Blues return to top spot in NHL Power Rankings

The Blues made one of the better deadline deals, acquiring D Zbynek Michalek, who has been playing top-pair calibre this season. Then they added veteran C/RW Olli Jokinen, who has been terrible, but maybe a new situation can help shake Jokinen out of a season-long slump.

Key Injuries: D Kevin Shattenkirk (abdominal).

Not active at the deadline, apparently comfortable with their additions of Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson from Toronto, but now the Predators have one regulation win in the past eight games. That knocks them off the top-spot perch.

Key Injuries: None.

Adding D Braydon Coburn, and subtracting RW Brett Connolly, is a net positive for the Lightning, but results have been uneven, with seven wins in 14 games since the beginning of February.

Key Injuries: D Matt Carle (abdomen).

Trying to remain a Cup contender without Patrick Kane isn't easy, but the Blackhawks at least gave themselves a fighting chance by adding C Antoine Vermette and D Kimmo Timonen. If he's healthy, Timonen could be a nice upgrade in the top four on defence.. 

Key Injuries: RW Patrick Kane (clavicle), D Johnny Oduya (upper body).

Only two regulation losses in the past 13 games and made some nice moves at the deadline. D Jeff Petry ought to be the biggest help, but ex-Sabres Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn should also be energized by moving out of a depressing situation in Buffalo.

Key Injuries: None.

Trade deadline additions (of bottom-six analytics fave) Tyler Kennedy and G Michal Neuvirth were relatively low-key, but both should help, and Neuvirth could provide a viable option if Jaroslav Halak stumbles.

Key Injuries: RW Kyle Okposo (eye), C Mikhail Grabovski (concussion).

One regulation loss in the past 11 games and they added one of the premier puck-moving defencemen in the league, Keith Yandle. The future is something to be worried about later, it appears. It's time to win now.

Key Injuries: G Henrik Lundqvist (vascular)..

One regulation loss in the past six games and the roster was bolstered by veterans that didn't cost a lot to bring in. RW Erik Cole and D Marek Zidlicky weren't glamourous additions, but should give Mike Babcock more options as he mixes and matches lines/pairings.

Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion).

Are LW Daniel Winnik and D Ben Lovejoy enough to push the Penguins into the upper echelon of contenders? Might have been nice to see another scoring forward, but Penguins have won four straight as they get ready to head west.

Key Injuries: RW Pascal Dupuis (blood clot), D Olli Maatta (upper body), D Christian Ehrhoff (concussion).

Upgraded their defence, bringing back D James Wisniewski, and the forward group looks a little different with Jiri Sekac and Tomas Fleischmann in the mix. While Sekac and Fleischmann aren't dramatic upgrades, they do improve the Ducks' puck skills.

Key Injuries: D Sami Vatanen (lower body), LW Matt Beleskey (upper body). 

14-2-1 in the past 17 games, the Wild took a chance on RW Chris Stewart, and added veteran D Jordan Leopold, at the deadline, but G Devan Dubnyk has been their best addition this year and the defence is giving more responsibility to rookies Matt Dumba and Christian Folin.

Key Injuries: LW Jason Zucker (collarbone), LW Matt Cooke (lower body), D Jared Spurgeon (upper body).

An eight-game winning streak had lifted the Kings into playoff position, then dropped three in a row to fall back out, but getting D Andrej Sekera at the trade deadline was, at least theoretically, the right move to address their needs. The next step? Playing him more than Robyn Regehr.

Key Injuries: D Slava Voynov (suspension), LW Tanner Pearson (fibula), D Alec Martinez (concussion).

Probably paid too much to get Curtis Glencross from Calgary and made a low-risk move for D Tim Gleason, so the Capitals are maybe a little better now than they were before, but if Glencross' presence means no ice time for rookie Andre Burakovsky, that improvement may be negligible.

Key Injuries: None.

Give Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff credit. Their primary need has been improved forward depth and it's not such an issue after deals brought in Jiri Tlusty, Drew Stafford and Lee Stempniak. If Mathieu Perreault makes it back from injury in time for the playoffs, the Jets should be well-stocked.

Key Injuries: LW Mathieu Perreault (lower body).

Tried to bolster their forward ranks by getting C Max Talbot and RW Brett Connolly at the deadline, but Connolly already suffered a broken finger, so that's not going to provide much assistance. Might as well cling to eighth spot for as long as they can.

Key Injuries: C David Krejci (knee), RW Brett Connolly (finger).

Had won three of 13 before back-to-back four-goal wins -- it's about the least inspiring battle for a playoff spot from a team that was so far above this less than a year ago.

Key Injuries: Raffi Torres (knee).

Didn't add much in terms of immediate help at the deadline, but getting healthier on the blueline will eventually provide a needed boost. Long-term, the acquisition of LW Sven Baertschi does have a chance to pay dividends.

Key Injuries: D Kevin Bieksa (hand), C Brad Richardson (lower body), D Alexander Edler (upper body), D Chris Tanev (undisclosed), G Ryan Miller (knee), RW Alex Burrows (lower body).

5-0-1 in the past six games, which included a sweep of California, nearly has the Senators back in the playoff race. Will the balloon pop for G Andrew Hammond, a 27-year-old who had an .898 save percentage in 25 AHL games when he was pressed into service?

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion).

One regulation win in nine games since Tyler Seguin was injured pretty much seals the Stars' fate.

Key Injuries: RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin), C Tyler Seguin (knee), D Trevor Daley (knee).

Can the Flames hold on to a playoff spot despite losing D Mark Giordano? They have one regulation win the past seven games and there simply aren't good options to replace a Norris-calibre defenceman.

Key Injuries: D Mark Giordano (biceps).

Stumbling along, but still just five points behind Boston for the final playoff spot in the East. That's barely remaining in the race, especially with Boston holding two games at hand, but given the injuries to Boston and Florida, the Flyers aren't done yet.

Key Injuries: None.

Were close enough to the Bruins to deal for RW Jaromir Jagr, and the Panthers are still close (two points behind Boston, but having played two more games), but losing both of their goaltenders in Tuesday's loss to Toronto could be crushing.

Key Injuries: G Roberto Luongo (upper body), G Al Montoya (lower body).

The Hurricanes have been chasing for most of the season, after a terrible start, but they have eight regulation losses in 25 games since the calendar turned to 2015.

Key Injuries: None.

One regulation loss in the past eight, as G Cory Schneider carries an offensively-challenged team that has one player (Mike Cammalleri) with more than 12 goals through the first three-quarters of the season.

Key Injuries: LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), D Bryce Salvador (lower body).

The neverending run of injuries continues and the Blue Jackets have lost seven straight. Even when they try to get creative, moving Nathan Horton's uninsured contract for David Clarkson, figuring that Clarkson can at least play, Clarkson suffered an injury and is likely done for the season.

Key Injuries: C Boone Jenner (back), RW Jeremy Morin (heart), D Ryan Murray (ankle), RW David Clarkson (oblique), C Brandon Dubinsky (concussion), LW Matt Calvert (concussion).

It's one thing for the Avs to regress hard this season, because that was expected (if not quite to this degree), but what's going on with second-year C/RW Nathan MacKinnon? He's playing less this year (17:00 ATOI) than he did last year (17:21).

Key Injuries: LW Jamie McGinn (back), D Erik Johnson (lower body).

Did a nice job using their financial weight to improve in the long run, adding draft picks and, if necessary, cap space by acquiring Nathan Horton, but all is far from well in the Big Smoke, with tensions running high between media and the team's best players. Fun! 

Key Injuries: None.

As well as the Coyotes played the tank game, removing as many possible quality pieces as they could, they somehow still have veteran wingers Martin Erat and David Moss on the roster. Bet some playoff teams could have used them.

Key Injuries: LW Mikkel Boedker (spleen), C Martin Hanzal (upper body).

The Oilers have one regulation win in the past 10 games, a game in which they were outshot 34-19 at Minnesota. While GM Craig MacTavish seemed optimistic about the future following the deadline, there's lots of work to be done to get this club on the right track.

Key Injuries: LW Taylor Hall (foot), D Nikita Nikitin (shoulder).

Goaltender Michal Neuvirth's solid play was threatening to remove the Sabres from the basement, so he was shipped off to the Islanders, and three forwards were removed from waht was already the league's worst group, so this lineup is going to be something special the rest of the way.

Key Injuries: C Zemgus Girgensons (foot), D Josh Gorges (lower body).