NHL Wild Card Race Tightens as Mammoth Create Separation, Blue Jackets Gain Ground

The Utah Mammoth and Columbus Blue Jackets make key moves ahead of the playoffs

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The NHL's wild card races are heating up as the trade deadline has passed. In the Western Conference, the Utah Mammoth have created some separation from the pack, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have narrowed the gap in the Eastern Conference. Several teams made notable trades to bolster their playoff pushes, setting up an exciting finish to the regular season.

Why it matters

The wild card races in both conferences are extremely tight, with only a handful of points separating the teams fighting for the final playoff spots. Every game down the stretch will be crucial as teams jockey for position. The trades made at the deadline could prove pivotal in determining which teams ultimately secure a postseason berth.

The details

In the West, the Utah Mammoth, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings are separated by just seven points in the standings, occupying the 7th through 10th spots. The Mammoth made a big move by acquiring defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames. The Kraken added winger Bobby McMann from the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Sharks traded away defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the Washington Capitals, and the Kings brought in center Scott Laughton from the Maple Leafs. In the East, the Detroit Red Wings hold the first wild card spot, but the Boston Bruins are close behind. The Red Wings bolstered their blue line by trading for veteran defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues. The Columbus Blue Jackets made a splash by acquiring winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks, and Garland has already made an impact with four goals in his first three games with the team. The Ottawa Senators have also surged up the standings, pushing the Washington Capitals out of the 10th spot in the East.

  • The NHL trade deadline passed earlier this week.

The players

Utah Mammoth

An NHL team based in Salt Lake City, Utah that currently occupies the 7th spot in the Western Conference wild card race.

Columbus Blue Jackets

An NHL team based in Columbus, Ohio that has narrowed the gap in the Eastern Conference wild card race.

MacKenzie Weegar

A defenseman who was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Utah Mammoth at the NHL trade deadline.

Bobby McMann

A winger who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Seattle Kraken at the NHL trade deadline.

Conor Garland

A winger who was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL trade deadline.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The NHL's wild card races are shaping up to be must-watch hockey down the stretch, with several teams making key trades to bolster their playoff pushes. The tight standings in both conferences mean every game will be crucial, and the teams that can capitalize on their trade deadline acquisitions may ultimately secure a coveted postseason berth.