NHL: A look at the playoffs race in the West

The young ducks are trying to take the next step in their rebuild. That said, the task will be complicated, as all the teams ahead of them are hungry. Zegras, McTavish, and Terry will need to take control of their destiny.

The Kraken have participated in the playoffs only once since their arrival in the NHL, which was in 2023. Dan Bylsma’s team will need to string together several consecutive victories if they wish to close the points gap with the last rank that grants access to the playoffs.

The Blues play in the tough Central Division, so internal matchups are never easy. The Blues will have their work cut out for them, having strong veterans to guide young players like Bolduc and Neighbours.

André Tourigny’s team could make history by reaching the playoffs in their first season in Utah. That said, the injuries to Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley could slow their ambitions.

But what is happening in Vancouver? They are currently struggling with the Flames for the last place that opens access to the playoffs. Injuries have not helped their cause, in addition to underwhelming performances from key players like Pettersson and Demko, in particular.

The topic of the year in Vancouver was undoubtedly the controversy between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. The outcome of this saga could change everything for the rest of their season.

The Flames represent one of the pleasant surprises in the NHL in 2024-2025, as several players have stepped up, like Jonathan Huberdeau, for example.

Calgary hit a homerun on January 30 by acquiring the services of forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from the Flyers. These additions could be a game changer for the Alberta team, and positively so.

The good old Kings, staying true to their tradition, are still among the best in the Pacific, year after year. With veterans like Kopitar present, along with the return of Drew Doughty, they should make the playoffs without any issues, unless something goes wrong.

It will be interesting to see how the Avalanche reacts to the trade of Mikko Rantanen. Martin Necas seems to fit well with MacKinnon and Makar so far!

Even though Tyler Seguin was injured, the Stars have held strong, remaining one of the forces in the league. And now, they can count on Rantanen…

The Wild, thanks to their effective playing system and work ethic, is having success this year. And even though Kirill Kaprizov is injured, the team’s results remain unchanged. It will be a battle to the finish!

Probably the most consistent team in terms of regular season wins since 2017.

Led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers remain very good in 2024-2025, as they seek to secure their playoff spot as quickly as possible.

We don’t know what the Jets have been eating this year, but they dominate the Western standings, thanks in large part to the brilliance of their goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Is this finally the year the Jets will lift Lord Stanley Cup?