In mid-November, the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2016-17 campaign took one to the gut. Captain Steven Stamkos was ruled out with a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, sidelined once again by significant injury.
After two straight years of conference finals appearances - the first of which was extended to the Stanley Cup Final - the Lightning's impressive run looked as good as done without their top offensive weapon.
But heading into the home stretch of the season, Tampa Bay has hung on. The club certainly isn't in an enviable position - ranked fifth among the eight Eastern Conference teams fighting to enter the wild-card picture - but it sits only six points out of a playoff berth.
Dominant efforts from young gun Jonathan Drouin and emerging superstar Nikita Kucherov have played key roles in keeping the Lightning afloat. But behind them, Victor Hedman, the team's lone constant, has quietly been the one driving the bus as he enters the next phase of his career.
Hedman isn't new to stardom. He's been considered one of the game's elite rearguards for years, and proved his worth during Tampa Bay's recent postseason runs. He's taken another step in 2016-17, however, raising his offensive ceiling to meet the league's other star blue-liners.
Through 55 games this season, the 26-year-old Swede has amassed 10 goals and 48 points. Those 10 tallies have already tied the total he's posted in each of the past two seasons, and are just three off his career high with 24 games remaining on the schedule.
Hedman's playmaking ability has been the true game-changer though. He's already put up 38 assists this season - tied for fifth-highest among all NHL skaters. The only rearguard with more helpers is Erik Karlsson, who's no stranger to putting up absurd numbers.
(Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)
Hedman's best offensive season came in 2013-14, when he racked up 55 points in 75 games. He's on pace to obliterate that total this season, his current trajectory putting him on track for 69 points by the Lightning's final regular-season game.
Should he reach that plateau, it would rank as the highest point total of any defenseman in team history - the current benchmark is Roman Hamrlik's 65-point effort in 1995-96.
The Lightning are surely relieved to have Hedman scoring at an improved clip, as Stamkos' absence has left them starved for offensive contribution throughout the lineup once again.
With Hedman rolling and Drouin establishing himself among the game's most promising stars, the Lightning have life. And with Stamkos taking the ice again in preparation for his eventual return, Tampa Bay might just claw its way back into the postseason picture before all is said and done.
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In 2015, the National Hockey League and the NHLPA agreed to add "bye weeks" to this season's schedule, where each team is given five consecutive days off (no practice or games) doled out between January 1 and the beginning of March.
While the "bye week" was negotiated into the CBA as compensation for the players in exchange for the league's wacky 3-on-3 All-Star Game tournament format, it has turned into a cash machine for savvy bettors fading teams coming off their breaks.
As of February 21, there have been 20 teams that have completed their league mandated holiday and those 20 teams are a staggering 4-16 (20 percent) on the moneyline in their first game back. Breaking down this unique situation even further, teams returning from their mid-season vacations on home ice are a pathetic 2-12 (14.29 percent) on the moneyline with teams returning on the road posting a 2-4 record (33.33 percent).
Total bettors are also being treated to a trend worth tracking. While not as eye-popping as the moneyline numbers, Unders are seeing an advantage coming out of the "bye week" with an Over-Under-Push record of 7-10-3 (58.82 percent), and 5-8-0 (61.54 percent) in games featuring a betting total of 5.5 goals or higher.
What does this all mean? No practice during the break means teams are not sharp upon their return? Too much partying in the Caribbean sun (or back home with friends and family) is causing a hangover effect? All of the above?
Whatever the reason, it's time to start paying attention to the 10 remaining teams and their after "bye week" matchups.
Anaheim Ducks - March 3 vs. Toronto
Buffalo Sabres - February 25 @ Colorado
Columbus Blue Jackets - February 25 vs. NY Islanders
Forward Mark Stone is out with a neck injury, with no timetable at this point.
Bobby Ryan will miss four-to-six weeks with a broken finger.
Mike Hoffman has a groin injury, and won't play Tuesday versus New Jersey.
Stone was the victim of a high hit from Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba, who earned a two-game suspension for the collision. The silver lining is there is no concussion for the 24-year-old, who's dealt with them in the past.
Ryan, meanwhile, took a shot of the hand Saturday versus Toronto. Hoffman was injured Sunday, and head coach Guy Boucher didn't provide an immediate timeline.
The injury wave comes at a crucial time for Ottawa, who just pulled within two points of Montreal for the Atlantic Division lead.
Replacing the missing offense won't be easy:
Sens goals: 152 1. Stone: 22 2. Hoffman: 19 3. Turris: 19 4. Smith: 14 5. Ryan: 12 Ryan, Hoffman, Stone account for 34.9% of Sens goals
Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving wasn't about to wait until the March 1 trade deadline to start swinging deals, and one week before the scheduled cutoff, Treliving got his man.
The Flames added defenseman Michael Stone from the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, giving up a 2017 third-round pick and a 2018 conditional fifth-round pick to snag the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.
There's plenty right with the deal from the Flames' perspective. That in mind, here are three things to know about the acquisition:
Low risk, high reward
Treliving was able to buy low on the rearguard after a down year in Arizona but Stone - coming off knee surgery - has shown potential to perform well above his recent level.
He was a highly offensive blue-liner during his junior days, posting two 60-point seasons and a 21-goal campaign in his final WHL season. Stone was also a dominant playoff performer before his NHL tenure, scoring at nearly a point per game pace as he helped capture a WHL championship back in 2010.
The Flames manager is well aware of all of this, as Treliving was an assistant GM with the Coyotes when they drafted Stone in 2008, while current Flames scout Don Maloney served as GM at the time.
Stone's attributes at the NHL level remain impressive in their own right - notable size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds), a right-hand shot, and top-four skill at both ends of the rink.
Plus there's very little risk involved.
Besides the fact that Calgary lost only a pair of mid-round picks, Arizona is also paying half of Stone's $4-million salary - making him the cheapest of the team's six starting defenders. As well, Stone won't affect the team's expansion draft plans as he's signed only until this summer.
No place like dome
That exceptional junior hockey tenure? It came in Calgary Hitmen colors.
Stone's best career stretch took place at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the same building he'll now call home as an NHLer, where he played four seasons and served as the Hitmen's captain.
That sense of familiarity surely can't hurt.
He took a step back from his offense-first approach during his time with the Coyotes organization, but last year the 26-year-old found a healthy balance between jumping into the play and hanging back, posting a career-best 36 points in 75 games for Arizona.
In Calgary, he'll have the green light to showcase his scoring skill far more often, as the Flames' offensive blue line has been one of their key strengths over the past few seasons. Luckily he has plenty of experience putting pucks in the net at the 'dome, so it should come naturally.
Brodie's redemption
Without a doubt, the most significant aspect of Stone's addition is his potential impact on T.J. Brodie.
Brodie nearly took over the mantle of Calgary's No.1 rearguard last season, posting a career-high 45 points and leading the team in ice-time - a fitting step in what was becoming a dominant ascent.
But 2016-17 has put him right back into the middle of the pack.
The 26-year-old has seen his points per game pace drop from 0.64 last season down to 0.39 this year, and has been on the receiving end of far more goals against in 2016-17.
The central factor in Brodie's apparent off-year? He's lost his first-pair role alongside captain Mark Giordano to young Dougie Hamilton, leaving Brodie shackled with Deryk Engelland or Dennis Wideman for the majority of the season.
In Stone, Brodie will find a much more stable defensive partner - one with a strong enough two-way game to either hang back and let Brodie fly or jump into the play himself, depending on the circumstance.
Stone isn't moving the needle all that much in regards to the Flames' playoff chances, but if he can help Brodie get his game back, he'll give Calgary all they need to take the next step.
The lead-up to the trade deadline has been, well, underwhelming. An unofficial trade embargo seems to have been placed on 30 front offices, as the upcoming expansion draft and an unclear playoff picture has made the market murky.
Despite the early difficulties in manufacturing deals, we're just over a week away from deadline day, and several teams - in contention or out of it - have roster situations to address.
Below, we'll dive into the needs of each team in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim Ducks
Need: Goal-scorer
In principle, Anaheim's deadline plan seems quite simple. The Ducks need scoring, and have a surplus of talented, coveted defensemen.
Anaheim ranks 18th in the NHL with 154 goals for this season, and desperately needs some more offense on the wing to make a playoff run.
Arizona Coyotes
Need: Sell
It's been a lost season in the desert, and the Coyotes began shedding contracts when they traded Michael Stone to the Flames on Monday.
Arizona still has plenty of intriguing trade candidates, mainly up front, as Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal, and captain Shane Doan have been mentioned in the rumor mill.
Accumulating draft picks has to be the plan for general manager John Chayka, and taking on extra salary from trade partners is an option as well.
Calgary Flames
Need: Don't push it
Calgary is currently clinging to the second wild-card spot in the West - not a particularly enviable position, as it most likely means a first-round meeting with Minnesota.
The Flames addressed a need by acquiring Stone, who should help ease the pressure on Calgary's top pairing, but this roster doesn't exactly exude the aura of a Stanley Cup contender.
Cam Talbot leads the NHL with 53 starts this season, and with a playoff spot well within reach, the Oilers need to offer their go-to guy some rest.
Talbot has been outstanding this season - he's been the Oilers' most important player outside their captain - but Peter Chiarelli needs to scope the market for a reliable backup plan.
Of course, Edmonton would love to add a top-four defenseman, but in this year's market, that's much easier said than done.
Los Angeles Kings
Need: Goal-scorer
Save for Jeff Carter, who's potted the second-most goals in the NHL this season, the Kings are starved for offense. Tanner Pearson is the only other player on Los Angeles to reach double digits in goals this year, one of the main reasons the two-time champs find themselves outside the playoff picture.
If a deal becomes available, Dean Lombardi should take it, but he needs to consider the future. Pearson and Tyler Toffoli need new contracts next season, and the Kings would be wise to create some room in a tight cap situation.
San Jose Sharks
Need: Stand pat
The Sharks own virtually the exact same roster that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, and hardly have a glaring need anywhere on the ice.
San Jose currently leads the Pacific by a five-point cushion, and doesn't need to force anything after being one of the most consistent teams this season.
Vancouver Canucks
Need: Sell
The Canucks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup, and they aren't going to give up assets just to make the playoffs, so that means it's time to shed some salary.
Both Alex Burrows and Ryan Miller are pending UFAs, and while they each have a no-trade clause, both veterans would surely welcome an opportunity to compete in the playoffs.
Vancouver should try to sell high on both players and restock the fifth- and sixth-round selections that are missing from this year's draft board.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who hasn't played since mid-November because of a torn meniscus in his knee, is back on the ice, practicing separately from his team as he continues to rehab.
Stamkos was in full gear Tuesday morning working on stickhandling, shooting, and one-timers with assistant coach Brad Lauer, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.
The 27-year-old's initial recovery period was estimated at four-to-six months, and there still isn't a clear idea of when he might return to game action.
"He's progressing well," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. "He's doing well, but can't give a return date yet."
Before the injury, Stamkos recorded nine goals and 11 assists in 17 games. The Lightning have managed a 16-18-7 record in his absence.
After making team history and striking fear in the hearts of fellow Eastern Conference teams vying for a playoff seed, the Florida Panthers are on cloud nine.
Vincent Trocheck scored the go-ahead goal with 4.6 seconds remaining in regulation, the latest game-winning goal in @FlaPanthers history. pic.twitter.com/Ra8aMYZJc9
The seeing-eye shot sealed Florida's fifth win in a row - all on the road - marking the first time in club history the Panthers have managed such a feat. You could say they're happy with the results.
"It felt like we won the Stanley Cup for just a second," Trocheck said postgame, according to David Solomon of the Associated Press. "I think to do it with four seconds on the clock, we showed a lot of poise there in the third period, even when they tied it up."
The successful venture in five difficult venues could serve as a turning point in what's been an mostly arduous season. While they might not have clinched any trophies Monday in St. Louis, the Panthers, for now, have the chance to compete for one starting in April - the win pushed Florida to third place in the Atlantic.
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Feb. 21 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
LW Tanner Pearson (55K) & C Jeff Carter (63K), Kings (at Avalanche): The Kings rather lackluster offense in terms of goal scoring boasts the league's best Corsi For rating while on the road. The second line of Pearson, Carter and RW Dustin Brown have a rating of 55.79 in all venues. Colorado is markedly improved when at home, but they're still expected to allow 2.33 goals per 60 minutes.
LW Taylor Hall (76K) & RW Kyle Palmieri (72K), Devils (vs. Senators): The visiting Senators lost their top three wingers over the weekend in LW Mike Hoffman and RWs Bobby Ryan and Mark Stone. The Devils have the advantages of home ice and final change, allowing them to deploy their top scoring line in the most lopsided mismatches up front. With C Travis Zajac they're expected to score 3.38 goals per 60 minutes.
C Tyler Johnson (60K) & RW Nikita Kucherov (68K), Lightning (vs. Oilers): The Lightning's current top line has an xGF60 of 2.53, as they rack up 10.85 scoring chances per 60 minutes, the highest of any active trio on the team. Edmonton allows 8.62 scoring chances per 60 when on the road, ranking 21st.
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET - Cory Schneider (100K), Devils (vs. Senators): Schneider will face the depleted Senators' offense which will heavily feature two recent AHL call-ups. Schneider has recorded 30-plus saves in three of his past four games. He likely won't face an equally high shot total Tuesday, but he has a reasonable chance for the shutout without two of Ottawa's top three scorers.
BARGAIN - Peter Budaj (75K), Kings (at Avalanche): Budaj is mired in his worst stretch of the season in which he allowed three or more goals in five of his past six games. He rebounded Sunday, against the Anaheim Ducks, allowing just one goal on 29 shots. The Avalanche have the lowest expected goal rate in the league, at 2.01 goals for per 60 minutes.
FADE - Connor Hellebuyck (92K), Jets (at Maple Leafs): Hellebuyck stopped 51 of 54 shots in his past two starts, but he faces a Maple Leafs team with an xGF60 of 3.32 on home ice. Toronto scored at least three goals in three of its past four games.
CONTRARIAN - Craig Anderson (75K), Senators (at Devils): Anderson has a lower-than-normal win probability as the Senators ice a lineup lacking in offensive potential. He's capable of stealing games for his team, and he could very well do so against a Devils with an xGF60 of just 2.22.
Bargain Plays
C Jake Guentzel (25K), Penguins (at Hurricanes): Guentzel remains on the right side of C Sidney Crosby at even strength. He has two goals and three assists in February, going no more than two consecutive games without a point. He had multiple SOG in all but one of his past seven games, playing no less than 14:35. He's very safe and has multi-point potential.
D Jared Spurgeon (29K), Wild (vs. Blackhawks): Another regular feature in this section of the dose, Spurgeon remains much to close to the minimum salary. Along with his consistent blocked shots and hits, he plays on the Wild's second power-play unit, where he'll face the league's third-worst penalty kill.
RW Connor Brown (26K), Maple Leafs (vs. Jets): Though he's no longer beside C Auston Matthews, Brown has remained productive alongside C Tyler Bozak and LW James van Riemsdyk. He scored twice his last time out, and he has tallied at least two SOG in all but one of his past six games. He has topped 18 minutes of ice time in each of his past three.
Top Fades
D Kris Letang (48K), Penguins (at Hurricanes): Letang has relied on the power play for 13 of his 33 points this season. The opposing Hurricanes have the league's best penalty-kill percentage, and they've been shorthanded a league-low 142 times. His chances of a multi-point game are low.
C Derick Brassard (59K), Senators (at Devils): Brassard has spent almost the entirety of his 5v5 TOI alongside Stone this season. With Stone, Hoffman and Ryan all sidelined, he'll have grossly inferior linemates for Tuesday's game and beyond. He may shoot more, but he requires points at this salary.
LW Filip Forsberg (58K), Predators (vs. Flames): Forsberg's time on ice has been waning of late, reaching a low of 16:10 in Sunday's 4-3 win. He did tally an assist in the game, but he has just one goal and three assists in February. He's a risky play, even at home, until his TOI increases.
Contrarian Options
LW Zach Parise (62K), Wild (vs. Blackhawks): Parise has gone without a point in three consecutive games, but he has still amassed nine SOG. Like Spurgeon, he'll benefit from the Blackhawks' horrible penalty kill as four of his 13 goals this season have come via the man advantage.
D Erik Karlsson (57K), Senators (at Devils): If there is a beneficiary of the Senators' rash of injuries, it's Karlsson. His SOG counts have dwindled dramatically, but without three top-six forwards, the defenseman will need to shoulder more of an offensive load like he has in years past. He's the one Senators skater worth owning.
C William Nylander (57K), Maple Leafs (vs. Jets): Nylander is back on Matthews' right wing, and he offers nearly 20K in salary relief. He relies more heavily on assists, whereas Matthews is much more likely to score, but he'll have an easier time returning value while the cap space can be spent elsewhere.
Every Tuesday, theScore's hockey editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Trade Target: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving already addressed one of his club's needs by trading for defensemanMichael Stone. With a week left to go before the deadline, it's time to shore up the rest of the roster.
That starts in net, where Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have been decent enough but surely not great. Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Ben Bishop could serve as an excellent long-term upgrade, and with Andrei Vasilevskiy signed long term and level with Bishop in starts this season, the Lightning look willing to deal.
The Flames would need to make room for Bishop's hefty contract - now and moving forward - but the fact he's an unrestricted free agent this summer likely brings the price down a bit.
There's no question the veteran represents a considerable upgrade for the Flames, especially after a strong 2015-16 season that saw him finish as the Vezina Trophy runner-up.
Edmonton Oilers
Trade Target: Keith Kinkaid, New Jersey Devils
For the first time in a long time, the Edmonton Oilers are sitting pretty heading into the deadline, ranked second in the Pacific Division. But despite Connor McDavid's offensive dominance, there are still holes to be filled, especially if the club wants to avoid a quick first-round exit in its postseason return.
Defense is the perennial need in Edmonton, but a more pressing one right now is finding a backup goaltender to help out Cam Talbot, who's started 53 of the team's 59 games. Talbot has been exceptional, but if injury strikes, the Oilers will have few options - backups Jonas Gustavsson and Laurent Brossoit have failed to impress this season.
The Oilers don't need a big name here. New Jersey Devils netminder Keith Kinkaid could be an affordable option. The 27-year-old has a .913 save percentage this season and plenty of starts under his belt. Plus, the Devils still owe Peter Chiarelli for the Taylor Hall deal.
Montreal Canadiens
Trade Target: Mike Ribeiro, Nashville Predators
The Montreal Canadiens have been hampered by injuries all season long, yet they've managed to remain atop their division through it all. Their stars have held down the fort but adding some offensive depth before the playoffs seems wise given the team's recent luck.
General manager Marc Bergevin made waves with the decision to add Alexander Radulov in the offseason, ignoring the perceived attitude issues and rolling the dice on his skill. The gamble has clearly paid off, so how about another try? Mike Ribeiro's time with the Nashville Predators is clearly coming to an end, and after enduring the waiver wire, a return to his hometown and first NHL club could be just the inspiration he needs to rediscover his touch.
The veteran posted 50 points just last season, and amassed 25 points through 46 appearances this year. Ribeiro's still got the hands and vision to make an impact, and it's hard to imagine the asking price will be very high.
But the Senators still rank second in their division, so packing up and going home likely isn't on the agenda. Ottawa has some cap space to work with, but the team also stays on the lighter side of things financially, so a blockbuster move to add offensive depth may not be in the cards.
New Jersey Devils veteran P.A. Parenteau is likely the best bargain-bin offer the Senators will be able to find, coming in with a $1.3-million cap hit and 13 goals on the year.
The 33-year-old is fresh off a 20-goal campaign last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs - and that performance came before Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were in town, so it's clear Parenteau could provide the Senators with an offensive boost all on his own while Ottawa's stars heal up.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Trade Target: Anthony Duclair, Arizona Coyotes
With only 24 games left on the schedule, the Toronto Maple Leafs' playoff hopes are still firmly intact. And the club has an absurd amount of space to work with - as much as $13 million - as it approaches the trade deadline, courtesy of a few recent LTIR moves.
Toronto could use that money to buy big, adding centerman Matt Duchene or defender Kevin Shattenkirk, but that may not be the right approach. The Leafs have enough space to fit in all of the big-ticket deadline names, but they aren't getting any of them without giving up one or more of their young stars - a clear deal-breaker.
A better option: Bring in more elite young talent that can grow with the team past 2016-17. Arizona Coyotes winger Anthony Duclair has fallen out of favor with the club's head office after a fairly tumultuous campaign. But the 21-year-old collected 20 goals and 44 points last season, and has plenty of talent still untapped.
The asking price likely isn't enormous, and if Duclair can rediscover his offensive consistency under head coach Mike Babcock, it could be a game-changing steal for Toronto.
Vancouver Canucks
Trade Target: Curtis Lazar, Ottawa Senators
If there's one Canadian team that should most definitely not load up at the deadline, it's the Vancouver Canucks. Their hopes aren't necessarily dashed, but it's clear Vancouver isn't getting far even if it does make the cut. All effort should be directed to selling off its veteran assets while the club can still get something in return.
That said, if the Canucks have a chance to add some young talent in the process, the need is surely there. Vancouver is starved for youth, with Bo Horvat ranking as the lone young, talented, NHL-ready piece moving forward.
Ottawa's Curtis Lazar has seen his name pop up in trade talks as of late while the 22-year-old continues to watch games from the press box. It might be a harder deal to swing now that the Senators' forward corps has been depleted, but if they're still willing to move the former first-round pick, the Canucks should move quickly to add the British Columbia native.
Lazar, a former Team Canada teammate of Horvat's, has just one point through 31 games this season, but remains a talented prospect with a strong junior resume - including a 41-goal, 76-point WHL season in 2013-14.
The Winnipeg Jets' young offense has run rampant, with Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele emerging as two of the game's most potent scorers. But their lackluster goaltending has nearly negated that, as the team's minus-14 goal differential has them sitting just outside the playoff picture.
Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Marc-Andre Fleury is likely to accept a deal out of town before the deadline, since the Penguins want to protect Matt Murray from the expansion draft and Fleury wants to play.
The asking price has been high in the past, as Fleury still has the potential to be an elite starter, but the Jets have plenty of interesting options to include in a potential deal.
The Penguins are in need of some defensive depth after losing Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz to injury. Jacob Trouba would be the most obvious returning option, though Winnipeg could also offer up smooth-skating veteran Toby Enstrom, who isn't part of their future plans and would likely thrive in the Penguins' system.
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The following three trades are all based on pure speculation, but each move would come with significant fantasy implications. Each player listed as been heavily involved in trade rumors and the following destinations not only make sense, but would also maximize their fantasy value.
C/LW Matt Duchene to Pittsburgh
It's rare for the Pittsburgh Penguins to have Cs Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin healthy, so don't be shocked if general manager Jim Rutherford tries to pull off a bold trade like this in an attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. Pittsburgh has only $5.1 million in cap space, per Spotrac, so some shifting of contracts would need to be done in order to accommodate Duchene's $6 million cap hit.
Though he is a natural center, Duchene has spent a good chunk of time playing the wing throughout his career. If this move were to come to fruition, he would be placed on a line with either Crosby or Malkin, therefore substantially increasing his fantasy value. This would be a dream come true for Duchene owners.
D Kevin Shattenkirk to Toronto
The St. Louis Blues are 7-2 since Mike Yeo took over as head coach. As a result, they have climbed back into third place in the Central Division and may have second thoughts about moving Shattenkirk, who is set to become a UFA at the end of the season. However, it doesn't seem likely St. Louis will sign him to a contract extension considering they have Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko on the right side of the back end.
If Shattenkirk does get moved, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be an ideal destination. Not only do they have plenty of cap room and a plethora of prospects, but they are also desperate for a top defenseman like Shattenkirk. If St. Louis were seeking someone who could help them now rather than prospects and picks, LW James van Riemsdyk could come in as legitimate trade chip.
Shattenkirk would go from being the fourth-most used defenseman in terms of minutes played on a St. Louis team ranked 25th in 5v5 xGF60 (expected goals for per 60 minutes) to the most-used defenseman on a Leafs team sitting second in xGF60. In addition to Toronto's 5v5 numbers, he would also anchor their league-best power play.
G Ben Bishop to Winnipeg
Bishop is a UFA at the end of the season. Andrei Vasilevskiy looks like their goaltender of the future, so keeping Bishop past March 1 doesn't make sense considering the Lightning are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.
The only issue with trading Bishop and his $5.95 million cap hit is finding a potential suitor. The Jets have only $4.5 million in cap space, so fellow goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who is also a UFA at the end of the year, might have to head back the other way to make it work.
The Jets have the eighth-lowest xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) at 5v5 this year, but they have allowed the fourth-most goals against per game. Shoddy goaltending and a poor penalty kill are the main reasons for this discrepancy.
Bishop and Vasilevskiy have been splitting starting duties all season, so the stock of each goaltender would rise in this situation. Jets G Connor Hellebuyck would be droppable.
