Friday is the NHL’s trade deadline for the 2025-26 season, and after the deals are done the playoff races really heat up.

Though many teams might look different from the way they look Friday morning, the end of the work week means that it’s time for another set of the ESPN NHL Power Rankings. This week, in addition to a new set of rankings, we’ve identified the most captivating game on each club’s schedule for the rest of March.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Feb. 27. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games. All odds are by DraftKings Sportsbook, subject to change.