Home / Sports / NHL Trade Deadline Heats Up Wild Card Races
NHL Trade Deadline Heats Up Wild Card Races
12 Mar
Summary
- NHL trade deadline has passed, intensifying wild card races.
- Four points separate seventh and tenth in both conferences.
- Key trades were made by teams vying for playoff spots.
The NHL trade deadline has passed, intensifying the pursuit of wild card playoff spots in both conferences as of March 12, 2026. In the Western Conference, a mere seven points separate the seventh-place Utah Mammoth from the 10th-place San Jose Sharks, with the Los Angeles Kings moving up to ninth. All four teams—Mammoth, Kraken, Sharks, and Kings—made notable trades, acquiring players like MacKenzie Weegar, Bobby McMann, Timothy Liljegren, and Scott Laughton.
The Eastern Conference sees a similar tight race, with only six points between the seventh-place Detroit Red Wings and the 10th-place Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens' surge has pushed Detroit into a wild card spot, though they are closely trailed by the Boston Bruins. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman bolstered the team by acquiring defenseman Justin Faulk. The Blue Jackets are also making a push, acquiring winger Conor Garland, who has quickly boosted their offensive output. Meanwhile, the Senators are on a strong run, improving their standings and pushing the Capitals further from playoff contention.
