The 2025-26 NHL season is now officially in its most unstable phase. After a break from the action-packed Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where Team USA won gold in a thrilling overtime game, the focus returns to the North American ice. 

As of February 2026, the NHL standings show the league split between powerful teams at the top and a middle class desperate for a breakthrough. The Colorado Avalanche are in first place in the league with 83 points. 

However, the real story is in the Eastern Conference, where the fourth and ninth seeds are only six points apart. With only 20-25 games remaining for most clubs, every regulation win is now a postseason lifeline.

Who leads the Eastern and Western Conference NHL Standings?

The battle for the Presidents’ Trophy is effectively a two-horse race, but the divisional hierarchies are seeing unexpected late-season surges. In the East, the Atlantic Division remains the league’s most cutthroat sector, while the Central Division in the West boasts three legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Division

Top Seed

Points

Key Trend

Atlantic

Tampa Bay Lightning

78

Riding a 5-game winning streak post-break.

Metropolitan

Carolina Hurricanes

78

Perfect 8-0-2 record in their last 10 outings.

Central

Colorado Avalanche

83

League leaders with a staggering +74 goal differential.

Pacific

Vegas Golden Knights

68

Holding a slim 4-point lead over the surging Oilers.

Official tracking from the NHL shows that the Colorado Avalanche are on pace for 124 points, fueled by Nathan MacKinnon’s MVP-caliber season. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning are breathing down their necks for overall league supremacy, led by Nikita Kucherov, who is currently locked in a heated Art Ross Trophy race with Connor McDavid.

Which Teams are on the NHL Playoff Bubble?

The Wild Card race is where the 2026 NHL standings become truly chaotic. In the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres (70 points) and Boston Bruins (69 points) currently hold the two transfer spots, but they are far from safe. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have emerged as the Cinderella story of February, winning seven straight games to pull within four points of a playoff berth.

Eastern Bubble: Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Senators are all within striking distance of the Bruins.

Western Bubble: The Anaheim Ducks and Utah Hockey Club are currently occupying the final spots, but the Los Angeles Kings, bolstered by the recent acquisition of Artemi Panarin, are expected to make a massive push in March.

“We are in a position where we are playing meaningful games, and that’s why you play the sport,” Steven Stamkos recently told The Athletic, reflecting the mindset of veteran stars currently trapped on the playoff periphery. 

Impact of the 2026 Trade Deadline on Team Rankings

With the March 6 trade deadline just days away, the NHL standings are dictating front-office strategy. Commissioner Gary Bettman has confirmed that the current playoff format, a bracketed divisional system, remains fixed, despite calls from some fans to return to the 1-through-8 seeding. 

This puts immense pressure on teams like the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators, who must decide by next week if they are buyers or sellers.

Injuries sustained during the Olympics are also reshuffling the deck. The Pittsburgh Penguins are monitoring Sidney Crosby’s lower-body injury, while the Dallas Stars are awaiting the return of Mikko Rantanen. 

These absences could lead to a significant slide in the NHL standings if these teams cannot find internal solutions before the trade freeze ends.

Check Out – Winter Olympics 2026 Medal Table: Team USA Breaks Record with Historic Gold Medal Tally in Italy

As the road to the 16th seed narrows, the parity in the current NHL era has never been more evident. Whether it is the Sabres trying to end a decade-long drought or the Avalanche looking to cement a dynasty, the next eight weeks of hockey will be defined by desperation. Expect the wild card spots to trade hands multiple times before the final horn sounds in April.