The Chris Tanev Sweepstakes are officially over with more than a week to go before the NHL trade deadline. On Wednesday night, the Stars acquired Tanev in a three-way trade with the Flames - his team for four years - and the Devils.

Here are the high-level details:

Calgary and New Jersey will combine to retain 75% of Tanev's $4.5-million cap hit. The veteran Canadian defenseman is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Brady appears to be a pawn in this deal. The 23-year-old UMass goalie is unsigned despite New Jersey using a fifth-round draft pick on him in 2019, and the Devils wouldn't have been able to retain any salary without sending something (pick or player) to the Stars.

OK, let's get into the trade grades.

The Stars

Tanev immediately becomes Dallas' go-to shutdown defenseman at even strength. He also improves the breakout and levels up the penalty kill, which ranks seventh in the NHL. And Tanev raises the ceiling for a team that's fighting for home-ice advantage in the Western Conference.

All of that at a $1.125-million cap hit.

That's tremendous value for the Stars considering the assets general manager Jim Nill is sacrificing: a B-level prospect (Grushnikov), a second-round pick, and a fourth-rounder. (The 2026 third changes hands only if Dallas makes the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Let's assume the Stars wouldn't mind that outcome.)

Head coach Pete DeBoer must be licking his chops.

Tanev, a 34-year-old righty, could join lefty Miro Heiskanen on Dallas' top pairing. This would allow Heiskanen to play his natural side and for Thomas Harley to slide down to the second pair with Jani Hakanpaa. You won't find a much better balance in the top four of a blue line than Dallas' after this trade.

Or DeBoer could go in different directions. He has options with Esa Lindell, Ryan Suter, Nils Lundkvist, and Joel Hanley rounding out the defensive unit.

Assuming all goes reasonably well down the stretch and into the playoffs, Tanev should be incentivized to re-sign. No state income tax and Texas weather make Dallas a destination, in general. On top of that, there might not be a team in the NHL except for the Stars that can claim to be very much in contention for the Cup this year and also for the next five-plus seasons.

Impact NHLers Heiskanen, Harley, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger, and Wyatt Johnston are all 27 or younger. Call-up Logan Stankoven has impressed. Prospects Mavrik Bourque and Lian Bichsel are coming.

This past draft was the first time since 2008 that the Stars didn't select a player in the first round. That conservatism - or smart asset management, depending on how you look at it - stretches back to before Tom Gaglardi took over as owner (2011) and Nill was hired as GM (2013). It's in Dallas' DNA.

Right now, the Stars own their 2024 and 2025 firsts. So, they can add again before the deadline or continue to draft and develop at an efficient rate.

There's no obvious downside to this deal for Dallas. Home run for Nill.

Grade: A+

The Flames

Tanev was the second-best rental defenseman available ahead of the deadline, behind only now-ex-teammate Noah Hanifin. Considering that status, this return is extremely disappointing for the Flames.

The Stars are one of the NHL's top teams, so there's a good chance the second-round selection falls in the 56-64 range. While hitting on a pick in that radius isn't impossible, it's also not likely. That player will also take years to develop.

The fact that Calgary only receives the third-rounder if Dallas makes it to the Cup Final is also very disappointing for the Flames, not to mention that they did the Stars a favor by retaining 50% of Tanev's cap hit.

Grushnikov, meanwhile, doesn't appear to have a ton of upside. Daily Faceoff ranked him outside of the Stars' top 10 prospects in a preseason list. The Athletic ranked him as the club's No. 10 prospect in February. Dallas picked the 6-foot-2 Russian defenseman 48th overall in 2021. He's produced five points in 44 games during his first AHL season.

While getting a first for Tanev might've been tough, it may have been worth it for Flames GM Craig Conroy to wait closer to the deadline to see if a desperate team would step up and pay the price. In a market where so many contenders need quality top-four blue-liners, there was no need to rush this deal for such a poor return. Even if Conroy couldn't land that first, he might've been able to get a package that at least included more quantity than this.

To give Conroy the benefit of the doubt, it's possible Tanev forced his way to Dallas. Tanev had a 10-team no-trade list, so it's not too far-fetched to think he could've vetoed any possible landing spots - except the Stars - thus eliminating the Flames' trade leverage.

But without knowing for sure, it's hard to give Calgary any positive marks. If Conroy doesn't nail the Hanifin trade, Flames fans will start losing faith in their rookie GM - if they haven't already.

Grade: D

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The 2023 NHL Draft runs next Wednesday and Thursday in Nashville. We surveyed dozens of prospects in the class on various subjects, from their standout teammates and outside interests to trash-talking and goalie masks.

Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (Sweden, SHL): I'm a mix between (Anze) Kopitar, (Evgeni) Malkin, and (Aleksander) Barkov. Big centermen with great hockey sense and skills.

Tom Willander, D, Rogle (Sweden, J20): I really like how Miro Heiskanen plays. I feel like his two-way game is really good. Quite similar to me. He's a strong skater, and his transition game is super good. Not too flashy but very effective in the offensive zone.

Gabriel Perreault, RW, USA Hockey National Team Development Program: One guy I try to look at is Trevor Zegras because of how competitive, creative, and skilled he is. And growing up in Chicago, I always watched Patrick Kane.

Brandon Svoboda, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Alex Tuch's a big one for me. He uses his size and skating ability to take the puck to the net. He's offensively gifted, he's very responsible in the D-zone, and his game's got an edge to it.

Dylan MacKinnon, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL): Jacob Trouba. He's a very physical guy. He isn't afraid to shed the mitts. I just absolutely love the way he plays.

Adam Gajan, G, Chippewa Steel (NAHL): I like watching Andrei Vasilevskiy. He's probably the best goalie in the NHL. Just his movement and how explosive he is. He's a very confident goalie. I also like Sergei Bobrovsky.

Maxim Strbak, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL): Mo Seider. He's more offensive, but there are some similarities between me and him. He's a very physical player, aggressive along the walls, retrieves the puck well, passes it well, and also contributes offensively.

Lenni Hameenaho, RW, Assat (Finland, Liiga): I don't think there's a player who is playing the exact same way as I am playing. I like to watch (David) Pastrnak from Boston, but I don't think it's exactly the same.

Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL): I watch a lot of Artemi Panarin. He's a guy I try to take things from and add them to my game. You see his feet out there and the way he's able to be deceptive with his whole body.

Luca Cagnoni, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL): I really like watching Quinn Hughes. Kind of similar size. I feel like I skate well like him. His playmaking ability is really elite, too. I really like watching Jared Spurgeon, too. He's a smaller guy, but he's really good in his D-zone.

Brady Cleveland, D, USNTDP: I like to watch a lot of Jaycob Megna on Seattle. He's a good comparison for me, just with his size and ability on the ice.

Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): I like to watch Nathan MacKinnon. The way he skates, he's so powerful. Also, how he shoots the puck in stride is something I'd like to emulate. I also like to watch Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron for how they both play at both ends of the ice.

Caden Price, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): There's a lot of different guys I take things from. I'd say a guy like Thomas Chabot, a two-way, rangy defenseman who's leaned on by his team. He's a leader. He skates well. He's got good puck instincts.

Luca Pinelli, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL): A little bit of Mitch Marner and Brad Marchand. Marner has that very high hockey IQ. He's a skilled player. And he can find his teammates. Marchand is really competitive. He doesn't really care about who his opponent is. And he has a little bit of feistiness to his game.

Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Definitely (Carey) Price. I try to have that stoicism and poise. It's a staple of my game, and it's definitely something I picked up from him when I was younger.

Connor Bedard, C, Regina Pats (WHL): That's pretty easy. I think (Connor) McDavid's speed would be the obvious answer. Having that would be nice, being able to do what he does at that speed.

Ryan Leonard, RW, USNTDP: McDavid's speed. Who doesn't want that?

Nico Myatovic, LW, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL): The physicality of Tom Wilson. I think that would complement my game really well.

Jayson Shaugabay, RW, Warroad High (US high school): Jack Hughes' skating. He's just so quick and smooth, nobody can touch him on the ice.

Nate Danielson, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): (Auston) Matthews' shot. He's someone I like to watch. I'd like to have a release like him and be able to put it where he does. It's world-class.

Paul Fischer, D, USNTDP: (Rasmus) Dahlin's hands. He's got pretty silky mitts. They always help in tight-making plays.

Cameron Allen, D, Guelph Storm (OHL): Cale Makar and his deceptiveness. The way he thinks the game, he always knows how to make defenders bite or make them think he's doing something he's not. That deceptiveness is so valuable, especially as an offensive defenseman walking the blue line.

Cleveland: Brady Tkachuk's swagger and physicality.

Jakub Stancl, C, Vaxjo Lakers (J20): Everyone wants to be as fast as McDavid. But probably (Mikko) Rantanen's playmaking. He sees things that other people aren't able to see. That's what's amazing about him.

Hunter Brzustewicz, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL): Watching these playoffs, Radko Gudas. He's just been a prick. That's a big one for me. Just watching him and learning and seeing his mentality has opened my eyes.

Ethan Miedema, LW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL): I'm 6-foot-4, and I have pretty good skill, a good shot, and good hands. But if I want to play in the NHL, I've got to add a little bit more toughness to my game, so Matthew Tkachuk's toughness and ability and will to just get to those (dirtier) areas.

Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg Ice (WHL): Daniel Hauser, our goalie in Winnipeg. Phenomenal. Can't say enough good things about him. He was the backbone of our team. We would have nights where we didn't play good, and we'd win the game 1-0 or 2-1. His movement is elite. He can move from left to right pretty quickly.

Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): A very underrated player is Caden Brown. He kind of went under the radar this year. I think he scored 20 goals (18 in the regular season). In the playoffs, he was one of our best players. He's a great forechecker, and he's gritty in the corners. He's a natural goal-scorer.

Yager: Tanner Molendyk. I got a chance to play with him at the Hlinka (tournament) and against him throughout the last couple of years. You watch him skate, and he's so effortless. He makes a great first pass, which is very important for a D-man. He's a player who should go pretty high in the draft.

Gajan: Dalibor Dvorsky. He will be maybe top five, maybe top 10 in the draft. He's a great guy in the locker room, and everybody sees what he's doing on the ice, right? He's a great leader. Of course, he has great skating, great shot, but I think his hockey IQ is special. He thinks really fast and makes great decisions on the ice.

Danielson: Our goalie, Carson Bjarnason. He gets quite a bit of attention, and he deserves all of it. The other guy who I think is a little bit underrated is Quinn Mantei. He had a really good year, and he rose a little bit in the rankings as far as North American skaters. It's good to see that and how he's getting more credit for what he does. Just a really good player. Smart. Physical.

Allen: Only one of my teammates from Guelph is draft eligible - Valentin Zhugin. He's a Russian guy. Such a skilled player and the most positive guy in the room. Such a fun guy to be around. He's underrated, for sure. As he matures and grows physically, he'll start having more of an impact as well.

Svoboda: Jacob Fowler. A lot of people know about him. He won goalie of the year in the USHL. But I think he's the best goalie in the draft, and he proved in the playoffs why he should be first. He's a great guy, too - one of my best friends on the team.

Perreault: For our team, one guy I always try to say is Ryan Fine. He's not the biggest guy, but he's so skilled and so smart, and I was really happy for him when he got rewarded with a top-six role at (under-18) worlds.

Theo Lindstein, D, Brynas (SHL): David Edstrom. Great player, and he's underrated. He was very good at the U-18s, and he showed how good he is at center. He's a big guy, a very strong guy. He's maybe not the guy who will do those outstanding things, but he's doing everything in the right way all the time.

Ziemmer: Probably a hunting guide. I spent some time in the mountains hunting, so that's something that interests me. Usually, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Brzustewicz: I'd want to be in something with sports. A sports analyst. My favorite is Stephen A. Smith. I'd like to be him, talking about basketball and football.

Beckett Hendrickson, C, USNTDP: I've always been a big fan of firefighters. You see those guys, and you feel like they don't get as much credit as they deserve. And it carries over to hockey a little bit, where you're putting others ahead of yourself. Those guys do that every day. I even dressed up as a firefighter for Halloween once or twice.

Carey Terrance, C, Erie Otters (OHL): I'd go lacrosse. I played a lot of lacrosse growing up. Box lacrosse, mostly. I'm a Mohawk from Akwesasne, and we created the game, the sport of lacrosse.

Andrew Strathmann, D, Youngstown: Probably be a pilot.

Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C, HV71 (SHL): Might have been playing soccer or doing something inside of economics. I'm pretty good at math, so maybe something like that. My mom is working with logistics, and I find that pretty interesting, too, so maybe something like that too. Who knows?

Miedema: No. 1 would be something to do with business. I enjoy the business side of life. My dad has some rental properties, so just kind of learning about stocks now that I'm 18.

Bjarnason: Definitely baseball. I stopped playing AAA baseball around 15. I played for a good amount of years. I don't think they take many left-handed catchers in MLB, so I figure I'd switch over. (Laughs)

Kasper Halttunen, RW, HIFK (Liiga): I would be a basketball player. I just love it. I love watching the NBA, and I love playing it. Devin Booker is my favorite. I love his style off the court and on the court.

Shaugabay: Golf. I'm a scratch golfer, so if I wasn't a hockey player, I'd be taking that pretty seriously.

Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton Vees (BCHL): I'm putting everything into hockey right now and hoping it's going to work out. We have a farm back home (in New Brunswick), and my dad owns an excavation business. That might be something I'd want to take over if hockey doesn't work out.

Gajan: I don't have any Plan B, so I hope hockey will work out. (Laughs)

Shaugabay: I'd have my dog on there somewhere. He's a mutt - a Great Dane, pit bull, mastiff, rottweiler. He's a big boy. Then probably something cool with the city where I'm playing.

Larry Keenan, D, Culver Academy (US prep school): A picture of my family. Maybe three stick figures: my mom, my dad, my sister.

Easton Cowan, RW, London Knights (OHL): Definitely my team's colors. Maybe something to do with my nickname, which is Cowboy. Maybe a cowboy emoji? My last name's Cowan, and I live on a farm. It works out pretty good.

Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Seattle: (Long pause) I don't know. I'd probably ask my six-year-old brother and put whatever he wants on it. He'd probably want a little-kid TV show character on it or a tractor.

Brzustewicz: Maybe my three favorite athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady, and Kevin Durant.

Fischer: Maybe all of my family members' names. Probably a cross, too. I'm a person of faith, so that's really big on my list. Probably the team logo and the Illinois flag.

Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna: Mine would definitely be pretty colorful. I would have the (Kelowna) Rockets logo on it. It's pretty cool, the Ogopogo monster yelling. Maybe put my nickname on it, too. It's AC. It'd be fun to be a goalie, actually. You can customize your pads and your mask.

Alex Pharand, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL): Probably paint something that represents Canada, Northern Ontario, and Sudbury. Maybe a lake and the Big Nickel.

Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA): Oh, I don't think I can say that. But I'll say one I heard when I was younger that made me laugh: some guy said to another guy, 'A little less snack bar, a little more salad bar.'

Shaugabay: The funniest one is when people call people pigeons. I don't know why.

Hameenaho: When I was playing in the men's pro league, there were some guys chirping about, like, 'Go play young-guy games. This is for older men.' That's one thing I heard last year. But that's actually bad for those older guys, right? That they are playing there, and I am too.

MacKinnon: I'm usually the one throwing them around. There were a couple in the last series of the playoffs. They were all asking me what I do for my team. But none of them would fight me. I told them I was a (younger player) and that I'd still fold them like a lawn chair. They got the memo. In that series, I think I was averaging like 10 pretty big hits a game. They all knew they weren't going to do anything about it.

Stancl: It was in Sweden. One guy called me 'Albi.' Do you know what that is? Albino. You're as white as a wall. A bit racist, maybe, but I remember that. I just laughed it off. No reaction.

Cleveland: We were playing Niagara University this year, and I said something to one guy, and he said, 'I have a son in the stands that would beat your you-know-what.' I didn't think that was a good chirp, but maybe he thought it was.

Miedema: It doesn't even have to be that detailed. Some guys chirp about your sister or your mom.

Sawyer Mynio, D, Seattle: Probably just that one Bowen Byram said. … Something like, 'Buddy, you're going to work a 9-to-5 in four years, and I'm going to be making ($925,000).'

Strathmann: I try not to listen to chirps. I just try to skate away. I heard my buddy chirping someone once, though. He said, 'Talk to me when you're tall enough to ride the roller coaster.' Our whole bench was laughing.

Myatovic: Maybe just the hands one. 'Are you a digital clock? Because you've got no hands.'

Pharand: Last year, someone who had a contract - I won't name any names - came by our bench and said, 'I make more money than all of you combined.' It's hard to chirp the guys who have contracts.

Halttunen: In Finland, you'll get trash-talked like once in a game. Here (in North America), it's all the time. And it just keeps me going harder, like, 'Keep talking, keep talking, I will show you.' In Finland, it's not that big of a thing. Finland is the happiest country in the world, so we're all friends.

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The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and several general managers have decisions to make about the direction they want to take their respective clubs. There are obvious buyers at the top of the standings and clear sellers near the bottom. But what about the cluster of teams in between?

Some clubs, including the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, have been hot of late, but the chances of either team being a buyer remains next to none, so we omitted them from this exercise. Below, we dive into how the seven other fringe playoff teams should approach the March 3 deadline.

Buffalo Sabres

Standings: Tied for 5th in Atlantic (out of playoffs by 3 points)
Playoff chances: 42%

Surely, there's a segment of the Sabres' fan base begging GM Kevyn Adams to buy. After all, Buffalo's amid the longest playoff drought in NHL history.

However, the front office doesn't share the same enthusiasm for making a huge playoff push for the sake of ending an 11-year dry spell. Adams has said multiple times the Sabres "can't hit the fast-forward button" as they try to build a sustainable winner. It's all gone according to plan thus far, as the on-ice product has greatly improved and core pieces have inked extensions.

In other words, the Stanley Cup-contending timeline with a roster revolving around Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Dylan Cozens, Alex Tuch, and Mattias Samuelsson doesn't align with being a buyer in 2022-23.

(Key caveat: If the right player with term on his contract is available at a fair price, Adams should consider pivoting. With three 2023 second-round picks and a handful of A- and B-level prospects in his back pocket, Adams could conceivably straddle the line by bringing in talent while keeping his firsts.)

Don't expect Buffalo to be a big-time seller, either. Pending unrestricted free agents Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons are cherished veteran forwards, and the club's other UFAs - goalie Craig Anderson, forward Vinnie Hinostroza, and defenseman Lawrence Pilut - are unlikely to fetch much of a return.

Verdict: Sit

Calgary Flames

Standings: 5th in Pacific (tied for second wild card in West)
Playoff chances: 83.5%

The Flames' bold moves this past offseason give them a brief window to compete for the Cup. Nazem Kadri is 32, while Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar are both 29. With an average team age of 28.5, they're among the most grizzled in the league.

Calgary was viewed as a legitimate Cup contender entering the campaign, but instead, the Flames are fighting for their playoff lives. The underlying numbers are strong, though, as they're a top-five team in five-on-five expected goals share, according to Natural Stat Trick, yet they've been unlucky, ranking in the bottom five in PDO (shooting percentage plus save percentage).

The Flames are a heavy team - the type that's better suited for playoff hockey. If 2022 Vezina Trophy runner-up Jacob Markstrom can find his game down the stretch - a big if - Calgary could be very dangerous come playoff time.

Calgary also needs to get Huberdeau going (Saturday's two-assist effort is a fantastic start). He's in the middle of his least productive season on a per-game basis since 2014-15. Adding a scoring winger who could mesh with the silky playmaker should be GM Brad Treliving's top priority.

Verdict: Buy

Florida Panthers

Standings: 4th in Atlantic (out of the playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 39.4%

The Panthers have been ultra-aggressive on the trade market dating back to the 2021 offseason, surrendering a total of four first-round picks in exchange for Sam Reinhart, Claude Giroux, Ben Chiarot, and Matthew Tkachuk. They're not scheduled to pick again in Round 1 until at least 2026.

Despite those moves, their chances of making the playoffs this season are still in question. And even if they grab a wild-card spot, they'll get smoked in the first round by either the Carolina Hurricanes or Boston Bruins. They simply don't have the proper mix of defensemen or a tight enough defensive structure to compete with either team in a seven-game series.

The Panthers have some money opening up next season. Patric Hornqvist's contract expires, Scott Darling's buyout finally comes off the books, and Keith Yandle's dead cap hit lowers from $5.4 million to $1.2 million. In other words, 2022-23 is not the year for the Panthers to go for it. Maybe 2023-24?

Radko Gudas is Florida's only pending UFA who could fetch something on the trade market. It's worth trying to extend him to a modest deal given the state of the blue line, but if a deal can't be reached, GM Bill Zito should trade him to the highest bidder and set his sights on 2023-24.

Verdict: Sell Gudas if you can't extend him

Minnesota Wild

Standings: 4th in Central (tied for second wild card in West)
Playoff chances: 66.4%

The Wild are in a precarious position. They're on track to make the playoffs, but, realistically, they're a long shot to win the Cup. Sure, anything can happen in the postseason - teams go on miracle runs here and there. But the Wild likely won't be a serious threat until the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts become manageable in 2025-26.

There's one player the Wild definitely need to sell: Matt Dumba. It's become apparent the longtime blue-liner won't return to Minnesota after his contract expires this summer. Dumba is just 28, yet he's not the player he used to be and was even a healthy scratch earlier this season. That said, as a right-handed defenseman with top-four experience, the Wild would likely get a decent return for him at the deadline.

Instead of going for the usual package of draft picks and prospects for a rental player, the Wild could try and get a young, controllable player who could help them this season and moving forward. It's difficult to do but not impossible. The Senators accomplished this last year when they received Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-rounder in exchange for Nick Paul.

In that scenario, the Wild would still get something for Dumba but wouldn't be completely throwing in the towel on the season. And GM Bill Guerin knows how important that is to the players in the dressing room.

Verdict: Sell, but don't wave the white flag

Nashville Predators

Standings: 5th in Central (out of playoffs by 5 points)
Playoff chances: 13.9%

GM David Poile said earlier this week that he doesn't think the Predators will be buyers at the deadline. In the same interview with a Nashville radio station, the franchise's first and only GM couldn't commit to being a seller.

Why the trepidation? Five points out of the playoffs in mid-February isn't where Poile expected to be prior to the season considering the age of the Predators' core and the length of their contracts. Let's face it, Nashville is the definition of a mushy-middle team (not good enough to challenge for a Cup and not bad enough to bottom out) until the roster undergoes major surgery.

The cap sheet is a disaster, with $51.6 million tied up in seven players until at least 2025. Of those seven, only two are gems: Roman Josi and Juuse Saros. The other five - Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, Ryan McDonagh, and Mattias Ekholm - are underachieving, overpaid, or injured.

From a sellable-asset perspective, it's dire. Backup goalie Kevin Lankinen and depth forward Mark Jankowski are Poile's only healthy pending UFAs. Still, Poile could get spicy and flip a player or two with term - maybe Duchene or Mikael Granlund up front or Ekholm and Dante Fabbro on the back end.

Verdict: Sell

New York Islanders

Standings: Tied for 5th in Metro (in playoffs as second wild card in East)
Playoff chances: 21.0%

The Islanders are in an awkward spot.

They've already shopped, acquiring Bo Horvat a month before the deadline then promptly signing the forward to an eight-year extension. Presumably, GM Lou Lamoriello would love to double down and add again. The reality of the situation, though, is things could go really south, really quickly on Long Island.

The 28-24-7 Isles, who've lost four of their past five games and 14 of 20 since Jan. 5, are facing only playoff teams over the next two weeks (Pittsburgh, Winnipeg twice, Los Angeles, Minnesota) and a few teams around them in the East standings (Pittsburgh, Washington, Buffalo) have games in hand.

So it appears the Isles will remain just inside or just outside the playoff cutline as the calendar flips to March. By then, the options will probably be sell or sit, and since this clearly isn't their year in a stacked Metro, it would be smart to sell. Goalie Semyon Varlamov and defenseman Scott Mayfield are a couple of pending UFAs who could help replenish the draft capital and young talent sacrificed in the Horvat trade.

Varlamov, perhaps the most overqualified backup in the league, is a great luxury and one Lamoriello would love to hang on to. But the 34-year-old probably doesn't fit into the Isles' long-term plans from a financial perspective, seeing as Ilya Sorokin is the clear-cut No. 1 guy.

Verdict: Sell

Washington Capitals

Standings: 6th in Metropolitan (out of playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 17.4%

Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in December that the team won't consider a rebuild while Alex Ovechkin chases the all-time goals record. But would he be OK selling off expiring assets in a season that's been riddled with injuries? It's technically not rebuilding if they try and take another swing at things in 2023-24.

The Caps don't have a single defenseman outside of John Carlson signed beyond next year. Dmitry Orlov and Nick Jensen - two solid top-four blue-liners - are the most intriguing pending UFAs. Up front, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway, and the injured Connor Brown headline a list of forwards who would certainly draw trade interest if made available, or in Brown's case, healthy.

Does GM Brian MacLellan believe his squad can get on a roll if they're able to return to full health? Or does he call it a lost season? Sitting is the most probable scenario, though the Caps should be willing to trade away depth players on expiring deals versus buying. Meanwhile, MacLellan should be looking to extend Orlov and Jensen to fortify the blue line ahead of the offseason.

Verdict: Sit

(Playoff chances source: MoneyPuck)

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At the one-third mark of the NHL season, theScore's John Matisz and Josh Wegman offer their takes on four hot topics captivating the hockey world.

Which breakout superstar would you rather build a team around, Jason Robertson or Tage Thompson?

Wegman: Thompson, and I swear this isn't recency bias after watching the Buffalo Sabres star's five-goal outburst last week. Both are exceptional talents, but I lean toward Thompson because he's a center, and all great teams are built strong down the middle. Plus, at 6-foot-7 with soft hands and a heavy shot, his ceiling is limitless. If we're factoring contracts into the decision, Thompson, 25, is signed through the prime of his career with an extremely team-friendly seven-year, $50-million extension that begins next season. Robertson is signed through 2025-26 at a $7.75-million cap hit before he's due for a sizable raise.

Matisz: Robertson - for four main reasons. First, he's two years younger. Given their ages, this typically wouldn't be an important distinction. However, we're talking about building a team around one or the other, so the gap is a key data point. Second, Robertson's top attribute is his brain. One of the more cerebral players in the sport, the Dallas Stars winger's hockey IQ is off the charts. Thompson, meanwhile, relies heavily on physical gifts, which tend to deteriorate sooner and quicker. In other words, I'll probably prefer having 28-year-old Robertson over 28-year-old Thompson. Third, Robertson is arguably a more polished dual threat. He can facilitate scoring chances one shift and pull the trigger himself the next. Lastly, while neither is a defensive specialist, I trust Robertson's off-puck chops slightly more than Thompson's.

True or false: One of the Oilers or Rangers - both conference finalists last year - will miss the playoffs.

Wegman: True. It's hard to imagine that the Rangers and Oilers - with as much star power as they possess - are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs at this stage of the season, but here we are. I'm less concerned about Edmonton, mainly because the Pacific Division and Western Conference are much easier. But New York is in tough playing in the much deeper Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. Igor Shesterkin masked a lot of the Rangers' issues a year ago. Now that he's playing at a human-like level, the Blueshirts are being exposed for who they really are - a team with plenty of flaws.

Matisz: False. I don't care how unreliable the goaltending is, the probability of a team with prime Connor McDavid and prime Leon Draisaitl missing the playoffs is close to zero. The Oilers are in a wild-card spot with Evander Kane sidelined for half the season. Kane (wrist injury) is expected back around February, and surely a piece or two will be added before the trade deadline.

As for the Rangers, there's been an overreaction to their 15-10-5 record. Sure, they're an imperfect team, but New York sits eighth in expected goals for percentage, 25th in shooting percentage, and 12th in save percentage. I'm confident the strong underlying numbers will turn into more goals and saves as the season progresses. The top of the Rangers' lineup - from Adam Fox to Artemi Panarin to Shesterkin - won't go down without a fight.

Should the Devils be viewed as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders?

Wegman: No. I've been a big believer in the Devils' rebuild under general manager Tom Fitzgerald. I also love the direction they're headed, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win the Presidents' Trophy this year or a Stanley Cup down the line. However, the playoffs are a different beast, and this core group of players has never been to the postseason together. Every Cup-winning team in recent memory experienced some playoff heartbreak before reaching the top of the mountain. I don't expect the Devils to go all the way in their first crack at it.

Matisz: No. Not yet, anyway. Ask me in another 28 Devils games, and I may have changed my mind. The "legitimate Cup contender" label should be reserved for four or five teams per season. Based on both surface-level and underlying stats, this club deserves the title. Yet, the jury is still out on the goaltending, and we can't ignore how much the style of play changes in the postseason. New Jersey's blue line is built for playoff hockey, but is the forward group? Hard to say. Another layer to this: excluding Vegas' run as an expansion team, only seven of the 39 conference finalists over the past 10 years missed the playoffs the year prior. The Devils, who last made the dance in 2018, could end up part of that 18% - they are that good. But, again, it's too early to be fully confident in them as a legit Cup contender.

NHL save percentage is down, and several highly paid netminders are struggling. What gives?

Wegman: I don't necessarily think it's a goaltending issue, per se. I think we're just seeing the game evolve positively. First, the NHL cracking down on penalties over the years (slashing in 2017, cross-checking last year) has gradually made it tougher to play defense than ever before. Second, there's just so much more skill in the game today. In Europe and North America, skill coaching is more prevalent than ever at the grassroots level, and we're starting to see that come to light at the pro level. Heck, even a veteran player like Luke Schenn, known as a physical, stay-at-home defenseman, needed skill coaching to save his career.

Matisz: Where to start? All modern defensemen must be mobile and, at the very least, competent offensively. This archetype change has led to cleaner breakouts and more odd-man rushes during five-on-five play. The rulebook has changed. Through sharper video and statistical analysis, power plays have become extra efficient. Teams are also boosting the likelihood of scoring by limiting shots from the point and instead focusing on the slot. The proliferation of offensive skills coaches, better stick technology, and an industry-wide love for east-west passing have made stopping pucks more difficult than ever. Plus, the flat salary cap has forced additional younger, cheaper, defensively flawed skaters into the lineup. The list goes on and on ...

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From a playoff race perspective, the Eastern Conference is boring.

The top eight teams are practically locked into playoff spots and should be buyers in the lead-up to the March 21 trade deadline, while the bottom eight clubs should be selling off expiring assets.

The Western Conference is much more fascinating. There's a cluster of teams at the top (Colorado, Calgary, St. Louis, Minnesota) that are obvious buyers destined for the postseason, while other clubs near the bottom (Arizona, Seattle, Chicago, San Jose) are clearly in a rebuild or retool phase.

The remaining eight teams, however, are all jockeying for five playoff spots. Below, we dive into whether these fringe playoff teams should buy, sell, or sit ahead of the deadline.

Anaheim Ducks

Standings: 6th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 4 points)
Playoff chances: 3.6%

The Ducks got off to a red-hot start this season, but it always felt too good to be true. John Gibson was playing out of his mind, covering up the team's suspect underlying metrics. Even with impressive play from youngsters Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale, Anaheim felt like pretenders.

That has proven to be the case. The Ducks are under .500 since Jan. 1, looking more and more like a team that's at least a year or two away from serious contention. This isn't their time to go for it.

New general manager Pat Verbeek is in a prime position to put his fingerprints on the team and help move along the rebuild. Pending unrestricted free agents Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Rickard Rakell will all be highly coveted at the deadline. Verbeek knows he can't let any of them walk and should trade all three. If he wants to keep one of them, Lindholm would make the most sense, though the defenseman's extension won't be cheap.

With the assets Verbeek receives for his main trade chips, the Ducks will be set up nicely this offseason. They'll have a stocked farm system and draft pick cupboard, an impressive young core, and ample cap space to make additions.

Verdict: Sell

Dallas Stars

Standings: 5th in Central (In playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 54.4%

Making the postseason is a priority for the Stars. And after going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games - largely thanks to a goal-scoring spree from sophomore Jason Robertson - the club is narrowly on the right side of the playoff cutline.

This dynamic, mixed with the news Thursday of No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen being sidelined indefinitely with mononucleosis, puts Dallas management in a precarious position ahead of the deadline.

Blue-liner John Klingberg, who requested a trade earlier this season, is a pending UFA having a substandard year. Forward Joe Pavelski has an expiring contract, too, though the club wants to re-sign the ageless wonder, so he's not going anywhere. Goalie Braden Holtby and forward Alexander Radulov - the Stars' other potential rentals - could conceivably be shipped out of town.

Stars GM Jim Nill could say screw it and hold onto all four players because he thinks they can help his team win playoff games. Or he could flip Klingberg, Holtby, and Radulov for picks and/or prospects while holding onto Pavelski.

Or Nill could settle for something in between Option A and Option B by pursuing a few so-called hockey trades, where the seller is also a buyer because they're acquiring NHLers in exchange for their own. This would help the Stars finish 2021-22 strong and refresh the roster for future seasons.

Option C appears to be the most likely - and best - approach for Dallas.

Verdict: Sell ... and buy?

Edmonton Oilers

Standings: 4th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 64.5%

Missing the playoffs in the prime of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's careers would be catastrophic for the Oilers. Such a result might even cost GM Ken Holland his job, and he probably knows it. Holland needs to address some of the holes on his roster - and fast.

The biggest need is between the pipes. As expected, the duo of Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith has been shaky all season. Holland should be inquiring about Marc-Andre Fleury, Semyon Varlamov, Holtby, and just about every other goalie that would represent an upgrade.

The Oilers could stand to add a steady veteran on the left side of their blue line, too. Lindholm or Mark Giordano would make sense, but they won't come cheap. Calvin de Haan or Brett Kulak could be among the savvier value additions.

Verdict: Buy

Los Angeles Kings

Standings: 2nd in Pacific (In playoffs by 6 points)
Playoff chances: 96.2%

Let's face it, L.A. is playing with house money right now.

It would take a significant fall from grace for the Kings to miss the playoffs - even though parts of the roster around veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are still under construction. They're slightly ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, since the Kings draft and develop so well, GM Rob Blake has plenty of tradable assets.

Put another way, there's no reason why L.A. should do anything drastic over the next week. Yet, if there's a deal on the table that can help expedite the Kings' timeline back to contention, why not pull the trigger? Plucking Jakob Chychrun out of Arizona would certainly qualify as one such power move.

The GM that ultimately acquires Chychrun - the versatile defenseman who's under contract through 2024-25 at a palatable $4.6-million AAV - will need to send the Coyotes a hefty package of picks and prospects. Blake can do that.

Verdict: Buy

Nashville Predators

Standings: 4th in Central (In playoffs by 4 points)
Playoff chances: 65.7%

The Predators are in an odd spot. They traded away veteran stalwarts Ryan Ellis and Viktor Arvidsson for futures this past offseason as part of what appears to be a retool on the fly. Yet they remain on track for their eighth straight postseason berth.

The biggest question revolves around pending UFA Filip Forsberg. General manager David Poile said he isn't trying to trade the 27-year-old sniper, but it would also be uncharacteristic of the executive to let a player of Forsberg's caliber walk for free. An extension seems most likely there.

The Preds could be surprise buyers, mainly because they have a veteran core and more than $10 million in cap space. Although anything is possible, that doesn't seem like Poile's approach right now - especially since his club isn't locked into a playoff spot.

Verdict: Extend Forsberg and sit

Vancouver Canucks

Standings: 5th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 3 points)
Playoff chances: 32.3%

Former GM Jim Benning's downfall was his willingness to make the playoffs at the expense of building a sustainable winner. The Canucks' new group of decision-makers, headed by Jim Rutherford, won't go down the same path.

Vancouver is far more likely to miss the postseason and seems primed to sell ahead of the deadline. That said, rival teams will have a huge influence on exactly how deep the Canucks cut into their NHL roster.

Sure, pending UFAs like Tyler Motte, Alex Chiasson, and Jaroslav Halak are probably on their way out. But the real juice is a trio of high-end forwards under team control: Brock Boeser, a pending restricted free agent; Conor Garland, who's locked up at a reasonable cap hit through 2025-26; and J.T. Miller, whose team-friendly deal expires after next season.

If there are enticing offers on the table for Garland, Boeser, and/or Miller, perhaps the Canucks become major sellers, making a splash or two. If not, it doesn't hurt to wait until the offseason to reassess the market for all three.

Verdict: Sell

Vegas Golden Knights

Standings: 3rd in Pacific (In playoffs by 2 points)
Playoff chances: 80.4%

Vegas' deadline plans hinge on the health of captain Mark Stone and defenseman Alec Martinez. Both players are currently on LTIR, and if they stay there throughout the remainder of the regular season, the Golden Knights will have roughly $7 million in cap space for the deadline. That alone could make them major players.

If Stone and Martinez are activated before the end of the season, though, the Golden Knights will need to shed salary. That could force them to trade either Evgenii Dadonov or pending UFA Reilly Smith.

So, theoretically, the Golden Knights could be buyers or sellers. Standing pat appears to be the most plausible scenario, though.

Yes, it seems unlikely either Stone or Martinez are activated before the end of the season, but Vegas doesn't have a ton of trade ammo. The Knights have already traded away their 2022 first-round pick, and their prospect pool lacks depth. They could add a low-end defenseman for a mid-to-late-round pick, but don't expect a major splash - despite management's aggressive track record.

Verdict: Sit

Winnipeg Jets

Standings: 6th in Central (Out of playoffs by 5 points)
Playoff chances: 5.0%

It's getting close to job survival time for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Jets' top hockey executive since 2011. The core he has assembled and trotted out for a handful of years simply isn't good enough to win a Stanley Cup, and missing the playoffs this year, which is probable, will only underline that fact.

Cheveldayoff's best trade chips are forwards Andrew Copp and Paul Stastny. Both veterans could definitely help a contender down the stretch and into the playoffs, but neither will command an overly impressive return package.

Some fans are hoping the GM pulls off a more significant trade - say, shipping out top center and longtime core member Mark Scheifele - but transactions involving star players with term tend to be better suited for the offseason.

Verdict: Sell

(Playoffs chances source: MoneyPuck)

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With the Seattle expansion draft one month away, theScore is predicting every team's protection list and putting one club from each division under the microscope. This edition offers potential lists for the Atlantic Division. (We'll project a full 30-player roster for the Kraken closer to the July 21 draft.)

Atlantic | Metropolitan (June 22) | Central (June 23) | Pacific (June 24)

The 2021 expansion draft will follow the same rules as the 2017 expansion draft that welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights to the NHL:

• Each team must submit a protection list of seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie OR eight skaters and one goalie
• Any player with a no-movement clause must be protected unless the player waives it
• Each team must expose two forwards, one defenseman, and one goalie who are under contract and played at least 40 games this past season or 70 combined games over the last two seasons
• All first- and second-year players, as well as unsigned draft picks, are exempt from selection
• Any player with a career-ending injury is exempt from selection

Teams must submit their protection lists to the league by July 17.

Note: Our lists of exposed players and exemptions include only the most notable names rather than every player who would fit each category. Teams are also unlikely to protect pending unrestricted free agents, as Seattle will probably not risk selecting a player it can't retain.

(Salary cap, and contract source: CapFriendly)

* indicates no-movement clause

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs have two legitimate options to consider as they attempt to navigate another offseason that should feature plenty of roster turnover.

Toronto could very well opt to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie. Doing so would guarantee forwards Alexander Kerfoot, Jason Spezza, and Pierre Engvall stay put. But that 11-player protection scheme would also leave defensemen Justin Holl and Travis Dermott unprotected. While the Maple Leafs can afford to give up Dermott, losing Holl for nothing would be a tough pill to swallow. A second-pairing blue-liner making $2 million a year through 2022-23, Holl is the type of player Toronto desperately needs on its books.

The less risky - and more likely - option is a nine-player protection list of four forwards, four defensemen, and one goalie. To meet the league's exposure requirements under that configuration, however, the Maple Leafs must sign another defenseman to have at least one available for the Kraken. That shouldn't be too difficult, with Dermott, Zach Bogosian, and Ben Hutton all due for new contracts.

Here is Toronto's projected list under a 4-4-1 scheme:

Exposed players: F Pierre Engvall, F Alexander Kerfoot, F Jason Spezza, D Travis Dermott, G Michael Hutchinson
Exemptions: F Ilya Mikheyev, F Nicholas Robertson, D Timothy Liljegren, D Rasmus Sandin
UFAs: F Nick Foligno, F Alex Galchenyuk, F Zach Hyman, F Riley Nash, F Wayne Simmonds, F Joe Thornton, D Zach Bogosian, D Ben Hutton, G Frederik Andersen

Realistically, the Maple Leafs are hoping Seattle picks Kerfoot. Not because Kerfoot is a liability or can't help win games, but because he makes $3.5 million a year in each of the next two seasons. Cap space is at a premium when four forwards are earning $40.5 million combined; Kerfoot is serviceable as a middle-six center or wing, but he's simply too expensive.

From Seattle's perspective, why not select Kerfoot? The 26-year-old can fill a key role up front on opening night, and his cap hit - which isn't onerous for a team with more flexibility than the Maple Leafs - can help Seattle reach the $60.2-million floor. And if he doesn't work out, no big deal: Kerfoot is a UFA in two seasons.

There's a chance the Kraken choose Dermott instead, which would be less than ideal but not catastrophic for Toronto. The organization is relatively deep on the left side of the blue line. As for Spezza, we're assuming he isn't a priority for Seattle after he threatened to retire if a team claimed him off waivers from the Maple Leafs this past season.

Boston Bruins

Exposed players: F Trent Frederic, F Ondrej Kase, D Connor Clifton, D Jeremy Lauzon, D Jakub Zboril
Exemptions: F Jack Studnicka, D Urho Vaakanainen, G Jeremy Swayman
UFAs: F Taylor Hall, F David Krejci, D Mike Reilly, G Jaroslav Halak, G Tuukka Rask

The Bruins' biggest decision essentially comes down to protecting Ritchie, Kase, or 2016 first-rounder Frederic. Kase hasn't been able to stay healthy, and Frederic has yet to carve out a role for himself, so we decided to protect Ritchie. It may not matter, though; the Kraken could see the 24-year-old Lauzon as the most desirable asset.

Buffalo Sabres

Exposed players: F Rasmus Asplund, F Zemgus Girgensons, F Kyle Okposo, D Colin Miller
Exemptions: F Dylan Cozens, G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
UFAs: D Jake McCabe, G Carter Hutton

Ullmark is a pending UFA, but the Sabres have no other goalie worth protecting (no offense, Dustin Tokarski). Buffalo didn't move Ullmark at the trade deadline, strongly suggesting the team hopes to re-sign him. Miller - whom Vegas selected in the last expansion draft - might be the most tantalizing piece for the Kraken.

Detroit Red Wings

Exposed players: F Vladislav Namestnikov, F Frans Nielsen, F Richard Panik, F Givani Smith, D Danny DeKeyser, D Christian Djoos, D Troy Stecher, G Thomas Greiss
Exemptions: F Joe Veleno, F Filip Zadina
UFAs: F Valtteri Filppula, F Luke Glendening, F Darren Helm, F Taro Hirose, D Marc Staal, G Jonathan Bernier

The Red Wings are well-positioned to lose nobody of significance in expansion. Stecher is a nice player but he probably doesn't factor into their long-term plans. Fulcher isn't a big-time prospect, but protecting the youngster seems wiser than using a spot on the 35-year-old Greiss. Detroit's roster is so thin it could theoretically acquire a player for pennies on the dollar from a team that doesn't want to lose someone for free.

Florida Panthers

Exposed players: F Noel Acciari, F Mason Marchment, F Lucas Wallmark, D Gustav Forsling, D Radko Gudas, D Markus Nutivaara, D Anton Stralman
Exemptions: F Grigori Denisenko, F Aleksi Heponiemi, F Owen Tippett, G Spencer Knight
UFAs: F Alexander Wennberg, D Brandon Montour, G Chris Driedger

Bennett's play after joining the Panthers at the trade deadline earned him must-protect status. Duclair was non-tendered by the Senators last year and became a UFA, but his stellar play this season should earn him an extension with Florida. The Kraken have some decent options here - particularly Acciari, Marchment, Forsling, Nutivaara, and Gudas.

Montreal Canadiens

Exposed players: F Paul Byron, D Ben Chiarot, D Brett Kulak, G Jake Allen
Exemptions: F Cole Caufield, F Nick Suzuki, D Alexander Romanov
UFAs: F Joel Armia, F Phillip Danault, F Corey Perry, F Eric Staal, F Tomas Tatar, D Erik Gustafsson, D Jon Merrill

The Canadiens are unlikely to use a 4-4-1 scheme, as doing so would leave a key player up front exposed. Petry must be protected, while Edmundson is three years younger than Chiarot and signed for two more years. There's an off chance Montreal strategically exposes Weber, as Seattle probably wouldn't be overly intrigued by a 35-year-old with a long injury history who's signed through 2026. But it's difficult to imagine the Habs would risk losing their captain.

Ottawa Senators

Exposed players: F Vitaly Abramov, F Jonathan Davidsson, F Chris Tierney, F Austin Watson, D Josh Brown, G Matt Murray
Exemptions: F Alex Formenton, F Josh Norris, F Shane Pinto, F Tim Stutzle, D Artem Zub
UFAs: F Artem Anisimov, F Ryan Dzingel, F Derek Stepan

It may seem hard to envision the Senators exposing Murray a year after trading a second-rounder for him and signing the netminder to a hefty contract. But Gustavsson, formerly a highly touted prospect, is just 23 years old and had a strong showing in his rookie season with a .933 save percentage over nine games. Tierney should garner interest from Seattle.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Exposed players: F Yanni Gourde, F Tyler Johnson, F Alex Killorn, F Ondrej Palat, D Cal Foote, D Jan Rutta
Exemptions: None of note
UFAs: F Blake Coleman, F Barclay Goodrow, D David Savard, G Curtis McElhinney, G Anders Nilsson

The Lightning seem like one of the more obvious candidates to negotiate a side deal with the Kraken. Perhaps Tampa Bay will offer Seattle some sort of sweetener to take Johnson - a native of Spokane, Washington - and his $5-million annual cap hit through 2024. If not, one of Killorn, Palat, and 2017 first-rounder Foote is likely gone. There's a fair argument that the Lightning should protect Foote over McDonagh, but the Bolts need the veteran blue-liner as long as they're in win-now mode.

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With the trade deadline (Monday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. ET) on the horizon, theScore identifies eight X-factors who could influence this key period:

Chris Kreider

In a relatively weak trade deadline class, Chris Kreider is expected to be the best player dealt. There's still a chance the Rangers re-sign the pending UFA winger, but it's clear New York will have no shortage of suitors. As of last week, he was reportedly atop the wish list of eight teams.

If Kreider is indeed traded, it'll be interesting to track the ripple effect. How do the league's main buyers react? Do they double down on their pursuit of an impact player and chase after Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau? Do they exit the marketplace in frustration since the talent pool is so shallow?

What isn't up for debate is Kreider's credentials. He's in the prime of his career and his game is perfectly suited for playoff hockey. The 28-year-old possesses size, speed, physicality, and offensive ability. With 22 goals and 40 points through 54 games, he's on pace for a career year. - Josh Wegman

Marc Bergevin

Oh, to be in Marc Bergevin's head right now.

The Canadiens GM is a fascinating figure in the buildup to the deadline, as he has a lot to process - from Shea Weber's health status, to Ilya Kovalchuk's emergence, to the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The central question in all of this: What is the club's realistic timeline for a return to the postseason? Heading into Thursday's slate of games, the Habs are seven points back in the East despite playing a conference-high 59 games. MoneyPuck.com estimates they have a 5.3% chance of earning a spot. In other words, the playoffs probably aren't in the cards this spring.

Bergevin then has a decision to make regarding Kovalchuk, who has dazzled in his 17-game stint in Montreal, scoring six goals - including three game-winners - while adding six assists. The executive's options include pursuing a contract extension, trading him before the deadline, or riding out the season and leaving any potential negotiations to the summer. Don't forget defenseman Marco Scandella, another midseason acquisition, is also on an expiring deal and could garner some attention on the rental market.

Tomas Tatar and Jeff Petry - quality veterans making fair money - have another year remaining on their respective deals. This means if Bergevin believes the Habs can't rebound to any great extent in 2020-21, he could flip one or both of them for picks and/or prospects. Bringing in a player like Tatar or Petry for two playoff runs would be a boon for any contender. - John Matisz

Off-ice Battle of Alberta

The Flames and Oilers' rivalry could extend off the ice leading up to the deadline. Both clubs are jostling for position in the crowded Pacific Division and could be in the hunt for similar players. Whichever team can make a more impactful addition could have a significant leg up down the stretch.

Flames GM Brad Treliving has already paved the way for a move, trading Michael Frolik to the Sabres last month to clear $4.3 million in cap space. All signs point to the Flames adding a top-six forward. Kreider may be too steep for a squad not guaranteed a playoff spot, but someone like Tyler Toffoli could be a nice fit. A depth defenseman could also be useful, with Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic both currently sidelined.

Coincidentally, Edmonton's most pressing need is also a top-six forward - ideally someone who could hang with Connor McDavid when he returns from injury. It'd be nice to add a center ASAP to help while McDavid is out, but Ottawa's Pageau is the only notable pivot available.

All that being said, Oilers GM Ken Holland has limited cap space to work with. He could take on a sizable cap hit if the last year of Sam Gagner's contract is sent the other way, but finding an affordable player, such as the rejuvenated Kovalchuk or Edmonton native Tyler Ennis, could be his best option. - Wegman

Trade-happy GMs

By now, the hockey world has learned Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and Coyotes GM John Chayka aren't fond of complacency. Both are aggressive in the trading world and have even shown an openness to part ways with recently acquired players (see: Galchenyuk, Alex).

In general, Rutherford is someone to keep an eye on because he's constantly tinkering with his roster. The 70-year-old's work earlier this week - scooping up Jason Zucker in a four-piece trade with the Wild - will likely stand as his signature move of the season, yet the Penguins could upgrade the bottom of their lineup. Adding a third-pairing defenseman and/or bottom-six forward before the deadline would align with the club's all-in approach to 2019-20.

As for Chayka and the Coyotes, they, of course, made a giant splash in December with the Taylor Hall trade. And, if they remain in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot as February chugs along, don't be surprised if Chayka gets creative in the pursuit for more offensive punch. It's been seven seasons since Arizona made the postseason, and beyond St. Louis and Colorado, the West is wide-open. The opportunity is there, and it would be a shame if the stingy Coyotes fall short thanks to an inadequate attack. - Matisz

Sabres' defensive logjam

Something's gotta give on Buffalo's blue line. The Sabres are one of the few teams with a surplus on the back end - specifically on the right side.

Zach Bogosian, a pending UFA, is bound to get flipped if the Sabres are willing to eat a portion of his $5.14-million cap hit; one of Rasmus Ristolainen, Colin Miller, Brandon Montour, and Henri Jokiharju should get traded at some point. Ristolainen is in need of a change of scenery, Miller hasn't quite worked out in Buffalo after being acquired in the summer, Montour's value is likely lower than it was last season after he was dealt from Anaheim for a first-round pick and a prospect, while Jokiharju seems destined to stay. There are several ways in which GM Jason Botterill could play this.

If Botterill is able to pull off a blockbuster involving one of his D-men to bring in some much-needed help up front - ideally a center - it could change the landscape of the entire deadline, since it seems just about every team wants a right-handed blue-liner. - Wegman

Kyle Dubas

Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas already made a move to acquire a backup goaltender in Jack Campbell and some sandpaper with Kyle Clifford, yet it's hard to imagine the 34-year-old is done.

Now, don't expect Dubas to be in on any major rentals. It also seems unlikely he'd trade another first-round pick after dealing his 2019 first last season for Jake Muzzin. He sent a conditional 2020 first to Carolina this past offseason too (if it's a top-10 pick Carolina will get Toronto's 2021 first-rounder instead) while getting rid of Patrick Marleau's contract.

However, it wouldn't be surprising if Dubas heavily pursues a so-called "pure hockey trade." The Leafs have plenty of forward depth, and someone like Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson would be easily expendable if the right deal for a defenseman presented itself.

Who that blue-liner could be remains to be seen, though Matt Dumba and Josh Manson are two names consistently thrown around in the rumor mill.

If the Leafs can land a top-pairing D-man and squeak into the playoffs just as Morgan Rielly returns from injury, Toronto's blue line will have transformed from a weakness to a strength, making the club a handful for any potential postseason opponent. - Wegman

Joe Thornton/Patrick Marleau

This X-factor comes with a substantial asterisk.

Joe Thornton, the best player in Sharks history, has a no-movement clause in his contract and thus controls his own destiny. Patrick Marleau, a legend in his own right, would probably have a say in deciding his future, too, even though he doesn't have a NMC.

With those caveats out of the way, consider how Thornton or Marleau would look on a contending team's fourth line and second-unit power play. You get an all-time playmaker making $2 million or an all-time skater making the league minimum. And, despite their age, both Thornton and Marleau carry around an infectious, youthful enthusiasm for the game.

While the chances are slim Thornton and/or Marleau get moved at the deadline, the thought of the 40-year-olds chasing that elusive Stanley Cup sure is tantalizing and worth noting as the deadline nears. - Matisz

NHL Seattle

NHL GMs have said time and again they will not overthink their strategy for the upcoming expansion draft. Many were duped by the 2017 Vegas draft and refuse to bend over backward as the unnamed Seattle franchise prepares to enter the league in 2021-22 with a competitive squad.

That's what you call learning from the past, which is a smart way to view the situation. However, just because GMs say they're going to keep things simple this time around doesn't mean Seattle GM Ron Francis and his staff aren't lurking around the deadline and beyond. Until the team is officially stocked with players, they will indirectly factor into the discussion.

Take the last two trades, for instance. The Maple Leafs will probably leave goalie Jack Campbell exposed in the expansion draft, while the Penguins will probably protect forward Jason Zucker. Whether it's an intended or unintended consequence, every deal fits into the 2021 expansion puzzle.

Like with the Vegas draft, teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. Among the conditions: Players unwilling to waive their no-movement clauses must be protected, and all first- and second-year players are exempt from the draft. The Golden Knights, for what it's worth, are excused from the entire process. - Matisz

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With opening night around the corner, theScore's Josh Wegman and John Matisz serve up some bold predictions for the coming NHL season:

McDavid, Draisaitl finish 1-2 in league scoring, Oilers miss playoffs

This, oddly enough, almost happened last year. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ranked second and fourth in NHL scoring with 116 and 105 points, respectively, while the Oilers missed the playoffs by a wide margin (11 points).

The strange disconnect between superstar power and team success will likely widen if McDavid and Draisaitl can elevate their play individually and as a pair in 2019-20. Playing together more often might do the trick, as last year the duo shared the ice for 805 five-on-five minutes, which accounted for roughly 60% of Draisaitl's total even-strength usage.

A return to the postseason isn't going to be easy for Edmonton. The Central Division looks poised to claim five of eight playoff tickets in the West, leaving the Pacific with three. Calgary, Vegas, and San Jose are a tier above the rest, with Arizona and Vancouver also in the mix for a spot. Where's the room?

Penguins slide to last in the Metro

Admittedly, this is an extreme outcome for a franchise that's won three of the last 10 Stanley Cups and employs Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.

Don't forget, though: The 2019-20 Penguins aren't the Penguins of old, and the Metro Division is a jumbled mess.

Beyond Washington and Carolina - the typical preseason picks for first and second place - Pittsburgh's part of a medley of six quality teams. Each of them has question marks, but solid arguments can be made in favor of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus, New Jersey, and both New York teams contending for the remaining two playoff spots reserved for Metro squads.

When you stop and think about the ages of three of Pittsburgh's four most important players - Crosby and Letang are 32, and Malkin is 33 - and recall that the fourth key piece, goalie Matt Murray, has a checkered health record, tumbling to the basement is imaginable. The Pens are a top-heavy team, and there's no guarantee every star will continue to shine.

Given all of the uncertainty, where does one slot them in Year 1 of the post-Phil Kessel era? The best-case scenario is first, while the worst case is last. And, of course, there's the middle. All three possibilities are realistic within such a wacky division.

Matthews scores 60 goals

A 60-goal season has only been accomplished twice in the last 23 years. Steven Stamkos accomplished the feat in 2011-12, while Alex Ovechkin hit the mark in 2007-08. With scoring on the rise, we're due for another.

Auston Matthews has been the NHL's best five-on-five goalscorer since entering the league in 2016-17. Now that he'll be properly positioned on the right half-wall on Toronto's power play, he could become one of the league's best goalscorers with the man advantage.

Matthews' injuries slowed him down after torrid starts over the past two campaigns. Last season, he was also without running mate William Nylander for much of the year. If Matthews can stay healthy and play alongside a motivated Nylander all year, the 22-year-old could certainly reach 60 goals.

Quinn - not Jack - Hughes wins the Calder

The 2019-20 rookie class is quite deep, with a group of four - forwards Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, and defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes - leading the charge ahead of opening night.

Quinn, the elder Hughes brother and Vancouver's pride and joy on the back end, is expected to skate on the Canucks' second pair with veteran Chris Tanev. In five NHL games last season, the 19-year-old looked at right at home, picking up three assists while flashing his trademark mobility.

Hughes is a supremely smart playmaker bursting with potential. If coach Travis Green lets him quarterback the top power-play unit, look out. Defensemen rarely win the Calder, but he has a decent chance if Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser line up alongside him to pad the assist total.

Erik Karlsson reaches 90 points

Perennial Norris Trophy contender Erik Karlsson had a year to adjust to his new team and surroundings, and now he's ready to take off. If he can reach 90 points, he'd be the first defenseman to accomplish the feat since Ray Bourque had 91 in 1993-94.

Karlsson's career high in points is 82, so it's not far-fetched to believe he could tally eight more. Scoring is way up since the 2015-16 campaign when he set the bar, and he's now on a team with significantly more firepower up front. After all, he had 45 points in 53 games last season while shooting a career-low 1.8%.

Of course, the key to Karlsson reaching the mark is a clean bill of health.

No NHL goalie starts 60 games

This has never happened over the course of an 82-game season, but we're predicting load management will sweep goaltender nation.

In 2018-19, eight goalies started at least 60 games, but only one started more than 65:

The Wild may find themselves desperate enough to throw Dubnyk out there 60-plus times again. In other cases, however, whether it be a more capable backup now in place or an incentive to give the starter some rest, teams could, by design, play their starter fewer than 60 games.

Predators' power play goes from worst to first

It's mind-boggling that a roster featuring Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Viktor Arvidsson capitalized on only 12.9% of their power-play opportunities last season. An All-Star cast was essentially useless with the man advantage, owning the worst PP in the NHL.

With Matt Duchene subbing in for Subban, the personnel isn't drastically different this season. Then again, former Sabres assistant coach Dan Lambert has been hired to help Preds bench boss Peter Laviolette reconfigure the sputtering power-play attack. Really, there's only one way to go and it's up.

Is it a stretch to suggest Nashville's PP will climb from 31st to first? Sure. It wouldn't be wild, though, considering the talent the coaching staff has at its disposal and the fresh mind manning the coach's clipboard.

Panthers rise to first in the Atlantic

The Atlantic Division is arguably tops in hockey. It may not be as deep as the Central, but its top-end teams are among the league's best. The Lightning are the runaway favorites, and the Leafs and Bruins are both talented enough to take the crown. However, the Panthers can't be ruled out.

Florida would certainly need some things to falls its way, but on paper, the Cats have a chance.

The top-six forward group, led by two-way star Aleksander Barkov, can compete with the division's heavyweights. Depth was an issue, but it's been improved with the additions of Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari. Anton Stralman was brought in to stabilize the back end, but the biggest key on D will be former No. 1 pick Aaron Ekblad taking a leap in his development. With head coach Joel Quenneville now at the helm, it's possible. Lastly, two-time Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky addresses a major need between the pipes.

No player exceeds 100 penalty minutes

The last time a player led the league in penalty minutes with fewer than 100 was back in 1945-46 when there were only 47 games in a season. Six players recorded 100 PIMs or more last season, but we're predicting none will reach the mark in 2019-20:

This follows the league-wide trend of fighting majors declining each season, but, of course, it'll require some players to be on their best behavior.

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With the NHL's regular season near, here are 10 questions worth pondering:

When will the final RFA holdouts re-sign?

And then there were five.

Following months of inactivity and a few weeks of progress, the list of high-profile restricted free agents has dwindled. Winnipeg Jets wingers Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are still unsigned, while Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, and Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk also remain sidelined.

It takes only one productive phone call to steer a contract negotiation toward a resolution, though. So, theoretically, all five RFA holdouts could be ready for opening night in early October. However, there's a good chance one or two of the situations will still be at an impasse.

Based on reports, Laine seems most likely to follow William Nylander's lead. Last year, Nylander signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs literally minutes before the Dec. 1 deadline, and there's no reason to believe Laine won't entertain a similar wait-and-see strategy, as his camp and the Jets aren't on the same page.

Winnipeg has the most to lose here. Not only do the Jets have multiple RFAs unsigned, but they're also shorthanded in general. Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers are playing elsewhere and Dustin Byfuglien is on a leave of absence. It could be a full-blown crisis soon in Manitoba if these holdouts drag into the season.

Is this the year the Penguins hit a fork in the road?

The 2018-19 season was not a pretty one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. While a 100-point campaign would appear positive, the Penguins' was filled with distractions - mainly the feud between now-departed Phil Kessel and head coach Mike Sullivan - and ended with a surprising first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders.

Time is running out for Pittsburgh's veteran core, and the Penguins need a bounce-back year from Evgeni Malkin to have any shot at making a deep playoff run.

There are other questions to be answered, too. Can Alex Galchenyuk live up to his potential? Is the defense - specifically, the third pairing of Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson - too slow for today's NHL? Will the head-scratching six-year, $21-million deal handed to Brandon Tanev bear fruit?

This team's ceiling is another Stanley Cup, but it's easy to see how things could go sideways.

Who will have a better rookie season: Hughes, Kakko, or Makar?

Good luck predicting the Calder Trophy race.

Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, and Cale Makar - the marquee names of the incoming rookie class - are all built for the modern game. Hughes is Connor McDavid lite down the middle, Kakko is a goal-scoring force of nature on the wing, and Makar is a rover-type blue-liner with wheels. There's little doubt about their skill sets and potential.

On the surface, Makar has the upper hand in the Calder conversation thanks to a 10-game stint with the Avalanche during the 2018-19 playoffs. But Hughes' preseason highlight reel and Kakko's NHL readiness should give prognosticators pause. Regardless, expect an immediate impact from all three.

What has to go right for the Oilers to make playoffs?

In short, everything.

Starting in the crease, Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith need to push each other. The Edmonton Oilers don't necessarily need one to grab the job and run with it, but the pair should trade hot stretches enough throughout the year so the team doesn't go into a lull for 10 to 15 games.

On the blue line, Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson need to regain their 2016-17 form. Klefbom has battled injuries over the last two years and Larsson had to deal with the death of his father. Both blue-liners need to be at their best. Additionally, Darnell Nurse needs to continue to make strides.

Up front, it's basically a given that McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will do their thing, but what about the rest? It's a tall task, but if Edmonton's other three lines can break even in more games than not, the Oilers have a shot at the postseason. That's a giant "if," though.

Whose offseason will prove most worthwhile: Rangers, Panthers, or Devils?

On aggregate, the Eastern Conference stole the show this summer. Specifically, two teams in the Metropolitan and one in the Atlantic did.

Free agency's biggest catches, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, settled in with the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers, respectively. Legendary coach Joel Quenneville signed on to coach Bobrovsky and the upstart Panthers. P.K. Subban landed with the New Jersey Devils in a draft-weekend trade. And Hughes and Kakko were scooped up by the Devils and Rangers, respectively, the day before.

Also of note: The Panthers brought in Brett Connolly and Anton Stralman, the Devils acquired Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev, and the Rangers added Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox. Clearly, the three teams have positioned themselves for immediate improvement.

On paper, they're all better. What's not so clear is which of these franchises will benefit from these moves the most over the course of the season.

Do the Blackhawks have a second wind with Kane and Toews?

The Chicago Blackhawks have missed the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns and haven't won a postseason series since their Stanley Cup triumph in 2015. Last season was a transition year. Quenneville was fired after 15 games and the team took some time adjusting to Jeremy Colliton, going 3-13-1 in the young coach's first 17 contests.

Eventually, things started to click.

The offense worked its way into a groove, the power play became lethal, and the club finished the season on a 27-18-8 run. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and several others had career-best offensive seasons, but goal prevention was still an issue. This was addressed in the offseason, though.

Vezina finalist Robin Lehner was signed in free agency to give the club a potent one-two punch in goal when Corey Crawford is healthy, which wasn't the case for a large chunk of last season. And while they weren't sexy additions, modest upgrades were made to the blue line in the form of Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta.

If the Blackhawks can tighten up defensively, this team could make some noise again as Kane and Toews continue to play at a high level.

Can Kessel help Coyotes snap playoff drought?

The Arizona Coyotes' leading scorer last year was - wait for it - Brad Richardson, who had 15 goals. General manager John Chayka had a serious problem on his hands, but the offseason acquisition of Phil Kessel was certainly a step in the right direction.

Will Kessel and his 30-to-40 goals be enough? The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since 2011-12 and, while a clean bill of health would go a long way, aren't locked into a spot this year, either.

Coach Rick Tocchet's most dangerous forwards include Kessel, Clayton Keller, and Derek Stepan. A solid trio, sure, but not exactly a murderers' row. Goaltending and defense have been the club's strengths over the past few seasons, and those groups will be relied upon once again to lead the charge in 2019-20.

The NHL is in a better spot when all of its teams are competitive. Lengthy playoff droughts - Arizona's is up to seven years - in a standings system that promotes parity are a bad look, and it's a dynamic that stunts the sport's growth in certain areas of North America.

How good can Binnington be?

He's now a hero in St. Louis, but Jordan Binnington is still a bit of a wild card entering the season. He started last year by putting up historically great numbers before coming back down to earth in the latter stages, despite doing all he needed to do to win a Stanley Cup.

Which Binnington will the Blues get over the course of a full season? And when he struggles for the first time at the NHL level, how will he respond?

By all indications, Binnington is as cool as a cucumber and will be able to handle any adversity thrown his way. However, he's more likely to settle into the .910-to-.915 save percentage range than he is to become one of the league's elite goaltenders. His ceiling is yet to be determined, though.

Will the Lightning be haunted by early playoff exit?

Having a historically successful regular season ultimately meant squat. Shockingly, the 2018-19 Lightning (62-16-4) were swept in the first round of the playoffs.

So, what now?

Head coach Jon Cooper is back behind the bench and Kevin Shattenkirk, Luke Schenn, Pat Maroon, and Curtis McElhinney have joined the fold to replace Anton Stralman, Dan Girardi, and J.T. Miller. All things considered, Tampa's not significantly worse nor better.

The Lightning could again destroy virtually everything in their path from October to April. Nobody would be surprised if an incredibly deep team led by Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy racks up 120-plus points for the second year in a row.

From Game 1 onwards, though, the postseason will be hanging over the organization's head. Will we look back on last year's sweep to the Columbus Blue Jackets and ultimately chalk it up to a powerhouse having one bad week at the worst possible time, or will we come to realize there's something about the makeup of this roster that's preventing it from finding success in the playoffs?

Will a Canadian team finally win the Cup?

It's a question that's been asked every season for over 20 years, but we have to bring it up again. Can a team bring the Stanley Cup to Canada?

This year's prospects are quite bleak. The Toronto Maple Leafs provide the best hope, and the Flames aren't too far behind. After that? Canada will be lucky to have a third team even make the playoffs.

The Jets are spiraling downhill, the Oilers likely haven't done enough to build around McDavid, and the Vancouver Canucks are trending in the right direction but may be another year away from making the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens are good, but probably not good enough in a deep division, and the Ottawa Senators are in the infancy stages of a rebuild.

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Ahead of the 2019 NHL trade deadline, we examine where each Western Conference team stands and what strategies they should employ heading into Feb. 25.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are in a precarious position.

A month ago, selling seemed like the obvious path. Now, with the Western Conference jammed up and the Hawks back in the playoff picture on the strength of nine wins in their last 11 games, the plan is far from concrete.

GM Stan Bowman recently stated the decision to buy or to sell hadn't yet been made. The smart strategy might be to hold tight; the Blackhawks shouldn't expect to compete with the West's giants in the postseason - if they make it - but they also don't want to wave the white flag.

A fringe player in, a late round draft pick out. That's the type of deal that aligns with Chicago's place in the current landscape.

Verdict: Hold

Colorado Avalanche

There's likely little long-term benefit to the Avalanche acquiring anything of substance as the season winds down. They're desperate for depth at both forward and defense. A few deadline deals won't change that reality.

Plus, according to GM Joe Sakic, the club's biggest trade chips - two 2019 first-round picks, both of which could end up being top-10 selections - are being kept under lock and key.

From a selling perspective, who, aside from Colorado's untouchables, might be of interest to other general managers? Perhaps a contender takes a flyer on a pending unrestricted free agent, like Gabriel Bourque, Patrik Nemeth, or Colin Wilson (currently injured). That's about it, though.

Don't expect fireworks out of Denver.

Verdict: Hold

Dallas Stars

In a contentious, name-calling state at the end of 2018, the Stars organization has recently focused on winning hockey games, and it's worked wonders.

It's mid-February and the dysfunctional Stars are in a position to add, not subtract, as they move to snag a divisional playoff spot. There are some phone calls to be made by general manager Jim Nill; he says he wants a scorer, but the club will likely be taking a vigilant approach to acquiring anything that can help a playoff run.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Tuesday that the 29-24-5 Stars are in the hunt for Artemi Panarin and Mats Zuccarello. The outcome of the pursuit remains to be seen.

Verdict: Buyer

Minnesota Wild

Paul Fenton, the Wild's rookie GM, has reportedly been given the "green light" from ownership to "do whatever he sees fit to improve this team either now or for the future heading into the trade deadline."

If Fenton resets for the future, Eric Staal (soon-to-be UFA making $3.5 million) and Charlie Coyle ($3.2M this season and next) may be out the door, with contenders usually looking to add a forward with size at this time of year. Then again, Staal has some say in his fate with a modified no-trade clause.

The definition of an average NHL team, Minnesota could be ripe for a teardown sooner than later. Sometime prior to the deadline wouldn't be a terrible starting point, seeing as the Wild's 23-man roster includes five pending unrestricted free agents.

Verdict: Seller

Nashville Predators

As per tradition, the Predators are set on the back end and in goal, but not up front. Despite ranking 13th in offense, Nashville's forward group feels incomplete, and recent additions - Brian Boyle from New Jersey and Cody McLeod from the Rangers - don't do enough to solve the lack of finishers.

Numerous scoring threats are believed to be on the trading block, and the Preds are after one of Artemi Panarin or Matt Duchene, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Longtime GM David Poile is no stranger to significant deals. Could forwards Kevin Fiala, 22, and Eeli Tolvanen, 19, be part of a package going the other way?

Verdict: Buyer

St. Louis Blues

The Blues are a complete mystery at the moment.

Undisputed winners of the offseason, they fell on their faces out of the gate, winning just nine of their first 25 games and firing their coach in the process. Fast forward and St. Louis is a league-best 16-4-1 in 2019. The team is finally on the right side of the playoff line and currently riding a 10-game winning streak.

So, the Blues are buyers, right? Or, at the very least, they'll hold, no? Not so fast.

GM Doug Armstrong traded away Paul Stastny around last year's deadline because he didn't think his squad, which had been sniffing a playoff spot, was a contender. Will the same scenario play out again?

Right now, it appears it's all up in the air.

Verdict: ?

Winnipeg Jets

Do you hear that? It's Mark Stone's music.

Stone heading to the Jets is far from a guarantee, but based on recent rumblings, there's a believable scenario in which the Senators ship the Winnipeg native home if a contract extension in Ottawa can't be reached.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't tipping his hand but it's only a matter of time before he pulls the trigger on a sizeable deal. The 2018-19 edition of his club is stacked, especially on offense, but could use an infusion from the outside.

The haul may be Stone or his teammate - and potential Jets No. 2 center - Matt Duchene. Or, perhaps, another forward with name value.

Winnipeg has a 2019 first-round pick and prospects Nic Petan and Sami Niku to dangle. Buckle up.

Verdict: Buyer

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are 2-1-0 with GM Bob Murray as head coach, but he likely inserted himself behind the bench to get a closer look at his team moving forward. Anaheim is just five points out of a playoff spot but the underlying numbers suggest this team is lucky to be within striking distance.

A decision will need to be made on the team's lone key pending unrestricted free agent in Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks would like to re-sign the two-way forward, but without a deal in place, he'll need to be traded. There will be no shortage of suitors for Silfverberg and Anaheim has some up-and-coming forwards who could replace him in the lineup.

Veteran netminder Ryan Miller is also a pending UFA and could generate some interest as insurance for a contender, but he'd have to waive his no-trade clause.

Verdict: Seller

Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes have dealt with so many injuries they're tough to properly evaluate. Like most teams in the logjam that is the Western Conference, Arizona is still in the playoff hunt, but mortgaging the future for the top rental doesn't seem smart.

With Jordan Weal and Richard Panik as the team's top pending free agents, the Coyotes aren't primed to be deadline sellers either. A deal to help the team's offense beyond this season without giving up a first-rounder would be ideal, though unlikely. A depth forward such as Thomas Vanek, for example, could be added for a late-round pick. Otherwise, don't expect Arizona to make much noise.

Verdict: Hold

Calgary Flames

How confident are the Flames going into the playoffs with David Rittich between the pipes? He saved Calgary's season in the early going but has authored an .889 save percentage over his last 13 games. Could general manager Brad Treliving be in the market for someone like Jimmy Howard?

Regardless of whether the Flames decide to trust their goaltending, finding a top-six winger to play alongside Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk should be a priority. Mark Stone, Wayne Simmonds, Mats Zuccarello, and Gustav Nyquist would all be nice fits.

Verdict: Buyer

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers should be looking toward next season. Believe it or not, Alex Chiasson is Edmonton's only attractive rental chip, and interim GM Keith Gretzky should move him for the best offer possible.

How the Oilers handle Jesse Puljujarvi could be interesting. The organization has a history of giving up on players too early, but it's clear the young forward needs a change of scenery. If the right deal presents itself, then pulling the trigger isn't a bad idea, but Gretzky should by no means simply take the best offer he gets for the young Finn.

Verdict: Seller

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings already dealt one of their best trade chips, sending Jake Muzzin to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first-rounder and two prospects. Carl Hagelin is L.A.'s top pending UFA, but any veteran not named Drew Doughty or Anze Kopitar should be made available ahead of the deadline. That includes Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Alec Martinez.

With most veterans signed beyond this year, the Kings don't need to ship off their best trade chips before Feb. 25, as they could get better offers in the summer. Still, there could be deadline movement in Los Angeles.

Verdict: Seller

San Jose Sharks

Doug Wilson did most of his heavy lifting in the offseason, acquiring perennial Norris Trophy candidate Erik Karlsson. Even though Wilson is one of the league's savviest GMs and the Sharks are in win-now mode, it could be a rather quiet deadline in the Bay Area.

San Jose's biggest weakness this season has been in goal, but Martin Jones' impressive playoff resume (.927 save percentage, 2.07 goals-against average in 42 games) provides optimism he can come up big when it matters most.

Even with limited cap space, Wilson should still be able to add one more top-nine forward and perhaps a depth defenseman, but don't expect the Sharks to be players for any of the high-profile names.

Verdict: Buyer

Vancouver Canucks

Many predicted the Canucks would be a lottery team, but the emergence of Elias Pettersson has them right in the playoff hunt. Pettersson's rookie year, however, isn't the time to be dealing future assets for rentals.

In fact, Vancouver should be looking in the opposite direction. If defenseman Alexander Edler is willing to waive his no-trade clause, there'd be no shortage of suitors lined up for his services. He's expressed a desire to stay in Vancouver, but he could conceivably join a contender for the stretch run before re-signing with the Canucks on July 1. It'd be a win-win.

Verdict: Seller

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights sit comfortably in a playoff spot but will likely face a daunting first-round playoff matchup against either the Sharks or Flames without home-ice advantage. They shouldn't be looking to deal from their thin, top-heavy prospect pool in exchange for short-term gain.

Vegas does, however, hold a combined seven picks in rounds three through five of the 2019 draft, and could use that capital to add depth to the lineup. A third-line right winger would give the Golden Knights three formidable lines.

Verdict: Buyer

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