How NHL trade deadline moves shake up the Stanley Cup playoffs

The rich got richer. The poor also kind of got richer. But did the moves around the league prior to Monday’s NHL trade deadline significantly affect the playoff race?

As the sun sets on Monday’s flurry of NHL trade deadline action, the Tampa Bay Lightning (42-17-3) still rule the Eastern Conference, while the Vegas Golden Knights (41-16-4) are the kings of the West.

The moves leading up to the trade deadline saw both teams increase their hold on each conference’s top seed.

The Lightning got a blockbuster in at the buzzer, sending a package of Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, a first-round pick in 2018 and conditional second-round pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller.

The Golden Knights may have mortgaged some of their future capital by giving up first, second, and third-round picks (in 2018, 2019 and 2012, respectively) to the Detroit Red Wings for winger Tomas Tatar, but this isn’t a rental.

Vegas needs to start building its own identity, and even though analysts will be quick to declare Detroit the winner in this deal, the Golden Knights just landed a player who is almost guaranteed to give them 20-plus goals for the next few years.

But thanks to some savvy trades elsewhere around the league, the Lightning and the Golden Knights will have some conference rivals breathing down their necks as we near the home stretch.

As the No. 3 team in the Metropolitan Division, the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-23-4) have a playoff spot comfortably within their reach. But the addition of center Derick Brassard gives the Penguins serious scoring prowess on their third line behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Meanwhile, back in the Western Conference, the Winnipeg Jets let the rest of the league know that they’re in it now. The Jets had to sit by and watch Brassard sign with the Penguins, but they still upgraded at center when they acquired Paul Stastny from the division-rival St. Louis Blues in return for Erik Foley, a conditional 2018 first-round pick and a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick. The Blues will also retain half of Stastny’s cap hit.

With 72 points, the New Jersey Devils (32-22-9) are currently in position to earn a wild card berth in the East. But after adding left wing Michael Grabner from the Rangers and forward Patrick Maroon from the Edmonton Oilers, they could push the Penguins (76 points) for the third playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.

It might seem strange that the St. Louis Blues are selling when they’re the first team on the outside looking in with 72 points. But thanks to a recent six-game losing streak, the Blues find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoff race, and their hole at center might mean they stay that way come June.

Let’s take a look at what the playoff picture looks like at the end of the day Monday:

Eastern Conference

(1) Tampa Bay Lightning

(2) Toronto Maple Leafs

(3) Boston Bruins

(4) Washington Capitals

(5) Philadelphia Flyers

(6) Pittsburgh Penguins

(WC) New Jersey Devils

(WC) Columbus Blue Jackets

In the hunt: New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers

Western Conference

(1) Vegas Golden Knights

(2) Nashville Predators

(3) Winnipeg Jets

(4) Minnesota Wild

(5) San Jose Sharks

(6) Anaheim Ducks

(WC) Calgary Flames

(WC) Dallas Stars

In the hunt: St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers

Next: Blues committed highway robbery trading Paul Stastny to Winnipeg

Can’t get enough NHL trade action? You can analyze every trade made in the days leading up to the deadline here.