The NHL trade deadline passed on Friday afternoon. How did the Edmonton Oilers and other Western Conference teams fare as they gear up for the postseason?
The Central Division is shaping up to be a fierce battleground, with three legitimate Stanley Cup contenders duking it out. Meanwhile, the Pacific Division remains wide open, with only one team (the Oilers) making notable upgrades. Let’s break down the moves (and non-moves) from the teams in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Winnipeg Jets – 43-16-4 (90 points)
The Jets, sitting atop the Central Division, bolstered their roster with some solid additions.
On Thursday, they swapped AHL goalies, sending Kaapo Kähkönen to Florida for Chris Driedger. Friday brought bigger changes. Winnipeg traded a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-rounder to Pittsburgh for defenseman Luke Schenn. Later, they sent a 2027 second-round pick to Seattle for forward Brandon Tanev.
These additions strengthen an already formidable team, but they certainly weren’t the biggest splash by a Central Division squad on Friday.
Dallas Stars – 41-19-2 (84 points)
The Stars made a huge splash.
Their blockbuster move? Acquiring Mikko Rantanen from Carolina in exchange for two first-round picks and top prospect Logan Stankoven. They immediately signed Rantanen to an eight-year, $12 million AAV extension.
Earlier in February, they also added Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from San Jose, giving up a 2025 first-round pick and a fourth-rounder (via Winnipeg).
With both Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen on LTIR, Dallas had the cap flexibility to make these moves. The Stars look loaded, and just imagine how good they’ll be if those two stars come back at full strength.
Vegas Golden Knights – 37-18-6 (80 points)
The Golden Knights were surprisingly quiet.
Their only move was trading Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick (via San Jose) to the Rangers for former Vegas Expansion Draft original and Stanley Cup winner Reilly Smith.
But, with a Pacific Division-leading record of 37-18-6 (80 points), Vegas didn’t need to tinker much. While their lack of activity may raise some eyebrows, the Golden Knights remain one of the Western Conference’s strongest contenders.
Minnesota Wild – 36-22-4 (76 points)
Unlike their Central rivals, the Wild were quiet.
Their biggest move was acquiring Gustav Nyquist from Nashville for a 2026 second-round pick. They also traded for prospect Justin Brazeau, sending Jakub Lauko, Marat Khusnutdinov, and a 2026 sixth-rounder to Boston.
Tied with Colorado in points but losing the tiebreaker, the Wild could slide to the first Wild Card spot, setting up a tough matchup against a Pacific Division leader.
Jan 16, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman (96) controls the puck during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Edmonton Oilers – 36-22-4 (76 points)
The Oilers made two significant trades.
Days before the deadline, they landed Trent Frederic (50% salary retained) and Max Jones from Boston. In return, they sent defense prospect Max Wanner, a 2025 second-round pick (via St. Louis), and a 2026 fourth-rounder to the Bruins. Additionally, prospect Shane LaChance was traded to New Jersey, who retained a portion of Frederic’s salary. Then, just before the deadline, they acquired defenseman Jake Walman from San Jose. The cost? A conditional 2026 first-round pick and minor-leaguer Carl Berglund.
In other news, Evander Kane is expected to remain on the LTIR for the rest of the regular season. His return for the playoffs remains uncertain, but a well-rested Kane could feel like an extra trade deadline addition.
Two solid moves, but considering the competition, Oilers fans might have hoped for more.
Colorado Avalanche – 37-24-2 (76 points)
Nobody swung more deals this season than the Avs did. Their pre-deadline wheeling and dealing included:
- Acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood to shore up goaltending.
- Trading Mikko Rantanen to Carolina for Jack Drury, Martin Nečas, and two picks.
- Adding Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey from the Rangers.
- Landing Brock Nelson and William Dufour from the Islanders in a prospect-and-picks package.
On deadline day, they improved their center depth by trading for Charlie Coyle, giving up Casey Mittelstadt and a 2026 fifth-rounder. Colorado also brought back a familiar face, swapping Givani Smith for Erik Johnson, who helped them win the Cup in 2022.
Currently tied with the Wild in points, Colorado could face Dallas in what promises to be a thrilling first-round matchup. They could also rocket up the standings in the Central Division with a strong finish.
Los Angeles Kings – 31-20-9 (71 points)
The Kings made a minor move on Friday, acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko from the Flyers for a 2027 third-round pick.
Kuzmenko, now on his third team this season, has struggled to replicate his 2022-23 breakout performance (39 goals, 74 points with Vancouver). With just six goals and 20 points in 44 games, this addition feels underwhelming.
Barring a collapse, the Kings and Oilers seem destined for their fourth consecutive first-round playoff clash.
Calgary Flames – 29-23-10 (68 points)
The Flames, barely clinging to the final Wild Card spot, made just one move this season, and it came well before Friday’s deadline.
They traded Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2028 seventh-rounder to Philadelphia for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost.
Despite plenty of cap space and some glaring roster holes, Calgary chose not to sell or buy aggressively. Their 29-23-10 record with 68 points leaves them vulnerable to a late-season push from Vancouver or another team lower in the standings.
Vancouver Canucks – 28-22-11 (67 points)
The Canucks re-tooled but didn’t make any waves on deadline day.
Notable moves included shipping J.T. Miller to the Rangers for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a 2025 first-round pick. They later flipped that pick to Pittsburgh for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor, signing both to extensions.
Despite trade rumours, pending UFA Brock Boeser stayed put, as did Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko. Vancouver’s 67 points leave them one point behind Calgary in the race for the final Wild Card spot.
St. Louis Blues – 30-27-6 (66 points)
The Blues, sitting two points out of a playoff spot, did little to help their chances.
Their only noteworthy move came in December, acquiring Cam Fowler from Anaheim. Despite having tradable assets like Brayden Schenn and Jordan Binnington, St. Louis stood pat.
If they sneak into the playoffs, expectations remain low.
Utah Hockey Club – 28-25-9 (65 points)
Utah made just one minor move, trading Shea Weber’s contract and two prospects to Chicago for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Instead, they focused on retaining their core, re-signing Olli Määttä, Ian Cole, Alexander Kerfoot, and Karel Vejmelka to new deals.
With a 28-25-9 record and 65 points, Utah remains in the Wild Card mix but faces tough competition to get into the playoffs in their first season in Salt Lake City.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
