With the NHL trade deadline passed, teams now focus on the final stretch of the regular season. Each team has 15 games or fewer left, prompting an evaluation of their playoff chances. The Athletic categorized teams into five tiers based on their playoff likelihood, identifying the opportunities or challenges ahead. Bottom-tier teams like the Bruins need to consider leadership changes while others like the Sabres must reassess their rebuild's direction. This crucial end-of-season phase will heavily impact team strategies and player decisions moving forward.
The Bruins are sinking. They traded five players off their roster. It’s unlikely interim coach Joe Sacco will assume a permanent title behind the bench.
The Sabres will miss the playoffs for a 14th straight season and are going to be a lottery team in Kevyn Adams' fifth season as general manager.
The stretch run could help determine some answers to those questions.
Time is running out for Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen to prove he deserves the role.
Collection
[
|
...
]