J.T. Miller and Jake Sanderson (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0b6ccf31-5ba9-4ad4-8103-2bd626e354f3.webp] J.T. Miller and Jake Sanderson (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images) Now that the NHL’s trade deadline has passed, the race for playoff spots heats up. Here’s a look at whether the teams in the Eastern Conference’s wild-card battle will be in it up until the end of the regular season, safe in a divisional spot or soon out of the race after the deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-rumor-roundup-fallout-from-the-2025-nhl-trade-deadline]. The Columbus Blue Jackets remain in the wild-card battle and went for it by acquiring Luke Kunin from the San Jose Sharks. NEW JERSEY DEVILS The Devils currently occupy third place in the Metropolitan Division, but their 4-6-0 slide in their last 10 games allowed Columbus to come within four points of them with two games in hand. Considering the Devils play the Jackets twice in their next four games and lost Jack Hughes for the rest of the campaign due to shoulder surgery [https://thehockeynews.com/news/what-the-new-jersey-devils-should-do-without-jack-hughes], New Jersey could be a wild-card team by the end of the regular season. The Devils almost assuredly will be a playoff team, but they could take on the powerhouse Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers] or Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals] in the first round if they fall into a wild-card spot. Even if they stay third in the division, they’ll likely face the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] in Round 1. New Jersey’s effective at limiting goals against, but without Hughes, the team added Daniel Sprong [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/new-devils-forward-daniel-sprong-could-be-surprise], Cody Glass [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/new-devils-forward-cody-glass-is-already-impressing] and other depth players at the trade deadline. That might not be enough [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-cap-off-disappointing-trade-deadline-with-6-1-loss-to-jets] to improve their goals-for per game, which is only about average. Tough times could be ahead for this group, but there’s still time to stabilize their homestretch and return to the right path. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS The underdog Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/] won five of their last seven games to surge into the wild-card mix, and they’re now one point ahead of Ottawa for the first wild-card spot. Their back-to-back wins against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 27 and March 1 gave them a big boost. The Blue Jackets have the seventh-toughest schedule in the league in their remaining games, according to tankathon.com. [https://tankathon.com/nhl/remaining_schedule_strength] But the most pivotal of those games could be battling the Ottawa Senators three times in a six-game span starting at the end of the month. Those games could prove to be the difference between the Blue Jackets being third place in the Metro, a wild-card team or a squad that’s done after Game No. 82. The inspirational Jackets have a lot of hockey people rooting for them, but it won’t be an easy road in the next five weeks. They’ll need to be as good as they’ve been of late – and if they can be, they’ll almost certainly be a playoff team. OTTAWA SENATORS The Senators stumbled in February, losing five-straight games and sinking their hopes of being a top-three team in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. But they’ve rebounded of late, winning three of their last four games to occupy the second wild-card berth in the East before Monday night’s game against Detroit. The Sens have the fifth-easiest schedule in the league, according to tankathon.com. Now that they’ve got a talent infusion with the acquisition of Dylan Cozens [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-trade-reaction-will-the-sabres-and-senators-win-win-deal-save-a-gms-job] and Fabian Zetterlund [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/game-day/travis-green-explains-why-hell-start-newcomer-fabian-zetterland-on-the-ottawa-senators-fourth-line], the Sens have no excuses for not being a playoff team. A wild-card berth is there for the taking, and Ottawa must seize the moment and reward its long-suffering fan base with at least one round of post-season hockey. NEW YORK RANGERS The Rangers did a mix of selling and buying during trade deadline season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/a-dozen-skims-past-the-post-trade-deadline-finish-line], but they are still hanging around a wild-card spot. That said, their three-game winless skid [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/how-the-rangers-are-fooling-everyone-to-think-they-are-bad] puts them one point behind the Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/rangers-collapse-against-senators-is-costly-in-heated-playoff-race] with two more games played. And the Rangers’ next eight games – against Winnipeg, Minnesota, Columbus, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and L.A. – could sink their playoff hopes for good. They have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule, and we don’t see it working out well for them. But even if the Rangers somehow stick around the wild-card race, the end of their regular season is a killer, as they take on Tampa Bay (twice), Carolina and Florida in four of their final six games. You can see, then, why we’re not confident the Rangers will beat the odds and squeak into the post-season. It’s been a terribly disappointing season thus far for the Rangers, and we’re guessing the disappointment will continue the rest of the way. NHL Trade Deadline 2025: The Five Biggest Losers [https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/deweb-519a7.appspot.com/o/posts%2FTHNHOME%2Fcontent-images%2F190382e8-6190-44db-936a-02b593327008.jpeg?alt=media] NHL Trade Deadline 2025: The Five Biggest Losers Now that the NHL’s trade deadline has come and gone, it’s as good a time as any to examine the deals that were made – and the ones that weren’t – and identify winners and losers at the deadline. We might have a different list of winners and losers months and years from now, but we’re still going to take some time and do our best to point out winners and losers at the moment, [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-trade-deadline-2025-the-five-biggest-losers] DETROIT RED WINGS For a good stretch after the Wings fired coach Derek Lalonde and replaced him with Todd McLellan, Detroit looked like it would end an eight-year skid without a playoff appearance. However, they’ve lost the plot of late, losing seven of their last nine, including their five-game losing streak. Now, the Wings are three points behind Ottawa for the final wild-card spot [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/can-the-red-wings-make-the-playoffs], and the Senators have one game in hand ahead of their matchup against each other on Monday. And the Wings have the toughest remaining schedule [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/detroit-red-wings-schedule-for-march-2025] of any team in the NHL. Certainly, it’s not looking good for the Red Wings, and GM Steve Yzerman’s lack of high-impact additions at the trade deadline could come back to hurt them. In the Red Wings’ final 19 games, they’ve got only one pushover opponent in the Sabres. Other than that, they’ll be taking on either teams in a playoff position, or teams within reach of a playoff position. MONTREAL CANADIENS The plucky Canadiens are still hanging in there [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/hanging-on-by-a-thread], as they’re tied with the Red Wings and three points behind Ottawa. They pushed their way up the Atlantic standings with a five-game win streak, until they dropped their last two games on a West Coast road trip. The Habs still should be seen as underdogs, but that may allow them to play without pressure. Montreal’s young players deserve this chance to play meaningful games, but if they do come up short in their playoff push, Canadiens fans shouldn’t be too hard on them. There’s a process at play with this team, and it may take another year before they’re consistently good enough to be a playoff team in the East. BOSTON BRUINS The Bruins have the seventh-easiest remaining schedule, but don’t expect them to capitalize on it. Boston’s sell-off of their veterans at the trade deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/i-am-grateful-beyond-words-brad-marchand-calls-bruins-gm-one-of-the-best-after-trade] speaks to management’s belief that this is simply not the Bruins’ season. The Bruins were a subpar team with key cogs, including captain Brad Marchand, defenseman Brandon Carlo and center Charlie Coyle. Now that those players are ex-Bruins, it’s highly unlikely Boston will be a playoff team. It’s more likely the Bruins are focused on being stronger next season [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/by-trading-marchand-boston-bruins-rip-off-the-band-aid] after not seeming to get this campaign under control. Stranger things have happened than the Bruins making a run to the post-season, but ultimately, we think they’ll come up short and miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. NHL Trade Deadline: What To Know About The Prospects And Picks Dealt [https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/deweb-519a7.appspot.com/o/posts%2FTHNHOME%2Fcontent-images%2F2e3a6d84-c9ff-466e-8274-091d63634bac.jpeg?alt=media] NHL Trade Deadline: What To Know About The Prospects And Picks Dealt The first Mikko Rantanen trade kicked off NHL trade deadline season on Jan. 24. Since then, 61 total draft picks and quite a few prospects were involved in the deals afterward. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-trade-deadline-what-to-know-about-the-prospects-and-picks-dealt] NEW YORK ISLANDERS Like the Bruins, the Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders] began this season aiming to be a playoff team. Unfortunately, the results just aren’t there, and the Isles’ trading of center Brock Nelson is one of the final nails in the coffin. The Islanders have the third-toughest schedule, and given that there are six teams ahead of them in the wild-card race, it’s basically game over. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
