Where things stand in the NHL as it returns post-Olympics

The 2025-26 NHL regular season resumes tonight after a 19-day break for the Winter Olympics. Eight games are scheduled for the return, marking the start of a critical push toward the March 6 trade deadline.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eastern Conference: Parity, or "competitive balance," as commissioner Gary Bettman calls it, is alive and well this season. That's especially true in the East, where 15 of 16 teams have a points percentage over .500. Get it together, Rangers! You're ruining the whole vibe. (Davis Long/Yahoo Sports) Western Conference: The West is home to the Stanley Cup favorites (Avalanche) and three of the top four Hart Trophy contenders in...