What trades will affect my playoff picks?

In an earlier post (Feb. 3), I wrote about the mess at the bottom of the Western Conference. At that time, five teams (Dallas, Minnesota, Edmonton, Columbus, and Phoenix) were tied for the final three playoff spots. Vacuver was one point back of these teams, in 11th place. Over a month has passed since that post, and not a lot has changed in the playoff race.

Seeds six through eight are Columbus (70 pts.), Edmonton (68 pts.), and Nashville (68 pts.). Anaheim (68 pts.), Dallas (67 pts.), and Minnesota (65 pts.) are on the outside looking in, in spots nine through 11 respectively. Vancuver has played well and is holding down (for now) the fifth seed with 74 points.

On Feb. 3 I wrote that come playoff time, seeds six through eight, in no particular order, would be held by Dallas, Edmonton, and Minnesota (I also wrote "the Canucks are cooked," and decided to "cast off," Columbus. My bad. But at least I got Phoenix's absence from the postseason correct.).

The trade deadline was yesterday, and as I was reading through "winners and losers" articles regarding trades teams made, I wondered if any trades had been made that might help make my picks become a reality. Lets take a look.

Well, the Stars were on fire when I picked them to make the playoffs. They had won four straight (the next day it became five straight). They also dropped trouble-maker Sean Avery (now a NY Ranger). But since Feb. 5 they have gone 6-8, and before beating the Sharks on March 3 had dropped five straight. They are riddled by injuries and didn't make any moves at the trade deadline. Unless they get the ship turned around quickly, they will not be making the playoffs. This pick does not look promising right now.

After the trade deadline, Edmonton should be a better team offensively. They picked up Patrick O' Sullivan (14 goals, 23 assists, 31 points in 62 games played) from L.A. and Ales Kotalik (13 G, 19 A, 52 GP) from Buffalo. They sent Erik Cole back to Carolina though, although most feel the loss won't mean much. Burnside and Lebrunn picked them as "trade deadline winners." Sounds good to me. I think this pick stays good.

Minnesota's outstanding goalie Niklas Backstrom, who's name had popped up more than once in "will they or won't they" trade talk, was resigned. So he's staying put in Minnesota. They still have no offense though (28th in scoring), and they did nothing to address this at the trade deadline. Star right winger Marian Gaborik is scheduled to come back from an injury sometime soon, but will he be able to help haul Minnesota out of 11th place and into the top eight? Hopefully he does, or else this pick is doomed as well.

So at the moment, it looks as though I'm slated to get one of my three picks right. Not only that, but two teams (Vancuver and Columbus) I said wouldn't even be a factor are looking better than ever and are actually ahead in points, if only by a couple.

Both those teams made moves at the trade deadline that should only widen the gap between them and teams struggling to get into playoff contention.

Stay tuned, as the race for the Stanley Cup, like the weather, will really began to heat up over the next month.