NHL Trade Deadline Impact on Wild Card Races

In the Western Conference, the Utah Mammoth (68 points), Seattle Kraken (67 points), San Jose Sharks (64 points), and Los Angeles Kings (62 points) are battling for the final playoff berths. The Mammoth, seeking their first playoff appearance since 2020, may be active buyers, while the Kraken look to bounce back from recent subpar performances. The Sharks, a young team on the rise, could trade pending UFAs, while the Kings are expected to be major buyers to avoid missing the playoffs.

Eastern Conference teams including the Montreal Canadiens (75 points), Boston Bruins (73 points), and Columbus Blue Jackets (70 points) are also competing for wild card positions as the deadline approaches.