NHL power rankings, grades for trade deadline moves

Much has changed since the last USA TODAY Sports NHL power rankings in early February.

There were the Olympics in which the United States picked up its first men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime during the final.

There was a coaching change in Los Angeles, and most importantly, the NHL trade deadline on March 6.

There had been a roster freeze during the Olympics, so it was a rush to get trades done. Big names moved, such as Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, Brayden Schenn and John Carlson.

This version of the NHL power rankings recaps trades and hands out grades.

NHL power rankings

Numbers in parentheses reflect the change from the most recent power rankings. Statistics and standings are as of March 8.

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

They were busy in the leadup to the deadline, adding forward Nicolas Roy and defenseman Brett Kulak. But they saved the best for the last minute, bringing back 2022 Stanley Cup winner Nazem Kadri. They gave up Victor Olofsson, Samuel Girard and draft picks in the deals, but they’re deeper down the middle and grittier. Grade: A

2. Dallas Stars (+3)

Tyler Myers, a 6-foot-8 defenseman, is joining 6-foot-7 Lian Bichsel on the blue line. He’s a right shot, too. Forward Michael Bunting will help make up for the loss of Tyler Seguin to season-ending knee surgery. Grade: A

3. Minnesota Wild (0)

The Quinn Hughes trade in December was the big one, and he has been a marvel. But Bill Guerin didn’t stop there. He added forwards Michael McCarron, Bobby Brink and Nick Foligno (he’ll join brother Marcus) and depth defenseman Jeff Petry. Vinnie Hinostroza and prospect David Jiricek were moved out. The Wild’s bottom six is better and McCarron kills penalties. Grade: A

4. Carolina Hurricanes (0)

They could have used more center depth (along with the rest of the league), but their only acquisition was tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers. Still the Hurricanes are a threat to reach the Eastern Conference final again. Grade: C

5. Buffalo Sabres (+4)

The Sabres took off after Jarmo Kekalainen replaced Kevyn Adams as general manager, and the new GM rewarded the team with some moves. He added Sam Carrick to help the league’s worst faceoff team. He also changed course after Colton Parayko didn’t waive his no-trade clause and brought in defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, giving the Sabres a physical third pairing. Schenn and fellow newcomer Tanner Pearson are Stanley Cup winners. Grade – B

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (-4)

The Lightning brought back pesky forward Corey Perry, who has a recent habit of getting to the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have lost in the first round the past three seasons, so they’ll appreciate his presence even if he hasn’t won a Cup since 2007. Grade: B–

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (-1)

Their big move was the goalie swap in December. They got out of Tristan Jarry’s contract, and Stuart Skinner is doing better than he was in Edmonton. Egor Chinakhov, acquired in December, has been a great addition. Girard hasn’t done much since arriving from Colorado and the Penguins also added 6-foot-8 forward Elmer Soderblom. Grade: B+

8. Montreal Canadiens (-1)

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said the Canadiens were working on something big but weren’t able to pull it off. Nothing happened, and the goaltending remains inconsistent and they didn’t find a taker for Patrik Laine. Grade: D

9. Detroit Red Wings (-1)

Popular David Perron, recovering from hernia surgery, has returned to the Red Wings. He totaled 41 goals in his two seasons in Detroit. Right-shot defenseman Justin Faulk, acquired from St. Louis, will move into the second pairing. Grade: B+

10. New York Islanders (+2)

They added forward Brayden Schenn, moving out underperforming Jonathan Drouin in the deal. They did the same earlier by moving out Maxim Tsyplakov in the Ondrej Palat deal. Grade: B

11. Boston Bruins (-1)

They were relatively quiet, adding Lukas Reichel. They’re sticking with a team that’s in a playoff position earlier than expected after last season’s sell-off. Grade: B–

12. Anaheim Ducks (+4)

Adding veteran John Carlson was a nice move for a team that appears poised to make it back to the playoffs. If they don’t, they’ll give their 2027 first-round pick to the Capitals rather than this year’s. They also moved out Ryan Strome’s $5 million cap hit, which will help with restricted free agents Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, plus unrestricted free agents Carlson and Radko Gudas, needing new contracts this summer. Grade: B+

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (0)

Conor Garland was a solid deadline pickup, as was Mason Marchment earlier. Chinakhov is thriving since being dealt to Pittsburgh, but he had requested a trade. Grade: B+

14. Utah Mammoth (0)

The team has been beefing up its blue line since moving from Arizona and MacKenzie Weegar is the latest arrival. The right-shot defenseman will fit nicely in the top four. They didn’t have to give up Tij Iginla, former Flames standout Jarome Iginla’s son, or a first-round pick (three second-rounders instead) to land a player with five years left on his deal. Grade: A-

15. Ottawa Senators (+2)

Forward Warren Foegele had only seven goals in Los Angeles, but scored in his first game in Ottawa. They also traded pending unrestricted free agent Perron. Grade: C

16. Vegas Golden Knights (-5)

They added forward depth and penalty killing at the deadline with Nic Dowd and Cole Smith. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, acquired earlier, helps replace injured Alex Pietrangelo. They didn’t do anything at the deadline to upgrade their goaltending. Grade: B

17. Edmonton Oilers (+1)

They moved out Skinner, who was tremendous or mediocre during two trips to the Stanley Cup Final. Jarry hasn’t worked out in Edmonton. GM Stan Bowman gave up a first-round pick to move out disappointing Andrew Mangiapane. They landed Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach in that trade. Connor Murphy, acquired from Chicago in a separate trade, was a good pickup. Grade: C

18. Philadelphia Flyers (+3)

They moved out 5-foot-8 forward Brink, who’s a pending free agent with arbitration rights, and brought in 6-foot-4 defenseman Jiricek. Perhaps the Flyers will help with his development. Rasmus Ristolainen was in the rumor mill but didn’t move. Grade: D+

19. San Jose Sharks (+5)

Their biggest move was trading for Kiefer Sherwood earlier in the season. GM Mike Grier got him signed to an extension during trade deadline week. He also re-signed goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. Grade: B

20. Seattle Kraken (-5)

The Kraken need more scoring. Bobby McMann, acquired from Toronto, becomes the team’s second-leading scorer. They moved on earlier from Marchment, receiving a second- and fourth-round pick after giving up a third- and fourth-rounder to land him in the offseason. Seattle also signed captain Jordan Eberle to an extension. Grade: B

21. Washington Capitals (-2)

It was a tough week for Capitals players as they parted ways with franchise defenseman Carlson, plus Dowd, who had been with Washington since 2018-19. They received a first-round pick for pending UFA Carlson and later dealt for Timothy Liljegren and David Kampf. Not the same. Grade: D+

22. Florida Panthers (+1)

The back-to-back champions’ run is all but over because of major injuries. But they wisely held on to their free agents, outside of Petry. If they can get Sergei Bobrovsky and others re-signed, their core remains championship material, assuming they can stay healthy and rest up from three runs to the Final and heavy representation at the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics. Grade: B-

23. New Jersey Devils (+3)

They traded Palat, added Nick Bjugstad and held on to Dougie Hamilton. A disappointing season for the Devils, even if Jack Hughes became a national hero for his golden goal at the Olympics.

24. Los Angeles Kings (-2)

The Kings made a huge splash before the Olympic break by trading for Artemi Panarin. Then they lost Kevin Fiala to a broken leg at the Olympics. A slump after the Games cost coach Jim Hiller his job and they traded Foegele and Perry and added Scott Laughton. Grade: B-

25. Toronto Maple Leafs (-5)

The Maple Leafs were sellers during a disappointing season. Toronto got a third-round pick (a second if the Kings make the playoffs) for Laughton after giving up a first-rounder and a prospect to land him at last year’s deadline. GM Brad Treliving did get a first-rounder in the Roy trade, plus draft picks for McMann. Grade: D

26. Winnipeg Jets (+3)

The Jets moved out pending UFA defensemen Stanley and Luke Schenn and got promising prospect Izak Rosen as part of the return. They got a seventh-round pick for Pearson. Grade: B

27. Nashville Predators (-2)

The Predators weren’t far from a playoff spot when they decided to sell. McCarron, Cole Smith, Bunting and Nick Blankenburg were among those moved, mostly for draft picks. They didn’t move Ryan O’Reilly, who had no trade protection. GM Barry Trotz is retiring and left a lot of work for his eventual successor. Grade: D

28. St. Louis Blues (+3)

The St. Louis rumor mill featured most of the core. The trade of Parayko to the Sabres leaked out (the Blues said it wasn’t them), and he exercised his right not to waive his no-trade clause. Brayden Schenn and Faulk did move and St. Louis got first-round picks and prospects in those deals. Grade: C+

29. Calgary Flames (-1)

They moved out Kadri, Weegar and Andersson in a rebuild. They added defensemen Olli Maatta and Zach Whitecloud, prospects Jonathan Castagna and Max Curran, plus lots of draft picks. Grade: B+

30. Chicago Blackhawks (-3)

They get a first-round pick in the Dickinson/Dach deal and also moved out Murphy and team captain Foligno. That seems to set the stage to naming Connor Bedard captain next season. He has to sign first. Grade: C

31. New York Rangers (0)

Announcing a pending retool put management at a disadvantage. The return for Artemi Panarin, who had to waive a no-trade clause, was just OK. GM Chris Drury held onto Vincent Trocheck rather than get less than he wanted. Carrick was dealt and they moved out former first-round pick Brennan Othmann. Grade: C-

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

The return for Quinn Hughes in December (Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a first-rounder) will help the team best in the long run. They added more draft picks by moving out Myers, Garland and Kampf. Grade: C