There was plenty more activity in the days leading up to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, including trades involving big names (center Matt Duchene) and smaller moves involving experienced depth players (left wing Carl Hagelin) who could play significant roles in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It's all over, so it's time to turn our focus ahead. Here is a breakdown of all 31 teams in the order of where they are in the NHL standings, featuring hopes and worries for most:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (48-11-4, 100 points)
Reason for optimism: The Lightning did nothing, which is the right thing to do when you have been dominant all season and are surging. Tampa Bay won its ninth straight game Monday, 4-3 against the Los Angeles Kings in a shootout.
Reason for concern: None. There are 30 teams chasing them.
2. Calgary Flames (39-16-7, 85 points)
Reason for optimism: The Flames bolstered their back end by acquiring left-shot defenseman Oscar Fantenberg from the Kings. Fantenberg could play on the third pair behind Mark Giordano and Noah Hanifin.
Reason for concern: The one knock is the Flames perhaps could have used an upgrade in their top-six forwards, specifically the second line, especially with the Vegas Golden Knights acquiring Mark Stone and the San Jose Sharks getting Gustav Nyquist.
3. San Jose Sharks (37-18-8, 82 points)
Reason for optimism: Nyquist, who had 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 62 games with the Detroit Red Wings this season, waived his no-trade clause to go to the Sharks, who might have the best high-end forward depth in the Western Conference.
Reason for concern: Nyquist, fellow forwards Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Joonas Donskoi, and defenseman Erik Karlsson each can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
4. Boston Bruins (36-17-9, 81 points)
Reason for optimism: After acquiring center Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, the Bruins acquired Marcus Johansson, a forward who could play on the second line with center David Krejci. They strengthened their forward depth, a key point of emphasis for general manager Don Sweeney.
Reason for concern: It's fair to wonder if the additions of Johansson and Coyle will be enough to bolster the Bruins' 5-on-5 scoring. They are 26th in the NHL in goals at 5-on-5 (110).
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (38-20-4, 80 points)
Reason for optimism: The Maple Leafs rearranged the bottom of their forward depth by acquiring Nic Petan from the Winnipeg Jets for Par Lindholm. They also brought up Trevor Moore from Toronto of the American Hockey League. Maybe this will help ignite a relatively stagnant fourth line; Petan, Tyler Ennis, Frederik Gauthier and Moore are candidates.
Reason for concern: They didn't bolster their defensive depth or add another goalie who might be able to compete with Garret Sparks as the backup to Frederik Andersen.
6. New York Islanders (36-18-7, 79 points)
Reason for optimism: The Islanders didn't disrupt their chemistry by making a trade. Instead, they can look at left wing Andrew Ladd and defenseman Thomas Hickey coming back into the lineup after long-term injuries as their trade deadline acquisitions.
Reason for concern: Will the Islanders look back and wonder if they should have done something to bolster their depth?
7. Nashville Predators (37-23-5, 79 points)
Reason for optimism: The Predators added two significant players to help their power play, which is last in the NHL (12.3 percent): forwards Mikael Granlund and Wayne Simmonds. They also could remake their second line if Granlund and Simmonds play with center Kyle Turris.
Reason for concern: Trading 22-year-old forward Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for Granlund could turn into a decision that Nashville regrets because Fiala has the upside to become a standout top-six forward.
8. Winnipeg Jets (37-21-4, 78 points)
Reason for optimism: The Jets acquired center Kevin Hayes from the New York Rangers. Hayes, a pending UFA, makes them better down the middle and could be the left-shot center who plays with Patrik Laine and gets him the puck.
Reason for concern: Defenseman Josh Morrissey is dealing with an injury that will prevent him from playing against the Wild on Tuesday. That might have something to do with why Winnipeg acquired defensemen Nathan Beaulieu from the Buffalo Sabres and Bogdan Kiselevich from the Florida Panthers on Monday.
9. Washington Capitals (35-21-7, 77 points)
Reason for optimism: The Capitals are 4-2-0 in their past six games, two points behind the Islanders for first in the Metropolitan Division, and they bolstered their depth by acquiring Hagelin on Thursday and defenseman Nick Jensen on Friday.
Reason for concern: They are last in the NHL in face-off winning percentage (45.9 percent) and did not address that issue.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets (35-23-3, 73 points)
Reason for optimism: They added Duchene, the best rental forward available. They also got forward Ryan Dzingel, defenseman Adam McQuaid and goalie Keith Kinkaid. Most important, they didn't trade left wing Artemi Panarin or goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. They're all-in.
Reason for concern: The Blue Jackets could lose Panarin, Bobrovsky, Duchene and Dzingel in free agency July 1, and they have only two picks in the 2019 NHL Draft: one in the third round and another in the seventh. Going all-in brings pressure to win now.
11. Montreal Canadiens (33-23-7, 73 points)
Reason for optimism: They didn't do much except add forward Jordan Weal from the Arizona Coyotes for forward Michael Chaput, but perhaps that's a good thing; according to general manager Marc Bergevin, the prices were too high for him to get involved. The Canadiens have been battling for a playoff spot all season, and the group remains mostly the same.
Reason for concern: They didn't address their power play, which is 30th in the NHL (12.7 percent) and could be a reason why they miss the playoffs.
12. Carolina Hurricanes (33-23-6, 72 points)
Reason for optimism: The Hurricanes didn't trade pending UFA forward Micheal Ferland, which means their chances of reaching the playoffs this season remain as good as they were before the deadline. Ferland has 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 53 games this season. They also got center Jordan Staal back in the lineup Saturday after he missed 27 games with a concussion.
Reason for concern: By keeping Ferland, they run the risk of missing the playoffs and losing him for nothing in the offseason.
13. St. Louis Blues (33-23-6, 72 points)
Reason for optimism: The Blues are the hottest team in the Western Conference, having gone 16-3-2 since Jan. 10, and they largely stuck with the chemistry they've developed in the past six weeks. They did add depth by acquiring defenseman Michael Del Zotto.
Reason for concern: Not much.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins (32-22-8, 72 points)
Reason for optimism: The Penguins were able to add a big defenseman with term remaining on his contract before the deadline by acquiring Erik Gudbranson (6-foot-5, 217 pounds) from the Vancouver Canucks for forward Tanner Pearson. Gudbranson's contract runs through the 2020-21 season.
Reason for concern: The reason they needed help on the back end is because of injuries to defensemen Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin, who were lost on the same play in the first period of the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series in Philadelphia on Saturday. Letang has an upper-body injury. Dumoulin has a concussion.
15. Vegas Golden Knights (32-26-5, 69 points)
Reason for optimism: The Golden Knights made the biggest splash Monday by acquiring Stone from the Ottawa Senators. Stone has 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists), 19 more than Alex Tuch, Vegas' leading scorer before the trade (43 points; 16 goals, 27 assists).
Reason for concern: They are still chasing the Flames and Sharks in the Pacific Division and are likely going to finish third, which would mean starting on the road against an opponent who could finish in the top five of the NHL standings.
16. Dallas Stars (31-26-5, 67 points)
Reason for optimism: The Stars are the best defensive team in the Western Conference, allowing 2.61 goals-against per game (third-best in the NHL), which is significant in a tight playoff race.
Reason for concern: Forward Mats Zuccarello, acquired from the Rangers on Saturday, is out at least four weeks after breaking his right arm against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Dallas was unable to get any extra help to make up for losing him.
17. Buffalo Sabres (29-25-8, 66 points)
Reason for optimism: The Sabres used one of their three 2019 first-round picks in a trade to acquire 24-year-old right-shot defenseman Brandon Montour from the Anaheim Ducks. Now they have another top-four defenseman and still have two picks in the first round, including their own, which could be a lottery pick.
Reason for concern: They are six points behind the Hurricanes for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference and could miss the postseason for an eighth straight time. Buffalo didn't significantly upgrade its offense to provide enough of a boost to climb the standings.
18. Minnesota Wild (30-27-6, 66 points)
Reason for optimism: The Wild have won three in a row. They also added youth with the additions of Fiala and 22-year-old center Ryan Donato in the past week. Donato already has four points -- an overtime goal and three assists -- in three games since being acquired from the Bruins for Coyle.
Reason for concern: Fiala has a chance to be good for the Wild, but he's not better than Granlund, who was Minnesota's second-leading scorer with 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists). Minnesota could take a hit in the short term, which could hurt its playoff chances.
19. Colorado Avalanche (27-24-12, 66 points)
Reason for optimism: The Avalanche have started to play better, going 5-1-1 in their past seven games, and they bolstered their forward depth by acquiring Derick Brassard from the Panthers. Colorado didn't give up any of its top prospects for Brassard, who scored in his Avalanche debut Monday, a 4-3 overtime loss to Florida.
Reason for concern: The Avalanche didn't upgrade in any other area; defense (they've allowed 3.16 goals per game, 10th in the NHL) and the penalty kill (77.0 percent, 27th) have been season-long concerns.
20. Philadelphia Flyers (29-26-7, 65 points)
Reason for optimism: The Flyers may have finally solved their years-long goalie woes with 20-year-old Carter Hart, who is out with an ankle injury but showed signs of being a long-term No. 1.
Reason for concern: Losing Simmonds, a heart-and-soul player, likely will have a significant impact on the Flyers, who are seven points behind the Hurricanes.
21. Florida Panthers (28-25-8, 64 points)
Reason for optimism: The Panthers should be able to be active in the free agent and trade markets after the season.
Reason for concern: They haven't proven to pending free agents that they can win.
22. Arizona Coyotes (29-28-5, 63 points)
Reason for optimism: The Coyotes are three points behind the Wild for the second wild card from the West and will be playing meaningful games into the final quarter of the season, which is significant for their many young players with no playoff experience.
Reason for concern: Though they're hopeful of getting them all back before the end of the season, the Coyotes are playing without four key injured players: forwards Michael Grabner (eye) and Christian Dvorak (upper body), defenseman Jason Demers (lower body) and goalie Antti Raanta (lower body). Their chances of making the playoffs would be greatly enhanced if they had all four healthy, but it's been that kind of season for Arizona, which has lost 304 man-games to injury.
23. New York Rangers (27-26-9, 63 points)
Reason for optimism: The Rangers will almost certainly have at least two first-round picks in the 2019 draft and could have four. They should have at least five picks in the first two rounds and at least 10 in all. They also will have a lot of NHL salary cap space to utilize in the offseason.
Reason for concern: They don't have any ready-made in-house replacements for Hayes or Zuccarello. They're banking a lot on the development of a lot of prospects.
24. Vancouver Canucks (27-28-8, 62 points)
Reason for optimism: The Canucks have shown the makings of a new core with rookie center Elias Pettersson and forwards Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. They also have quality prospects coming, including defenseman Quinn Hughes, who plays at the University of Michigan.
Reason for concern: They badly need help on defense. Hughes should help. Perhaps defenseman Olli Juolevi will too, when he gets healthy. But they need to address this area in the offseason because it's a big reason why they've fallen further back in the standings this month, going 3-6-2 since Feb. 4.
25. Chicago Blackhawks (26-28-9, 61 points)
Reason for optimism: The Blackhawks are alive in the Western Conference playoff race and activated goalie Corey Crawford (concussion) off injured reserve Monday.
Reason for concern: They have lost back-to-back games and are five points behind Minnesota for the second wild card. Though they didn't trade anyone from the current roster before the deadline, they also didn't add anybody who could give them a jolt.
26. Edmonton Oilers (26-29-7, 58 points)
Reason for optimism: They had won two in a row before losing 3-2 in a shootout at Nashville on Monday, giving them five points in their past three games. They also will get center Connor McDavid back from a two-game suspension when they play at the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
Reason for concern: They did not make an impactful addition before the deadline.
27. New Jersey Devils (25-30-8, 58 points)
Reason for optimism: The Devils have 10 picks in the 2019 draft, including six in the first three rounds.
Reason for concern: It's possible that left wing Taylor Hall, who won the Hart Trophy last season as the NHL MVP, won't return this season. He hasn't played since Dec. 23 because of a lower-body injury. Re-signing Hall has to be New Jersey's No. 1 priority in the offseason. He has one year left on his contract and can sign an extension starting July 1.
28. Anaheim Ducks (24-30-9, 57 points)
Reason for optimism: The Ducks got a first-round pick in the 2019 draft and defenseman Brendan Guhle for Montour. They could use that first-round pick in a future trade to bolster their roster for next season, and could use Guhle now to see if he can be a part of their defenseman group.
Reason for concern: They are last in the NHL in goals per game (2.16), and their three most prominent forwards, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler, are each 33 or older and signed for at least two more seasons. The Ducks have to get faster and younger around them.
29. Detroit Red Wings (23-31-9, 55 points)
Reason for optimism: The Red Wings have a promising new core group of forwards to build around; Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Michael Rasmussen, Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Zadina each is 24 years old or younger.
Reason for concern: They don't have nearly as many quality young defensemen, and it's not clear yet what their goalie depth will look like after this season with Jimmy Howard a pending UFA. He could re-sign on a short-term contract, but that wouldn't address their long-term future in net.
30. Los Angeles Kings (23-32-7, 53 points)
Reason for optimism: The Kings still have defenseman Drew Doughty, center Anze Kopitar and goalie Jonathan Quick; they're a quality core group of leaders to build around. They also have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2019 draft, including two in the first round.
Reason for concern: They didn't get younger or acquire major future assets before the deadline.
31. Ottawa Senators (22-35-5, 49 points)
Reason for optimism: Their rebuild went into full effect in the past four days. Their total haul in the three trades involving Duchene, Dzingel and Stone includes prospects Erik Brannstrom, Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson, NHL forwards Anthony Duclair and Oscar Lindberg, a first-round pick in the 2019 or 2020 draft, a conditional first-round pick in 2020 (if Duchene re-signs with Columbus), two second-round picks in 2020 and a second-round pick in the 2021 draft.
Reason for concern: They couldn't convince Duchene, Stone or Dzingel to re-sign with them. Worse yet, they have to give the Avalanche their first-round pick in the 2019 draft, which could be the No. 1 selection, as part of the trade that saw them acquire Duchene last season.
