With the 2026 NHL playoff field now set, several conditional draft picks moved at the trade deadline have been resolved.

The biggest winners are the Washington Capitals who have secure the Anaheim Ducks’ first-round pick in this year’s draft. The pick comes over from the John Carlson trade in March and was conditional on the Ducks making the playoffs. If Anaheim had missed the postseason, the team would have had the option to keep its 2026 and transfer their pick in 2027 instead. The Capitals, who were eliminated from postseason contention on Monday, also received a 2027 third-round pick in the Carlson deal.

Carlson has been a key contributor for the Ducks since joining the team, posting four goals and 12 points in 14 games, including a hat trick in a 6-1 win over the San Jose Sharks last week.

The Toronto Maple Leafs saw the conditional third-round pick the team received from Los Angeles in the Scott Laughton trade upgrade to asecondas the Kings clinched a playoff spot on Monday. The Maple Leafs acquired Laughton ahead of the trade deadline in 2025 for a first-round pick and prospect Nikita Grebenkin. The 31-year-old centre is off to a strong start in Los Angeles with five goals and eight points in 19 games since the trade after posting eight goals and 12 points in 43 games to start the season with Toronto.

The Kings could also be forced to send a 2026 second-round pick to the New York Rangers if the team wins their first-round playoff series as part of the Artemi Panarin trade in February. The team is currently slated to send a 2026 third-round pick to New York in the deal after already moving prospect Liam Greentree in the deal and will also send a 2028 fourth-round pick to the Rangers if they advance to the Western Conference final this spring.

The Ottawa Senators received a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Red Wings over the weekend when Detroit was eliminated from postseason contention. The pick was acquired in return for David Perron, with the condition of transferring if the veteran played in at least one game for Detroit. It would have moved to a third-rounder if the Red Wings had reached the second-round of the playoffs with Perron playing in 50 per cent of their first-round games. Perron had three goals in 15 games upon joining Detroit.

In addition to the Kings and Ducks, the Philadelphia Flyers also clinched their playoff spot on Monday, completing the 16-team field.