This is the fourth in-season edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2025-26 campaign. In this installment, we pick the top trade deadline priority for each team.
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1. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-14-4)
Previous: 2
Defensive reinforcements. Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Declan Carlile, Max Crozier, and Emil Lilleberg have all played 30 or more games this season. An extra defenseman or two would go a long way if the Lightning continue to manage injuries into the postseason.
2. Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9)
Previous: 1
Beef up the fourth line. Logan O'Connor has been a valuable depth piece for the Avalanche in recent years, but he hasn't played this season as he recovers from his latest hip surgery. If he won't return this campaign, the fourth line is one of the few areas where this incredible roster could reasonably be upgraded.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (36-15-6)
Previous: 5
Make a splash. The Hurricanes have loads of cap space and four first-round picks over the next three years, making them one of few contenders who could make a significant splash with relative ease. Whether that player is a center, a defenseman, or even a goalie, Carolina should go big-game hunting to try to get over the playoff hump. Robert Thomas, Vincent Trocheck, Elias Pettersson, and Jesper Wallstedt would be intriguing fits.
4. Minnesota Wild (34-14-10)
Previous: 3
Upgrade at center. Can Minnesota win a Stanley Cup with Ryan Hartman or Danila Yurov as its No. 2 center? We think no. General manager Bill Guerin was already aggressive in adding Quinn Hughes. At this point, he may as well push all his chips into the middle and address his team's top remaining need. Vincent Trocheck, Nazem Kadri, or Ryan O'Reilly would be dream fits.
5. Dallas Stars (34-14-9)
Previous: 4
Bolster the blue line. Dallas' defense drops off significantly after Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Thomas Harley. The Stars have to find a trustworthy partner for Harley.
6. Detroit Red Wings (33-19-6)
Previous: 10
Add a second-pair defenseman. Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson need some help on Detroit's backline. Ben Chiarot is being forced to play way too many minutes. Someone who could bump him down to the third pair, like Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Brett Kulak, would be an excellent fit.
7. Boston Bruins (32-20-5)
Previous: 23
Don't overreact. The Bruins sold at last year's deadline and are unexpectedly back in the playoff mix. Boston can't let this season's rebound impact its long-term outlook.
8. Buffalo Sabres (32-19-6)
Previous: 9
Extend Alex Tuch. The Sabres could finally be playoff bound. Trading their top pending UFA in Tuch is out of the question at this point, and seeing him walk at the end of the year would be equally painful. Buffalo should do everything in its power to keep the Western New York native around for the long haul, even if it means slightly overpaying. He's integral to the fabric of the team.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (29-15-12)
Previous: 17
No rentals, but get help. The Penguins owe Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang one last chance at a playoff run. But Pittsburgh can't do it by adding short-term pieces. GM Kyle Dubas has to identify players who can help now and in the future, as he did when he traded for Egor Chinakhov earlier this season.
10. Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8)
Previous: 7
Find a needle-mover. Second-line center remains a question mark for the Habs despite Oliver Kapanen's impressive rookie campaign. Montreal could use one more top-nine play-driver.
11. Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-7)
Previous: 27
Extend Mason Marchment. The Blue Jackets have turned their season around since making a coaching change, and Marchment - also a midseason acquisition - has thrived under Rick Bowness, tallying nine goals and four assists in 14 games since joining Columbus. Marchment is a pending UFA, but the Blue Jackets should try to hang on to him.
12. Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-14)
Previous: 13
Lock up Rasmus Andersson. The Golden Knights made their splash early, landing Andersson from the Flames for a notable package. Vegas did so without an extension in place, and now the club's priority should be ensuring he doesn't walk in the summer.
13. Anaheim Ducks (30-23-3)
Previous: 26
Don't mortgage future. The Ducks are in the hunt for their first playoff berth since 2018 but have been too inconsistent to be considered a Stanley Cup contender. If Anaheim heats up and qualifies, that's great, but the team shouldn't sacrifice its long-term plan for rentals. The time for the Ducks to take their swing is the offseason, when they'll have over $40 million in cap space.
14. Edmonton Oilers (28-22-8)
Previous: 6
Add a right-shot defensive defenseman. A stay-at-home blue-liner who can play on Edmonton's second pair would go a long way toward fixing the team's defensive woes. Brandon Carlo or Connor Murphy would make a lot of sense.
15. Utah Mammoth (30-23-4)
Previous: 21
Swing big. The Mammoth should be in on every top player available at the deadline. Utah has cap space and a young roster knocking on the door of the playoffs. A needle-moving forward would be a statement addition for the Mammoth.
16. New York Islanders (32-21-5)
Previous: 11
Maintain long-term outlook. New York has bounced back this season thanks to sensational rookie Matthew Schaefer and Vezina candidate Ilya Sorokin. GM Mathieu Darche, who is in his first season with the Islanders, can't start moving assets for short-term help at this stage of his team's progression.
17. Ottawa Senators (28-22-7)
Previous: 16
Find a right-shot defenseman. Ottawa's playoff chances are in jeopardy due to poor goaltending, and netminders aren't really for sale at this time of year. Finding a blue-liner to bump Nick Jensen and Jordan Spence down the depth chart could help the Senators' never-ending quest to keep the puck out of their net.
18. Washington Capitals (29-23-7)
Previous: 8
Pivot from Panarin. The Capitals were in the mix to acquire Artemi Panarin, and GM Chris Patrick said the club wants a skilled player to add to the top of the lineup. A scoring winger remains a need, and Washington will have to get creative to find one.
19. Los Angeles Kings (23-19-14)
Previous: 19
Keep adding. The Kings are in a fight to reach the playoffs, and they made a huge splash before the Olympic break by acquiring Artemi Panarin. Los Angeles has plenty of cap space for more moves, ideally allowing them to compensate for Kevin Fiala's absence and add defensive depth.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-21-9)
Previous: 15
Get younger. One of the oldest teams in the NHL, the Maple Leafs have a great opportunity to add some youth as deadline sellers. Toronto should prioritize young players or prospects who can help the team as early as next season as part of the returns for Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. The Maple Leafs should also be open to moving players with term like Nicolas Roy, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Brandon Carlo for the right offers.
21. Nashville Predators (26-24-7)
Previous: 25
Stay put. The Predators have surprisingly entered the playoff race, but their general manager is ready to step down. Don't make the next GM's job more difficult by selling off assets for the chance to snag a wild-card spot.
22. Florida Panthers (29-25-3)
Previous: 14
Take a year off. The Panthers are outside the playoff picture and Aleksander Barkov is sidelined. Logically, the Panthers should save their assets for another season. But the allure of a run at a third straight Stanley Cup may be too tempting.
23. Seattle Kraken (27-20-9)
Previous: 18
Figure out what you are. Seattle has enjoyed more success than expected this season, but it remains a lackluster offensive group waiting for a young star to break out. Shane Wright's name popped up in rumors before the Olympic break, indicating the Kraken may be growing impatient with their progression.
24. Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-11)
Previous: 12
Extend Trevor Zegras. The Flyers don't have any key pending UFAs and shouldn't pursue rentals, but agreeing to a long-term deal with Zegras would be a great move. The 24-year-old pending RFA is enjoying a breakout season with 49 points in 56 games during his first campaign with the Flyers following an offseason trade.
25. New Jersey Devils (28-27-2)
Previous: 20
Reset. The Devils need a miracle to make the playoffs, and the coach and GM are on the hot seat. Now isn't the time to add. Sell off rentals, acquire picks, and come up with a clear plan for 2026-27.
26. Winnipeg Jets (22-26-8)
Previous: 32
Find a young center. Winnipeg's annual deadline need has been a second-line center to slot behind Mark Scheifele and in front of Adam Lowry. That need isn't as pressing this year since the Jets will be sellers, but they can still be proactive. If the Kraken are serious about moving Shane Wright, Winnipeg should be all over it.
27. San Jose Sharks (27-24-4)
Previous: 24
Extend Kiefer Sherwood. Trading for a rental like Sherwood was surprising at the time since the playoffs were far from a guarantee for the Sharks. But it's easy to understand why GM Mike Grier liked Sherwood as a physical complement to his skilled forwards. The Sharks need to extend or flip him to make the trade worthwhile, and extending him is likely much easier given all of San Jose's cap space.
28. Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9)
Previous: 29
Work the phones. It's another deadline with Chicago out of the playoff mix, but this year has been different thanks to the evolution of Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks should be keeping tabs on talented young players around the league who might be in need of a fresh start.
29. Calgary Flames (23-27-6)
Previous: 28
Trade Nazem Kadri. It's unclear if the Flames will move off Kadri since he's signed through 2028-29, but they definitely should. The 35-year-old's trade value is likely at its peak, and given how many teams could use a gritty, productive center with a strong playoff resume, the Flames could potentially fetch a haul to aid their rebuild.
30. St. Louis Blues (20-28-9)
Previous: 30
Determine long-term outlook. Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou's names have been floated in recent months. The Blues must figure out what direction the franchise is going in and if their top players are part of it.
31. New York Rangers (22-29-6)
Previous: 22
Regain fans' trust. The Rangers faithful were rightfully outraged by the minimal return in the Artemi Panarin trade. GM Chris Drury must pull off some deals that make fans believe in his vision. Getting a haul for Vincent Trocheck would be a great way to do so.
32. Vancouver Canucks (18-33-6)
Previous: 31
Get what you can. Any and all veterans should be on the block for Vancouver. The Canucks should accept the highest bid for pending free agents and see if any players with more term generate notable interest. The franchise needs to be in asset-accumulation mode.
