The playoff race is heating up in the Eastern Conference, and the past week has provided no shortage of compelling storylines. From Alex Ovechkin closing in on history to major shake-ups across contending teams, every game carries weight as the postseason looms over nearly half a dozen Eastern squads.

In Washington, Ovechkin inches closer to Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, while in Florida, Brad Marchand settles into life with the defending champs—working on his tan while rehabbing an upper-body injury. Trade deadline acquisitions are already making an impact—Logan Stankoven and Oliver Bjorkstrand light the lamp in the dawn of their runs with new clubs, while Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo look to solidify Toronto's roster. Injuries, depth moves, and resurgent performances are shaping the battle for playoff positioning, where every goal, save, and lineup adjustment could tip the scales. 

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Alex Ovechkin is within arm's reach of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, just nine goals short of breaking 894 goals — with 12 games left to surpass The Great One. An empty-netter against Seattle brought him within striking distance while also marking his 1,600th career NHL point. If he maintains his current goal-scoring pace, he will break the record in fewer games than Gretzky—truly historic territory.

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The Florida Panthers pushed all-in on what's shaping up to be one of the best playoff arms races in recent memory. Adding Brad Marchand to their ranks was a direct counter to the Dallas Stars' addition of Mikko Rantanen and the Colorado Avalanche's double-dip acquisitions of Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle. Marchand, however, joins the team one week into a three-to-four-week injury timeline, so he'll have plenty of time to soak up the sun before making his Panthers debut. When he does, he'll fill the offensive vacancy left by Matthew Tkachuk's long-term injury and provide the kind of veteran presence Florida will need for another deep run.

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Carolina wasted no time handing Logan Stankoven the keys to Mikko Rantanen's old real estate—top line, top power play. The 20-year-old wasn’t phased, burying the game-winning power-play goal in his debut like he'd been there all season. He logged over seven minutes of power-play time, just under 16 minutes total, and made the most of his limited looks—one goal on two shots, an instant impact for a team betting big on his upside.

Meanwhile, Jack Roslovic reclaimed the number 96 sweater, after Mikko Rantanen reportedly gifted him a Rolex as a thank-you when he first arrived in Carolina. Brand new watch for 14 games of 96? Maybe one of the best deals Carolina has made in quite some time.

It's been an active stretch for Hurricanes GM Don Waddell, who has now traded away Martin Necas, Michael Bunting, Jack Drury, Vasily Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, two second-round picks, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a fifth-round pick—all in exchange for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks, two third-round picks, Taylor Hall, and 30 regular-season games of Jake Guentzel and Mikko Rantanen.

This feels like a shift in how the Hurricanes view their Stanley Cup window, but whether it pays off remains to be seen.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs may have the best postseason roster they've iced in years (knock on wood). A big part of that confidence stems from perhaps the best goaltending they've had in over a decade. Toronto boasts a 5-on-5 save percentage of .921, with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll providing strong performances in net.

That security in goal makes Toronto's trade deadline upgrades—Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo—all the more meaningful. Laughton is a versatile, 200-foot player who adds grit, faceoff prowess, and puck retrieval skills while contributing to the penalty kill. Carlo, a massive, shutdown defenseman, excels in limiting high-danger chances against, further insulating Stolarz and Woll in the crease. Once Chris Tanev returns—potentially as early as this week—the Leafs' blue line will be one of the strongest they've had in recent memory.

While the offense will still flow through Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner, these mid-tier roster tweaks reflect a commitment to playoff-style hockey—depth, defense, and two-way reliability.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning are another Eastern powerhouse shoring up their roster for another deep playoff run. The additions of Oliver Bjorkstrand (OBJ) and Yanni Gourde provide both top-six and bottom-six skill at both ends of the ice.

Bjorkstrand's volume shooting and Gourde's steady defensive presence give the Lightning a more balanced attack in both even-strength and power-play situations. Bjorkstrand has already seen games on the first and second lines, along with extended looks on the top power-play unit, skating alongside some of the league's elite talents.

Head coach Jon Cooper has placed Bjorkstrand on the first power-play unit, despite deploying him at 5-on-5 on the second line. The move highlights Bjorkstrand's right-shot, quick-release skill set, which complements Tampa's traditionally lefty-heavy power play. Early results have been positive, with Bjorkstrand already tallying a power-play assist.

Meanwhile, Victor Hedman's injury status remains a concern. The 34-year-old blueliner was a late scratch on March 8 against the Boston Bruins due to a lower-body issue. Per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, Hedman is "hopeful to return vs. Carolina on Tuesday", but remains listed day-to-day. With Hedman averaging 23:05 TOI and 50 points in 66 games, his absence would leave a significant void on Tampa's blue line.

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The Ottawa Senators swung two big trades — landing Dylan Cozens from Buffalo in exchange for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and acquiring Fabian Zetterlund from San Jose.

Cozens, 24, brings size, a two-way game, and a bit of an edge. Slotted as the second-line center between David Perron and Drake Batherson, he made an early impact, tallying an assist in his first game while logging key penalty-kill minutes.

Zetterlund, a stocky, 5'11" winger, will make his Sens debut on March 10 vs. Detroit, starting on the fourth line but also getting a look on the power play. He's got a sneaky scoring touch—17 goals and 19 assists with San Jose — his blend of speed, strength, and physicality gives Ottawa some much-needed bottom-six muscle.

The Sens now have legitimate depth. Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto anchor an exciting young third line, while Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk continue to lead the charge. As of March 10, Ottawa holds the second wild-card spot, and GM Pierre Dorion called the deadline a "home run," pointing out that Cozens (signed through 2029) and Zetterlund (RFA rights) are long-term assets.

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The Boston Bruins have done the unthinkable — moving on from Brad Marchand. They've also shipped out Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Justin Brazeau and Trent Frederic in a deadline fire sale that signals a shift in direction. GM Don Sweeney insists it's a retool, not a rebuild, but the shake-up is undeniable.

Marchand's departure was the toughest pill to swallow. "We had to make a really, really difficult decision… give Brad another opportunity with a really good team," Sweeney admitted. Boston's return on deadline day? A haul of draft picks and young talent, including Casey Mittelstadt, a 26-year-old center from Colorado who has already jumped into a top-six role, pushing Elias Lindholm down the lineup both at even strength and on the power play. 

David Pastrnak (38 goals) is still the franchise cornerstone, the offense isn't completely bare, but the team's identity has shifted. Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman will need to continue proving he's up to the challenge, posting a 36-save shutout vs. Tampa the day after the deadline.

Boston is effectively out of the playoff race (seventh in the Atlantic), but this reset was about the future. With multiple first-round picks and prospects in the pipeline, Sweeney has bet on long-term sustainability. It's a rare sight in Boston, where contention is usually the norm, but now the next wave of leaders must emerge. 

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If this was the last time Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin faced Marc-André Fleury, it couldn't have played out more perfectly. In a 3-1 win over the Wild on March 9, both Crosby and Malkin scored, with Sid sealing it with his second goal of the night on an empty-netter. The grin on his face said it all.

"Three goals on Fleury now… I'll remind him of this one for a long time," Crosby joked postgame. Ever the prankster, Fleury quipped back: "He still reminds me of the goal he scored on me in juniors."

It was an emotional night at PPG Paints Arena, the crowd celebrating Fleury with a standing ovation, knowing this might be his last trip to Pittsburgh.

Beyond the sentiment, it marked Tristan Jarry's first NHL start since mid-January. The waived, cleared, and AHL-rehabbed goalie delivered a 30-save win, a .967 save percentage and a much-needed confidence boost.

With Mike Sullivan reaching 400 wins (the first American coach to do so with one franchise), Pittsburgh is trying to balance legacy and urgency — knowing the clock is ticking on this legendary core – they did well this Trade Deadline, even if they didn't add super-star or even decent-star talent, they stocked the cupboard to the tune of 30 picks in the next three NHL drafts. 

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Buffalo, recognizing a need for a top-six center, made a bold move—flipping Dylan Cozens for Josh Norris. With Tage Thompson still sidelined, Norris wasted no time stepping into the No. 1 center role, skating with Alex Tuch and immediately running the top power-play unit.

Realistically, Buffalo's playoff chances are slim (last in the East, 13 points out), but that's not the focus anymore. The Sabres are looking ahead—to a future where they're not just trying to make the playoffs, but trying to win in them.

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That’s our Eastern Edge Eastern Conference update for the week. Thank you for reading, as always feel free to chirp me in the comments below, in the Fantasy Hockey Discord or you can reach out on X – @FHFHockey. In the meantime, you can catch updates from me on the Five Hole Fantasy Hockey Podcast.