NHL Playoff Picture 2026, Updated Bracket, Standings After Avalanche Win Presidents' Trophy

The Colorado Avalanche were the first team to clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and now they've won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top team.

The Avs will now have home-ice advantage throughout the entirety of the 2026 playoffs, including the Stanley Cup Final, should they make it there.

With the Avalanche securing the league's top spot, here's a look at the updated NHL standings.

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NHL standings (x- clinched, e- eliminated)

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

1. x- Buffalo Sabres: 104 points
2. x- Tampa Bay Lightning: 102 points
3. x- Montreal Canadiens: 102 points

Metropolitan

1. x- Carolina Hurricanes: 106 points
2. x- Pittsburgh Penguins: 98 points
3. Philadelphia Flyers: 92 points

Wild Card

1. Boston Bruins: 96 points
2. Ottawa Senators: 94 points

Outside the Bubble

1. New York Islanders: 91 points
2. Columbus Blue Jackets: 90 points
3. Detroit Red Wings: 90 points
4. Washington Capitals: 89 points
5. e- New Jersey Devils: 83 points
6. e- Florida Panthers: 78 points
7. e- Toronto Maple Leafs: 78 points
8. e- New York Rangers: 75 points

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Western Conference

Central

1. x- Colorado Avalanche: 112 points
2. x- Dallas Stars: 104 points
3. x- Minnesota Wild: 102 points

Pacific

1. Edmonton Oilers: 90 points
2. Vegas Golden Knights: 88 points
3. Anaheim Ducks: 87 points

Wild Card

1. Utah Mammoth: 88 points
2. Nashville Predators: 84 points

Outside the Bubble

1. Los Angeles Kings: 83 points
2. San Jose Sharks: 81 points
3. Winnipeg Jets: 80 points
4. St. Louis Blues: 78 points
5. Seattle Kraken: 75 points
6. e- Calgary Flames: 73 points
7. e- Chicago Blackhawks: 70 points
8. e- Vancouver Canucks: 52 points

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The Avalanche are looking to make it past the second round this spring for the first time since their Stanley Cup win in 2022.

The franchise may have had that in mind when they acquired Nazem Kadri, a key part of their run to that Cup, as well as defenseman Brett Kulak ahead of the March trade deadline.

Kadri has now added depth to a forward lineup starring the NHL's leading goalscorer in Nathan MacKinnon, while Kulak has slotted into the Avs' top pairing alongside Cale Makar.

With two more 30-goal scorers in Martin Nečas and Brock Nelson and the goalie tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood combining for a .910 save percentage, the Avalanche will hope they have enough depth behind Makar and MacKinnon to make a deep run this spring.