NHL Trade Deadline Boosts Western Contenders

0:00In-HL stories, making news on March 11th, the NHL trade deadline is in the rear-view mirror, and all eyes are on the playoff race with just five weeks left in the regular season. Western conference teams made bold moves to boost their chances, adding key players on defense and up front to gear up for a deep run. Take the Minnesota Wild, for example. They brought in Quinn Hughes, Bobby Brink, Jeff Petri, Nick Felino, and Michael McCarran, strengthening their lineup significantly. The Colorado avalanche were busy too. Grabbing Nazum Kadri, Nicholas Roy, Brett Koolok, and Nick Blankenberg to shore a forward depth in the back end. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets added Mason Marchman, Connor Garland, and Danton Heinen to push for a wildcard spot. The Anheim Ducks landed John Carlson, a solid defenseman upgrade, while the Utah mammoth picked up Mackenzie Weighar to bolster their blue line. Fans and analysts are buzzing about how these additions could shake up the West, where teams like Dallas also chipped in with moves.

1:02Eastern contenders, such as Tampa Bay and Carolina, mostly stood Pat, which might leave them at a disadvantage. With tough first round matchups looming, like wild versus stars or avalanche clashes, these tweaks have teams optimistic. The final stretch will decide who advances, setting the stage for an intense postseason. D&N is sponsored by our partner. Check out the episode description. It is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds. Built for listening in bed, S-O-L-L-I, solely pillow.com.