NEIL'S NUGGETS - FEBRUARY 4, 2026
Trading places in the Eastern Conference. Where will they be when the music stops?
Neil Smith
Author
published
What a difference a year makes in the NHL's Eastern Conference! On February 4, 2025, here are the teams in playoff contention. ATLANTIC DIVISION: FLORIDA, TORONTO, OTTAWA METRO DIVISION: WASHINGTON, CAROLINA, NEW JERSEY WILDCARDS: DETROIT, TAMPA BAY.
Today, February 4, 2026, here are the teams in playoff position. ATLANTIC DIVISION TAMPA BAY, DETROIT, BUFFALO METRO DIVISION: CAROLINA, PITTSBURGH, NY ISLANDERS WILDCARDS: MONTREAL, BOSTON
ON THIS DATE, IN THE EAST, FIVE TEAMS THAT WERE IN PLAYOFF POSITION IN 2025 ARE NOT IN 2026. CONVERSELY, FIVE TEAMS WHO WERE NOT IN PLAYOFF POSITION IN 2025 ARE IN PLAYOFF POSITION IN 2026. BUFFALO, PITTSBURGH, NY ISLANDERS, MONTREAL & BOSTON HAVE MOVED UP, AND FLORIDA, TORONTO, OTTAWA, WASHINGTON & NEW JERSEY ARE AT THIS POINT, OUT OF A PLAYOFF POSITION.
EVERYTHING CAN STILL CHANGE AGAIN, STAY TUNED.
Neil Smith
Author
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