It's by far the tightest division in the league, everyone in the Atlantic still has a chance of making the postseason, at least in theory.

The Atlantic Division could become one of the more interesting collection of clubs down the stretch with teams now faced with decision whether they are buyers or sellers at the deadline.

It's tricky territory, where a move or two could propel teams toward the playoffs or the ever-provocative first-overall pick.

Here's what trade bait currently lingers in the Atlantic:

Boston Bruins

The Bruins continue to flirt with a playoff spot, holding one down for the time being, but with many other clubs nipping at their heels - all this while rumors of Claude Julien's imminent dismissal run rampant.

The team's roster presents itself as one closer to a contender than it does of a club ready to tear it down, but in all fairness the Bruins could use a more reliable option on defense.

In turn the team's most likely trade candidates appear to be Dominic Moore and Adam McQuaid, though the pot will need to be sweetened here in any potential deal.

Buffalo Sabres

It will pain Sabres fans, but once again the team will be vying for another top draft pick this offseason.

In a perfect world the team would use the deadline to recoup some draft picks in exchange for Matt Moulson, but with $10 million owed the next two seasons, it will be hard to find a buyer. The other possible option would see Cody Franson dealt to a team looking for defensive depth.

Detroit Red Wings

Don't get too comfortable Thomas Vanek.

The 33-year-old has been among the Red Wings' most consistent players of late and for that reason could be worth dealing as the team projects to miss the postseason for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

Vanek served as a solid deadline pick-up for the Canadiens back in 2014, putting up five goals and 10 points in 17 games. He could reprise such a role once again.

Florida Panthers

After last year it seemed like the sky was the limit for the Panthers, but now the team will settle for a hill.

It's been hard to evaluate the state of the Panthers given they have been decimated with injuries and key ones at that. Someone like Jakub Kindl - who will become an unrestricted free agent - could be dealt, but next to him the Panthers best move might be to stand pat.

The team still has tons of young, budding talent and it would be foolish for the team to move any of it thinking they can save this season.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens could use some depth, both up front and on the back end.

The team is unlikely to part with many - if any - of their roster players.

Enter draft picks.

The Canadiens have all of their first round picks for the next three years in tact, and thanks to some trades, have six second-round picks over that span that could easily be packaged to pull off a deal or two.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators could certainly be considered buyers this year, one problem, they tend to penny pinch.

The team has surprised many by putting themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt despite being rather thin up front. The club has made it clear in the past that they would covet forward help and now would be the best time to acquire it.

Ottawa is likely in the market for more than just a rental. The Senators have few trade chips that would garner anything of high value, but with draft picks and possibly including Curtis Lazar - who has struggled mightily - in a deal, the team might be able to fetch them that missing piece they've been looking for.

Tampa Bay Lightning

In an all too recurring theme, a healthy Steven Stamkos would trump any potential trade acquisition.

With that considered, despite their recent struggles, it's unlikely the Lightning do anything of significance at the deadline. Sure their list of upcoming restricted and unrestricted free agents is high. However, that list contains the likes of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin - guys the team will rely heavily on down the stretch.

The Lightning hold all their draft picks for the the next three years so that might be their best bet for the time being, though having nearly no cap space presents a problem.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs will approach the deadline a lot differently this time around.

The team is likely to act as precarious spenders this season, with the club's emphasis being to upgrade defense, but only if the deal makes sense moving forward.

Toronto isn't interested in a rental, nor should it be.

James van Riemsdyk's name has been thrown every which way, but with a cap-friendly deal and the thought that they team might need him for a playoff run, his availability remains uncertain.

In that case look towards Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak as possible candidates in any potential swap.

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Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, Jan. 21 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Logan Couture (51K) and D Brent Burns (76K), Sharks (vs. Avalanche): 21-year-old Spencer Martin will make his NHL debut in goal for the Avalanche, who rank as the second-worst team in terms of Corsi For percentage and allow a league-high 3.35 goals per game. Couture and Burns feature together on San Jose's power play; the former has scored a goal in three of his last five games, while the latter has 12 points in nine January contests.

• C Nicklas Backstrom (49K) and RW T.J. Oshie (42K), Capitals (at Stars): The red-hot Capitals have scored at least five goals in each of their last five games, with Backstrom and Oshie, two-thirds of Washington's top line, each tallying three goals and seven assists in that stretch. Both remain extremely favorably priced ahead of a trip to Dallas, which allows the fourth-most expected goals against per 60 minutes.

• C Mark Scheifele (63K) and RW Nikolaj Ehlers (47K), Jets (vs. Blues): Scheifele and Ehlers play together on the first line and on the power play, and have combined for nine points over their last five games. St. Louis owns the league's worst five-on-five save percentage, and is giving goalie Jake Allen a mental break; either Carter Hutton or the wonderfully-named Pheonix Copley will start for the Blues.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET: Martin Jones (79K), Sharks (vs. Avalanche): Jones has a 2.02 GAA at home, while having won 12 of his 19 starts at the SAP Center. Priced slightly above the minimum, he looks to have an easy path to victory against the impotent Avalanche, who have scored just 87 goals in 43 games.

• BARGAIN: Braden Holtby (75K), Capitals (at Stars): Washington has won 10 of its last 11 games, so even on the road against a formidable Stars offense, Holtby offers a better-than-average chance at a victory even if it comes at the cost of a few goals allowed.

• FADE: Kari Lehtonen (97K), Stars (vs. Capitals): Lehtonen has been the better of the Stars' two goaltenders, but with a middling 2.83 GAA and a .902 save percentage, that's not saying much. Given how prolific Washington's attack has been of late, it's hard to see Lehtonen not conceding multiple goals and being on the losing end of a decision.

• CONTRARIAN: Jean-Francois Berube (108K), Islanders (vs. Kings): Berube's combination of price and inexperience makes it likely he'll be among the lowest-owned goaltenders on the slate. The Islanders have won their last two games by a combined 7-0 scoreline, and the Kings average just 2.14 goals per game on the road. A place for Berube in a lineup is a show of faith in "the new coach bounce" effect of recently-appointed bench boss Doug Weight.

Bargain Plays

• LW Philip Danault (27K), Canadiens (vs. Sabres): While a left winger in Squad Up, Danault centers Montreal's top line of LW Max Pacioretty and RW Alexander Radulov at even strength. Though Danault doesn't see much in the way of power play time, he's tallied 24 points in 47 games, and has an increased chance to produce playing alongside the team's two leading scorers.

• D Nikita Zaitsev (27K), Maple Leafs (vs. Senators): Zaitsev led all Toronto defensemen in power play time in the team's last game, and is the club's overall ice-time leader on the season. In terms of conversion rate, the Maple Leafs' power play is the league's second-best. The 25-year-old rookie has a solid 17 points in 43 games for the high-scoring Buds.

• C Lars Eller (25K), Capitals (at Stars): A third-line center, Eller isn't known for his offense, but even he's gotten in on Washington's recent scoring binge, tallying three goals and three assists over his last five games. Eller's current line of LW Andre Burakovsky and RW Brett Connolly owns a stellar 62.35 Corsi For percentage in just over 98 minutes played together.

Top Fades

• RW Shane Doan (51K), Coyotes (vs. Lightning): The 40-year-old Doan seems to be finding his form somewhat, with four points in his last five games, including a two-assist outing on Thursday, but he's too pricey to have much faith in. The Coyotes are the second-lowest-scoring team in the league, and their prospects won't improve against the Lightning, who surrender the eighth-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes.

• D Shayne Gostisbehere (47K), Flyers (vs. Devils): Gostisbehere's salary is living in the past, as his rookie exploits, rather than his 19 points in 43 games this season, seem to be the driving force behind his price. He's without a point in five straight games, and has just two multi-point efforts on the season. Similar production can be found from far cheaper sources.

• C Tyler Seguin (72K), Stars (vs. Capitals): The explosive Seguin is usually worthy of a premium price, but lacks a favorable matchup in which to thrive. Other than a bonkers 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday, Washington has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of its last 10 games. Another shootout is a possibility, but the funds reserved for Seguin are likely better spent elsewhere on Saturday.

Contrarian Options

• C Boone Jenner (34K), Blue Jackets (vs. Hurricanes): Jenner's early season scoring woes seem to be a thing of the past, as he's tallied five points (including three goals) in his last five games. A physical player, Jenner's average of over two hits per contest helps his Squad Up appeal. He had a goal and an assist on Tuesday against Carolina, and the Hurricanes just allowed seven goals to Pittsburgh on Friday.

• LW Andre Burakovsky (35K), Capitals (at Stars): The aforementioned Burakovsky, like most of his teammates, has hit his stride of late, with goals in three straight games, and multi-point efforts in his last two contests. He's still on pace to fall short of last season's 17 goals, but the 21-year-old Austrian is trending in the right direction.

• RW Kyle Palmieri (55K), Devils (at Flyers): The Flyers hold the NHL's second-worst 5-on-5 save percentage and, while they will be possibly refreshed (or rusty) after not having played since last Sunday, they've allowed at least four goals in each of their last four games. Palmieri is one of the low-scoring Devils' chief offensive threats, with two multi-point efforts in his last four games. He also scored in a December matchup between the two teams.

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With veteran winger Clarke MacArthur ruled out for the rest of the season, Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said Friday that he's looking to add some forward depth.

However, Dorion's not willing to pay an extravagant price in his quest to bolster his club's attack.

Several teams are reportedly inquiring about recent world junior darlings and Senators property Colin White and Thomas Chabot, according to Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Citizen, but it doesn't sound like any deals involving them are going to happen.

"Right now, the asking prices are ridiculous almost for rentals and non-rentals," Dorion said. "We're comfortable with what we have here. We're prepared to give up something to get something. You can't just (give up) top-end players for seventh-round picks."

As of right now, the Senators sit second in the tight Atlantic playoff race with 52 points, but a jolt to the offense could be necessary for the stretch run - Ottawa averages 2.56 goals per game, ranking 21st league-wide.

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Kalle Kossila turned in a classic last night.

The Anaheim Ducks' farmhand unleashed the rare lacrosse-style wraparound Friday for a gorgeous tally against the San Jose Barracuda.

We've seen the move a few times before, but it just doesn't get old.

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If it wasn't already apparent, the Buffalo Sabres are seriously relying on Rasmus Ristolainen.

The 22-year-old defenseman played 35:24 in an overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night, shouldering the largest workload in the NHL since Erik Karlsson logged 36:34 on Dec. 20, 2015, according to Sabres PR.

Ristolainen's efforts have him ranked fifth in the league in average ice time, and he's in elite company.

The Sabres have been without blueliners Dmitry Kulikov and Josh Gorges due to injuries. Ristolainen's defense partner, Jake McCabe, left Friday's game early with a shoulder ailment and didn't return.

It was the third time Ristolainen has played more than 30 minutes in a game this season.

He's appeared in every game for the Sabres this year, but he's also producing at an impressive rate for a young rearguard.

An assist in Friday's win snapped a four-game personal point drought and gave him 28 points in 45 contests, which put him in a tie for eighth among NHL defensemen in 2016-17.

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Yet another goalie needs a refresher on Rule 51.3.

Carolina Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward took his frustrations out on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist on Friday. After allowing a sixth goal on the night, Ward leveled Hornqvist with a blocker punch to the face.

Related: Devils fan reminds Price not to punch with his blocker

This wasn't Ward's first swing at Hornqvist, as earlier in the second period the veteran goalie gave the Penguins forward a piece of the lumber.

Ultimately, Hornqvist and the Penguins would get the last laugh, skating away with a 7-1 victory.

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There it is.

Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin corralled a pass from brother Daniel and beat Florida Panthers goalltender Roberto Luongo early into the second period Friday night to collect point No. 1,000 in his career.

With the milestone, Henrik becomes the first Canuck to reach the 1,000 point plateau.

Of course the goal could also be extra special for the 36-year-old who had the pleasure of hitting the mark against his former teammate. It was certainly admired by the Panthers netminder who immediately gave Sedin a celebratory fist pump.

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There it is.

Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin corralled a pass from brother Daniel and beat Florida Panthers goalltender Roberto Luongo early into the second period Friday night to collect point No. 1,000 in his career.

With the milestone, Henrik becomes the first Canuck to reach the 1,000 point plateau.

Of course the goal could also be extra special for the 36-year-old who had the pleasure of hitting the mark against his former teammate. It was certainly admired by the Panthers netminder who immediately gave Sedin a celebratory fist pump.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.