is precisely what the Stars need. Their 22nd ranked defense was becoming a problem, and the addition of Russell was badly needed.
4. St. Louis Blues: 37-20-9
The St Louis Blues chose to stay put, while the teams around them got better. That's bad news for a team that has the Blackhawks and Stars in their division.
5. New York Rangers: 38-21-6
The big winner of the trade deadline was the Rangers. They got all the headlines for getting Eric Staal, and rightfully so. Staal is the former captain of a Stanley Cup winning team, and his blend of size and skill would blend in nicely with a Mats Zuccarello or a Derek Stepan.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning: 38-22-4
The Lightning’s decision to keep Steven Stamkos will help them this season, but if he walks in the off-season it could have disastrous results. Still, with their ongoing eight game winning streak, it makes sense that you would not want to mess with the teams chemistry.
7. Anaheim Ducks: 36-19-8
The Ducks made their move in February and everyone took notice. They go into their game against the Kings on a ten game winning streak, and if they win they get the lead in the close Pacific Division race.
8. Florida Panthers: 36-20-8
The pick up of Jiri Hudler proves that the young Florida Panthers are serious about a long run in the post season. They have their work cut out for them, however, as the Lightning and Bruins have caught up to them.
9. Los Angeles Kings: 38-21-4
The Kings picked up a few veterans, but they were already an older team. With their lead over the Pacific Division on the line against the Ducks, we will see how the team fares against it biggest challenge yet this season.
10. Nashville Predators: 32-21-12
Ryan Johansen has been a fantastic pick up for the Predators, picking up 13 assists and notching 17 points in his 25 games since becoming a Predator.
11. New York Islanders: 35-20-7
With five wins in their last six games, the Islanders chose to stay put and maintain the teams chemistry.
12. San Jose Sharks: 35-22-6
The Sharks added a couple veterans to help fill out their roster, but did not make the big splash teams above them made.
13. Boston Bruins: 36-23-6
Adding John-Michael Liles gives the young defense some depth behind Chara and Seidenberg. The team is closing in on the leaders in the Atlantic Division, and they improved enough at the deadline to be a serious threat.
14. Detroit Red Wings: 32-21-11
The team was disappointing at the deadline, failing to improve their 21st ranked offense. They are only five points off the pace in the Atlantic Division, and are still a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins: 33-22-8
The reemergence of Sidney Crosby has this team right back in the playoff mix. Crosby has been especially good at home this season, with 20 goals and 41 points in 32 games.
16. Colorado Avalanche: 33-29-4
Their next three games are at home, but two of the games are against fierce competition in Nashville and Anaheim.
17. Philadelphia Flyers: 29-23-11
The Flyers were on a three game winning streak before their bizarre loss to Edmonton. The team now has two games left on their homestand against Columbus and Tampa Bay.
18. Minnesota Wild: 30-25-10
Their three game winning streak has kept them alive in the West, but they failed to make any big splashes at the deadline.
19. Carolina Hurricanes: 29-26-10
The decision to let go of Eric Staal had to been a difficult one, considering all of the contributions he made to the team on a night-to-night basis. It’ll be interesting to see how this team responds to losing their key player.
20. Montreal Canadiens: 30-29-6
Carey Price was recently seen skating with pads on and saying he has “turned the corner” in regards to his injury, so that is good news for a Canadien team that has looked lost without their superstar goaltender.
21. New Jersey Devils: 31-28-7
The worst offense in the NHL didn’t make any major efforts to get any better.
22. Ottawa Senators: 30-28-7
The team surprised everyone when they grabbed Dion Phaneuf, but that pick up won’t be enough to get them back into the playoff picture.
23. Columbus Blue Jackets: 27-30-8
It’s amazing how far the Blue Jackets have come since that terrible start of the season put them firmly behind the rest of the NHL. The addition of Seth Jones has really helped a defense that was struggling.
24. Vancouver Canucks: 24-27-12
The Canucks surprisingly kept their core even though they are hopelessly out of the playoff race.
25. Winnipeg Jets: 26-32-5
They understandably sold after a couple underperforming months landed them in the bottom of the unforgiving Central Division.
26. Buffalo Sabres: 26-31-8
The Sabres could have sold more, and gotten something out of veterans like Evander Kane and Matt Moulson who are just taking up ice time from the younger promising players.
27. Arizona Coyotes: 27-31-6
They sold Mikkel Boedker to the highest bidder as a one promising season has turned sour.
28. Calgary Flames: 26-34-4
The Flames might have been the biggest seller at the deadline, moving Hudler and Russell among others.
29. Edmonton Oilers: 25-35-7
They should have been bigger sellers at the deadline, as everyone knows the Oilers are done this season. The Patrick Maroon move might have been the most bizarre trade of the deadline.
30. Toronto Maple Leafs: 21-32-10
The Maple Leafs could give the Flames a run for their money as biggest sellers, trading away captain Dion Phaneuf as well as forwards Matthias, Winnik and Spaling.