NHL trade deadline winners and losers

NHL teams hardly stopped to take a breath Monday.

Before the noon PT trade deadline, clubs completed a record 32 deals. Transactions involved a record-tying 55 players. Packed wild-card standings in both conferences led to a frenzy of activity as teams tried to bolster their playoff chances.

Who came out ahead and who faltered? Here are some winners and losers from the NHL trade deadline:

Winner: Fans of the Penguins-Capitals rivalry

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have long battled for Metropolitan Division supremacy. They appear on a collision course yet again, and Monday both parties loaded up for what could be an incredible second-round series.

The Penguins got started early by trading for Las Vegas-raised left wing Jason Zucker on Feb. 10. He’s fit in well next to Sidney Crosby with seven points — including five goals — in nine games.

Pittsburgh didn’t stop there. It added forwards Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues from the Buffalo Sabres and Patrick Marleau from the San Jose Sharks. Marleau, 40, should have a great shot at his first Stanley Cup.

The Capitals would not be outdone. They added defenseman Brenden Dillon to complement Norris Trophy-contender John Carlson. They also acquired left wing Ilya Kovalchuk from the Montreal Canadiens.

Kovalchuk, a longtime friend of fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin, should boost the Capitals’ power play.

The additions make both contenders, who have won three of the past four Cups, even more formidable. A potential playoff matchup would be must-watch TV.

Loser: The Avalanche and their lack of urgency

The Colorado Avalanche were one of the NHL’s best teams before and after the deadline. Their plus-48 goal differential was the best in the league entering Saturday.

They could have been even better. The Avalanche had cap space, a stacked farm system and almost all of their draft picks, but didn’t use them to improve their roster in any meaningful way.

The Avalanche added a backup goaltender in Michael Hutchinson and a depth forward in Vladislav Namestnikov. That was it.

If they falter earlier than expected, it will be easy to criticize their lack of action.

Winner: “Bunch of Jerks” do bunch of deals

The Carolina Hurricanes, who are battling for a wild-card spot, went all-in Monday.

They added a top-six forward in Vincent Trocheck and defensemen Sami Vatanen and Brady Skjei. It cost them six players and two draft picks — one of them a first rounder — but the Hurricanes sent a clear message.

They’re intent on not missing the playoffs after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Loser: Joe Thornton

Marleau will get to chase a Cup with the Penguins. His former Sharks teammate wasn’t given the same opportunity.

Joe Thornton, who has been a fixture in San Jose for parts of 15 seasons, said he was willing to leave at the deadline to chase a championship. But no deal for the 40-year-old center was struck.

That had to be immensely disappointing for the future Hall of Famer, who is stuck with the woeful Sharks.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.