Winners? Losers? Of course we have them while the dust slowly settles from what was a surprisingly dynamic 2017 trade deadline.

Winners

The Capitals scored big-time by grabbing Kevin Shattenkirk. Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

Stanley Cup Or Bust

Washington Capitals

The Caps, already the odds-on favorites to win a Stanley Cup, given their level of play and impressive array of talent, got even more imposing with the addition of defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who was the top rental available. He didn't cost GM Brian MacLellan a meaningful prospect, which is a win. Now all the Caps have to do is erase decades of playoff frustration by winning their first Cup. No reason they can't, except, well, you know, history.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are the best team in the Western Conference and, with the addition of center Martin Hanzal, are as well-positioned to take on all comers, at least in their conference, as they've ever been. It cost GM Chuck Fletcher a package of picks, including a 2017 first-rounder, but he didn't give up key prospects, so kudos for that.

Chicago Blackhawks

It has been entertaining to watch the Wild and Blackhawks tear up the Central Division, and it's hard to imagine they won't meet at some point this spring, which should also be fun. The Blackhawks returned veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya to the fold, sending a former first-round pick in Mark McNeill and a conditional fourth-round pick to the Dallas Stars. Oduya has had injury issues this season, but given his experience in winning two championships in Chicago, he is a more than acceptable risk.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The defending champions are dealing with injuries along the blue line, including the long-term loss of Trevor Daley. But once again, GM Jim Rutherford added interesting defensive pieces, bringing in veteran Ron Hainsey, 35, who was having a renaissance season with the Carolina Hurricanes, before adding another veteran, Mark Streit, 39, after Streit had been traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hainsey and Streit are not young by any stretch, but both should fit well with coach Mike Sullivan's puck-moving scheme. That goalie Marc-Andre Fleury remains with the team isn't all that surprising. The Pens will deal with him after the playoffs, and in the meantime, Fleury represents as good a Plan B behind starter Matt Murray as there is in the league.

Dark Horses

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks have quietly opened breathing room atop the Pacific Division, and just as quietly, they traded for a nice, understated piece in Jannik Hansen, who adds versatility and speed. Unlike a year ago, when GM Doug Wilson added James Reimer to back up Martin Jones, Wilson settled on a young backup, Aaron Dell, as his Plan B. Still, beware the Sharks once again.

Edmonton Oilers

While the Oilers didn't get the veteran defensive help many thought was important, they did get better down the middle by adding center David Desharnais, who had fallen out of favor in Montreal. It cost young defenseman Brandon Davidson, who had struggled with injury but whose place in the Oiler lineup in the long term was in question. Desharnais will allow coach Todd McLellan to keep natural center Leon Draisaitl on the wing with Connor McDavid in a Western Conference that is wide open. On the down side, the Oilers could definitely have used an upgrade at the backup position as Cam Talbot heads into his first postseason as an NHL No. 1.

Columbus Blue Jackets

I'm a bit surprised the Jackets didn't upgrade at the backup spot behind Sergei Bobrovsky, but this is a team that is once again clicking and has moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division. Adding defenseman Kyle Quincey from the New Jersey Devils for Dalton Prout is a nice depth move, considering that Prout played just 15 games for the Blue Jackets. Lauri Korpikoski adds experience up front.

You Don't Hit If You Don't Swing

New York Rangers

The Rangers didn't get Shattenkirk, settling instead for underachieving first-round pick Brendan Smith from the Detroit Red Wings. He's a five/six guy with some upside, and with Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein both injured, the Rangers needed help along the blue line. It's not a big move, but this is still a team that has a chance to make noise in the spring, especially if they cross over as a wild-card team to play against Atlantic Division foes.

Florida Panthers

I still don't know what to make of the Panthers. As in, I still don't know if they're even a playoff team. But by adding Thomas Vanek, they might have tipped the playoff scales in their favor, even though the talented winger has often come up cold in the postseason. Still, Vanek doesn't have to be the guy for a team suddenly healthy and with a shot to jump up in the standings in the flaky Atlantic Division.

Nashville Predators

GM David Poile is historically very active at the deadline, but he was more understated this year, adding grit and experience with Cody McLeod and Vernon Fiddler earlier and then sending a sixth-round pick to the Devils for underappreciated but productive winger P.A. Parenteau. A well-traveled 33-year-old, Parenteau could pay dividends, especially if the Preds, led by super-hot Filip Forsberg, open against the high-powered Blackhawks in the first round.

Jordie Benn is a solid player, but not exactly what the Canadiens needed. Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images

Losers

Nice Try

Toronto Maple Leafs

I don't begrudge the oh-so-young Maple Leafs adding veteran centers Brian Boyle and then former Stanley Cup winner Eric Fehr, but given the Leafs' up-and-down play of late -- they are winless in three and won just five of 14 games in February -- was it worth it? Even with Boyle and Fehr providing a steadying presence, it seems less likely the Leafs are actually ready for the postseason, given the improvements of teams around them.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers moved Mark Streit, headed for free agency, to the Lightning for a package of picks and Valtteri Filppula, who comes with a $5 million cap hit next season -- and GM Ron Hextall says this makes them better equipped for a playoff push this spring. Hmm, not so sure about that.

Don't Get It

Ottawa Senators

Love that the Senators are right in the mix in the Atlantic Division. And I understand the theory of adding veteran forward depth. But I'm not sure how an aging Alex Burrows and journeyman winger Viktor Stalberg really help the Senators become a playoff threat. The fact the Sens had to send a nice prospect in Jonathan Dahlen to the Canucks and then extend Burrows, a pending unrestricted free agent who will turn 36 in the spring, by two years just seems wrong.

Los Angeles Kings

I still don't really understand the decision to add top-end goalie Ben Bishop when the Kings' issues have been mostly with offense. And I really don't get the addition of 39-year-old Jarome Iginla, although maybe the Kings and Iginla will find a hidden reserve of production that belies his eight-goal season. Maybe Iginla ignites the slumbering Anze Kopitar and the Kings catch the Blues for the final wild-card spot. But it seems like no better than a 50-50 proposition.

Montreal Canadiens

While the Canadiens were adding depth pieces in Jordie Benn, Steve Ott and Dwight King, Hab fans were waiting for the big move that would help alleviate fears their team wasn't big enough or talented enough up front to have a successful playoff run. That move never materialized. If the Habs get bounced early, it will be on GM Marc Bergevin.

Didn't Get The Memo

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are sliding beneath the playoff surface with a stretch of uninterested play, and yet GM Tim Murray couldn't find a way to move Dmitry Kulikov, Cody Franson or Brian Gionta. Not a good look for a franchise that looked ready to take a significant step forward this season.

New York Islanders

The Islanders could still make the playoffs as currently constituted. But if they don't, I wonder how the fact the team made no moves while most of their competition did will play with John Tavares as he surveys his future with the organization.