It’s amazing how many moments in the NHL have led to a chain reaction of events. It’s why this week’s discussion on Ice Time was centered around the what-if moments from the season so far. Usually, these moments are broken up into three parts: injuries, contracts, and trades but a lot has happened starting with the offseason that makes any fan wonder, what if.
What If The Draft Had Gone Differently
The New York Islanders won the lottery, and things have been great for them ever since. They were expected to be a top-15 pick but not top five, and certainly not number one overall. The Islanders had everything go right and ended up with Matthew Schaefer, a generational talent who has already turned things around.
It’s interesting to think about what would happen if they didn’t get the top pick. The Islanders are a playoff team and retooled on the fly but without Schaefer, would they still be in the same boat? Would they be sellers heading into the trade deadline? Would Mathieu Darche, the new general manager (GM), take a second look at Patrick Roy and look to bring in a new head coach? Lucky for them, they don’t have to answer these questions.
The extra layer to the lottery is what if the San Jose Sharks won it instead? After all, they were projected to do so after finishing last season with the league’s worst record. If they drafted Schaefer at one to pair with Macklin Celebrini as the building block for the forwards, they have the next generation’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The Sharks are good this season, and with that duo, there’s a good chance they have the best record in the Pacific Division.
The draft also didn’t stop at one. The other question in hindsight is what the league would look like if teams approached the first round differently. What if the Utah Mammoth traded the fourth overall pick for a player, someone who could take a borderline playoff team to the next level right away? What if the Philadelphia Flyers took James Hagens, an elite center, instead of taking Porter Martone at six, who was the best player on the board? There’s still time to determine whether teams made the right call with the draft but the impact of some decisions is already being felt.
What If Quinn Hughes Wasn’t on the Trade Block?
The real what-if for this starts with Jim Rutherford’s postgame media availability in the 2025 offseason. Because he said the quiet stuff out loud, where Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers, everything changed for three franchises.
The Vancouver Canucks were a team in limbo, and it wasn’t clear whether they’d sell at the trade deadline or not. The Hughes rumors got to the team, and the trade showed that they are willing to go through a rebuild.
Related: Sherwood Deal Start Of Canucks Rebuild
The New Jersey Devils, especially the fanbase, believe Hughes was heading to the Garden State. The team was prepared for a trade to happen and eager for the move to take place. It never happened, and the Devils haven’t been the same since.
The Minnesota Wild, meanwhile, have changed because GM Bill Guerin swooped in and made the deal to land the star defenseman. They are a fascinating team because it’s unclear whether they’ll sign Hughes long-term, and the clock is ticking for them to win a Cup. Guerin must make all the necessary moves to get them over the hump, knowing the window is open now and will likely close in two seasons. This timeline is interesting as the Wild must go all in, much like the next team involved in the what-ifs.
What If Connor McDavid Didn’t Sign an Extension
Just days before the puck dropped on the 2025-26 season, Connor McDavid re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers. There were questions about whether he’d head to free agency or not, and he squashed it by staying, at least for two more seasons with the Oilers.
But what if he tells the front office that he’s willing to test the market? The first part to this is that the Oilers would be a different team. Either they would be all-in, more so than any other team in the league, or the pressure would get to them and they’d fall apart.
It would have opened the door for some in-season craziness. There’s always the possibility that McDavid could have been traded, something the Edmonton market knows is a possibility when it comes to superstar players. The Oilers also could have made some big moves to change the roster. Instead, the big move they made was to flip Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry.
Other Sliding Door Moments
Another what if involves the Olympics. Because the games are taking place in the middle of the season and taking three weeks of action out of the schedule, things have been condensed. Teams are playing multiple games in short periods of time, and it’s left teams fatigued and injury-riddled.
It explains some of the latest results. In January, there were 31 hat tricks and multiple lopsided scores. Teams are tired and giving up on games earlier than usual, and it shows. Without the Olympics, there wouldn’t be the same craziness.
A big picture what if involves the rules, specifically the point for an overtime loss. This season, a lot of games have gone to overtime. It’s made some teams look better than their record indicates and, more importantly, allowed some teams to stay alive in the playoff race when, truthfully, they aren’t playoff teams.
Is there a what if moment that comes to mind involving this season? Let us know in the comments section below.
