What to expect from every team at 2025 NHL trade deadline

The trading has begun in the NHL, and you should expect more moves before the flurry of action is unleashed on Friday, which is deadline day.

Some teams we’ve seen buy already (Florida) still have space to strike big again. A number of teams are still deciding whether they’re in or out on the season, choosing which side of the buyers/sellers line they’ll end up on. The price of acquisition so far has been rather high.

Many teams could be waiting on the Mikko Rantanen situation to play out. The prize of the trade season when he was sent from Colorado to Carolina could be the prize again if the Hurricanes decide to flip him. Once the dam breaks on that, the trade market could begin to flow.

So, what are we expecting from all 32 teams?

Here, we give you an outlook for everyone, with cap space, possible trade candidates and needs. We’ll show you what Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said about everyone on Monday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, anything the team’s GM has said recently, and a general overview of each situation.

One thing to note: All cap numbers and draft-pick information come via PuckPedia. You will notice some very high “deadline day cap space” totals in some places. That’s because, if a team has been under the cap, it accumulates space, and the longer it does this, the more room it’ll have to play with at the trade deadline.

At this time of year, a traded player is paid the remaining percentage of his salary by the acquiring team, and the remaining cap charge is actually added to its total — the former team has paid everything up until this point. But, to make it simple when looking at the salary-cap charts, what the “deadline day cap space” number shows is simply the full, season-long value in AAV a team can add on March 7. (Of course, you have to be overall cap compliant again by October!)

With that in mind, here’s what you need to get set for the big day. As more trades happen, we’ll update this piece until Friday morning.

Status: Straddling between seller and long-term buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $73.589 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Futures. Contributing pieces to move forward with. Veteran star power.

Potentially Available: Brian Dumoulin, Trevor Zegras, John Gibson

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “This is a team that wants to take a jump. We’ve talked about this with Pat Verbeek. They took their shots last year at Stamkos and Marchessault, didn’t get them, so it says to me that Verbeek wants to move things forward, so I think he’s always looking at it like if he can add a big piece that makes them better, he’s going to go for it.”

Outlook: Between breakout star Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger and Brian Dumoulin, the Anaheim Ducks have a bunch of left-shot defencemen, so to make sure that the three younger players all see regular game action, Dumoulin, the 33-year-old pending UFA, may get sent out.

Aside from that, the Ducks find themselves in a playoff race for the first time in years and have to begin changing their mindset from accumulating futures to figuring out how to officially get out of this rebuild. John Gibson is having a good season and, with two years remaining on his contract, could be a tradable asset, though durability concerns persist as we saw Wednesday night when he left a game vs. the Canucks.

Status: Seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: ~$7 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: To realize they need to restructure. Centres, young players, futures.

Potentially Available: Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Justin Brazeau, salary retention

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They don’t react well to seasons like this, which is one of the reasons they’re a great franchise, and they never have long points where they’re not a factor. They just don’t accept this. So I’ve sat here saying, ‘OK, how do they deal with it from here?’ No. 1 to me is (Jeremy) Swayman, and what do they think his difference is next year. I believe the Bruins are not only talking about dealing their rentals, they’re also looking at what can they add that can make them better long term. I don’t think they’re just looking at this as a rest-of-year conversation, I think they’re looking at it as an into-the-future conversation.”

What the GM has said: “Historically, we’ve been pretty aggressive when our team’s in a position. I think we’ll take a much more cautious approach as we approach the deadline. … (We) may plant a seed for the draft and beyond.

“We’ve been in negotiations with Brad (Marchand) and communicating with him through the year. We’ll have to have a conversation now that the 4 Nations is over, sit down with Brad and his representatives and have a clearer path in the next two weeks as to what his final outcome will be.” — Don Sweeney on Feb. 23.

Outlook: This season started off on the wrong foot when contract negotiations with RFA Swayman dragged on into training camp and then into the public sphere. The Bruins, long a contending team in the East, now face a steep climb back up into the playoffs — never mind the point differential, they have the second-worst goal differential in the East and have to climb over four teams to get into a wild-card spot.

All the right things are being said by management and player about Marchand’s future, but it’d be a risk for a team in Boston’s position to go past the trade deadline without a contract in place. Surely there are contenders who would love to add his big-game pedigree. Injuries have smoked the Bruins, making any late-season surge seem unlikely, so we’re looking for them to take an uncharacteristic seller approach.

Status: Cautious seller/reshaper

Deadline Day Cap Space: $29.22 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Veterans to surround a young core. A shake-up.

Potentially Available: Dylan Cozens, Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram, Alex Tuch, Henri Jokiharju, JJ Peterka

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “(GM Kevyn Adams) has been saying all year he’s willing to do something, as long as it’s a hockey trade. He’s made it very clear he’s not giving guys away. … I also think there’s just a fear at what’s happened with all the guys they’ve dealt. (Jack) Eichel, Stanley Cup champion. (Sam) Reinhart, Stanley Cup champion. Everybody knows what I’m talking about here.

“Cozens and Detroit was very real, it obviously didn’t happen. I don’t know. Sometimes you just have to say you don’t know because I’ve been waiting for it to happen all year and I guess we’re all still just waiting for it to happen.”

What the GM has said: “I’m not happy with where we’re at, but we’re not going to panic or overreact or make a knee-jerk decision or reactionary trade that sets you back. We have to look at things we think will improve our team and act on it.” — Kevyn Adams at a media gathering on Dec. 6.

Outlook: This is probably the most dangerous situation to monitor at the deadline. Four teams were looking to take a step up in the East this season: Detroit, Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo. The first three are in a heated playoff race. The Sabres are, once again, on track for a front-row seat at the draft lottery.

So some reaction to this failure is necessary from the front office. What comes now, and what waits until after the season? The Sabres have a culture problem and need more and better experienced players to surround the young core they’ve invested in, but we’re at the point where we have to ask if this core is the right mix. That’s where the danger comes in. Trading someone like Cozens or Byram could come back to bite the Sabres in the same way Reinhart or Ryan O’Reilly or Eichel have, and risks setting back the rebuild for the …. well, we’ve lost count how many times. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since this team made the playoffs, and there’s no end in sight. Meantime, how hot is Adams’ GM seat?

Status: Non-rental buyer.

Deadline Day Cap Space: $81.855 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Young contributors, assets under control, defence, depth goalie

Potentially Available: Dan Vladar, Daniil Miromanov, Joel Hanley, rental retention

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “(GM Craig) Conroy’s made it very clear that his veterans, the Colemans, Kadris, Weegars, Anderssons, they’re not going anywhere … they’re in the race. I think that’s important to the Flames. I also believe that they want their young players who are going to be a big part of their team in the future, the Coronatos, the Zarys, Pospisil is another of those guys, they want those guys playing important games. Dustin Wolf, I think that’s also really good for him. Let Wolf play important games. They believe it matters.”

What the GM has said: “You’re always looking to improve the team, but it’s got to make sense.

“If it’s a younger player, and we have them under control, or even maybe a 26-year-old that you’re gonna have control of, it might make more sense.

“We may have made our big move with (Joel) Farabee and (Morgan) Frost. But we’ll see.” — Craig Conroy to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis on Feb. 28.

Outlook: This playoff race is all gravy for the Calgary Flames, whom most expected to miss out on the post-season back in October. Of course, there are enough NHL players on this roster that there was a certain base line they were never likely to fall under — this wasn’t shaping up to be a team sinking as low as San Jose or Chicago.

The door was left open by the Vancouver Canucks, and now the Flames find themselves on the inside of the cut line at the deadline. They’ve already acquired Frost and Farabee from Philadelphia, two mid-20s players with scoring upside who are under team control. They aren’t likely a destination for any costly rental, but the Flames are buyers and have oceans of cap space to use.

Status: Buyer, but also potentially selling one huge piece

Deadline Day Cap Space: $499,077

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring. A star, the type they already acquired.

Potentially Available: Mikko Rantanen, picks, prospects.

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “Carolina has to make a decision here (on Rantanen): What do they feel comfortable doing? Do they feel comfortable going for it, or do they say, ‘You know what, we don’t like where this is going and we’re going to try to see the best player that we can get, or the best return we can get?’”

Outlook: If there is one team to hyper-focus on at the deadline, it’s Carolina. It’s already made the biggest trade of the season, shocking everyone by bringing in Rantanen, who is months away from becoming a UFA. Now, unable to get him signed to an extension, they may make the biggest move for a second time and trade out Rantanen. Perhaps even in a sign-and-trade.

Various teams around the league are looking for a scoring winger, and the decision on Rantanen is holding that up. Heck, the Rantanen thing may be holding up much of the trade market, because teams would be lining up to explore options with him and will want to be careful not to use their prime assets on other players too early. Carolina, meantime, is not a traditional seller — it is a Stanley Cup contender and have been for years, but its offence always seems to sputter along the post-season journey. Rantanen could help that if the Hurricanes keep him.

Status: Seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $22.93 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Picks, prospects, players who can make an impact in next few years

Potentially Available: Ryan Donato, Pat Maroon, Petr Mrazek, Connor Murphy

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I look at them now and I wonder, if they can do more deals like (the Seth Jones trade) where they get young players who are ready to play, kind of like in the (Spencer) Knight mold, I can see them trying it.”

What the GM has said: “I think there’s always side effects and things you have to handle around any deal you make, certainly a big one. I wouldn’t say we’re concerned with anything. There are things that we’ll have to explore, in terms of how we fill minutes, certainly. Does anyone, internally, can they do that for the rest of the season? How does that go? Do we explore over the next week if we can fill some holes there?

“There are certainly some things we’ll have to look into. Again, we’re in a time crunch here before the deadline, but we’ll explore some options and see if there’s anything out there.” — Kyle Davidson to The Athletic after trading Seth Jones to Florida

Outlook: It’s much of the same in Chicago, one of the basement-dwellers in the NHL with no clear path up. The Blackhawks at least have Connor Bedard, but one wonders if they’ll soon regret passing on Ivan Demidov. One player, no matter how special, does not make for a successful NHL team, and the Blackhawks have to be aware that at some point soon things need to start getting better around Bedard.

Jones is gone to Florida and although that’s a hit to their depth chart, the return of Knight and a first is a nice win for Davidson. However, that trade also cost Chicago its final salary retention slot, so anyone it sends out will come at full value unless a different broker can be found.

Status: Buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $3.286 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Second-line centre

Potentially Available: Casey Mittelstadt, draft picks, prospects

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’ve tried to remake their bottom six a bit, but I still think that (second-)line centre, I still think it’s something that if they can, they will do it.”

What the GM has said: “I think it’s no secret we had to try and get deeper up front and on the back end. I don’t think we’re totally satisfied. If we can still find a way to improve the team, we’ll try. How? I don’t know. We’ve used some draft capital and things of that sort, but I think we’re deeper (now).” — Colorado GM Chris MacFarland on March 3, after acquiring Ryan Lindgren.

Outlook: The Avs are in their win-now window, even after trading out superstar winger Mikko Rantanen, who wanted more on an extension than Colorado was comfortable dishing out. In the deal, Colorado acquired Martin Necas to fill the void on the wing, as well as Jack Drury to become a much-needed upgrade in their third-line centre hole. The deal also brought in a 2025 second-rounder and 2026 fourth-rounder to Colorado, giving them a few more assets to use in further trades. It’s been a home run so far, as Necas has been ripping along at a point-per-game pace. Colorado also addressed another need by acquiring rental defenceman Ryan Lindgren.

The Avalanche have options, and one of them is to stand pat. Along with the two trades mentioned, the team already remodelled its goalie crease and extended MacKenzie Blackwood until 2030. There’s still a chance Gabriel Landeskog returns at some point, though he hasn’t played since winning the Cup in 2022, so there’s no telling how impactful he’d be. And Valeri Nichushkin recently did come back.

However, Mittelstadt’s season has not been strong enough and if the Avs had any depth down the middle or someone who could challenge him, his hold on the second-line centre spot wouldn’t be so secure. There’s been speculation the team could move him, however, second-line centre is their most pressing need left to address.

Status: Would-be seller turned into buyer or, at least, a stand-pat team

Deadline Day Cap Space: $86.456 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Top-six right winger

Potentially Available: Sean Kuraly, Dante Fabbro, maybe a first-rounder

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “If you trade (Ivan) Provorov, unless you’re going out and getting something to replace him — and they shouldn’t lose grip of the future, they shouldn’t be giving up anything big for a rental — but you gotta reward your players. If you trade Provorov, you’re creating a bit of a hole on your blue line, so how do you deal with that?”

What the GM has said: “From my end, I think prices are a little high in some areas, especially for rentals. But I think things will settle down in the next 36-48 hours and we’ll see where they come out.

“We have a couple first-round picks, but we’re not going to trade those for rental players, it doesn’t make much sense. Our team’s done a great job to hang in there, but we very well could miss too, and if you give up a first-round pick, it just doesn’t make sense for where we’re at. Hockey deals, we’re wide open for. I’ve talked to several teams today about those types of deals because we’re gonna need good players going forward too and we’re willing to pay those prices. I’d prefer to make the hockey deals, but if there’s a rental deal that makes sense, we’ll certainly jump on it.” — Don Waddell to Kyper and Bourne on March 5.

Outlook: The best story of the NHL season, Columbus has had to recalculate its approach to everything because they’re in a playoff spot. No longer sellers, the Blue Jackets are talking about keeping Provorov with or without a contract extension by March 7, and they’ve re-signed another pending UFA Mathieu Olivier.

There’s reason to believe they could finish stronger, too. Sean Monahan and Cole Sillinger are hoping to be back in March — the former was the centre of one of the NHL’s best lines with Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko when he went down in January. The team is also considering its buying options on the trade market. Unlikely to be much of a rental destination, the Blue Jackets could seek an upgrade through a hockey trade that gives them something to move into the future with as well. With a huge amount of cap space, they have surprise deadline-team potential.

Status: Buyer with room to do something big

Deadline Day Cap Space: *$4.598 million (*add $8.45 million if Miro Heiskanen misses rest of regular season)

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Defencemen, roster depth

Potentially Available: Mavrik Bourque, draft picks, prospects.

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “When I look at Dallas, I look at the right side of their D. I still think they could try to upgrade there. That’s one position I look at for them and, yes, I do look at it up front. The one thing here is, Rantanen at ($2.3 million), because that’s what it’ll be if Carolina retains 50 per cent if we get there, teams will jump all over that and I would think Dallas would be one of them. They’ve got a Finnish mafia too and they’ve got things to trade that you would look at them and say, if Rantanen gets flipped, they would be a team that could do it both in terms of cap space and what they have in their organization. So I would watch for that.”

What the GM has said: “He’s back in Dallas. He’s rehabbing. Time frame, is he going to be available just before the playoffs or sometime at the start? That’s what we’re anticipating. But, you know, injuries, you don’t know, is it going to be a little bit before that or a little bit after that? We’ll get a better feel for that once we get probably to mid-March, late-March, somewhere in there. Get a better feel for it.

“We do expect him back … sometime in the playoffs. I don’t know when that is. We’ll just have to wait and see.” — Jim Nill talking about Miro Heiskanen‘s return on Sportsradio 96.7FM in Dallas on Feb. 26.

Outlook: The big question is if Heiskanen will be ready for playoffs, or when he’ll be able to return in them, but the expectation is he won’t play again in the regular season. If that’s confirmed and he’s move from IR to LTIR by Friday, Dallas would open up even more cap space and be free to do just about anything.

This is one of the top Stanley Cup contenders and Nill will look at everything he can to maximize the Stars’ chances. He already acquired Mikael Granlund to add to their riches up front, and Cody Ceci to fill in the empty spot on the back end. Don’t expect them to be done there. Dallas could just nibble, or it could go big, and is one of the teams mentioned in the same breath as Mikko Rantanen if the Canes move the superstar winger.

Status: Fringe buyer with plenty of cap space but unclear aggressiveness

Deadline Day Cap Space: $13.024 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Defencemen, centre, depth toughness

Potentially Available: Vladimir Tarasenko, Marco Kasper

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think (GM Steve Yzerman) has been looking for a defenceman. I think he was looking at (Ryan) Lindgren, and I think he also had some interest in other guys who’ve been out there, like Will Borgen kind of guys. So I think it’s safe to say that’s been on his mind. He definitely looked at Cozens earlier this year, that didn’t happen.”

“They lost (Andrew) Copp, he’s out for the year. They lost (Michael) Rasmussen in that game where (Trevor) Zegras got suspended, he’s a big loss for them, so I think people are wondering, does Yzerman go out and get someone who can fill those kinds of roles?”

Outlook: Detroit took a bigger step than most of the East’s rebuilders last season, missing the playoffs only by the regulation-wins tiebreaker. The Wings are back in the thick of it this season though, in a much more crowded field.

Not much leaks out of Yzerman’s front office, which is why past big trades involving Filip Hronek and Anthony Mantha were so shocking. That kind of surprise is always on the table and the Wings have been attached to Cozens rumours earlier this season, which tells you they’re sniffing around on big moves. The recent injury losses, especially to Copp, are big setbacks. Will that spur the front office into action, or have it thinking about being more reserved?

Status: Buyer, if they can make (or guarantee) the cap space

Deadline Day Cap Space: *$4.475 million (*if Evander Kane returns, they have almost no cap room)

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Defence, winger, possibly goaltending

Potentially Available: Evander Kane, picks, prospects

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “At the low end, they’re looking for a defenceman who hopefully can play both sides and a fast forward. Not necessarily a top-six forward, but a forward who’s got some speed. Maybe a depth forward who’s quick and aggressive, that kind of thing. We’ll see if they can create any flexibility to do more.

“In goal, I just don’t think there’s anything there. If they’re going to do it, you have to be able to say we’re 100 per cent convinced that what we can get is better than what we have. And I don’t think they feel that.”

What the GM has said: “We’re just putting our heads down, readying ourselves for a lot of different scenarios. Whether it’s adding a forward, adding a centre or winger with some size, speed with grit. A left defenceman, a righty defenceman …

“I tend to try to take the full picture into play and not be too focused on the noise of the last couple games.” — Stan Bowman to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector on Feb. 24.

Outlook: The Oilers have added Trent Frederic (trade) and John Klingberg (signing) this season, so they have addressed some needs already. But will it be enough as the team struggles along recently and sees various off-season pickups (Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson) fail to have a meaningful impact while also holding no-move clauses?

If the Oilers want to do more, they need clarity on Kane. On LTIR and having not played a game since last year’s playoffs, it appears Kane and the team have a difference of opinion on when he’ll be able to come back. If Kane remains on LTIR for the rest of the regular season, Edmonton could still add just shy of $5 million in salaries at the deadline. But if there’s any chance he returns before the playoffs, that room would be absorbed by his cap hit coming off LTIR and the Oilers would have to be prepared for that space to be available.

The surprising thing to do would be to trade Kane, who now has only a partial no-trade clause. That would take care of any looming issues and ensure Edmonton would have the space for more trade deadline action. But who is taking Kane at full value, a $5.125 million AAV through next season?

Status: All-in buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $5.305 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Depth centre, defence, scoring depth

Potentially Available: Any picks or prospects

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think they’re going to take another shot at something. That’s (GM Bill) Zito’s way. They’re a Stanley Cup champion and want to go for it every year. Sam Bennett, there was a time earlier in the season where I think Bennett and the Panthers were close. I’ve heard from several people it was in the park, doable. I don’t know if it was because the cap changed, but it didn’t get done, but I don’t think they’re going to move him. They’ll keep him and go for it and see how it plays out in the summer. You have to look at them right now and say, with all that cap room, they’re going to strike again.

“The Panthers clearly see a wide-open East and are saying, ‘We’re jumping in.’”

What the GM has said: “I don’t know that it necessarily says anything other than we have space. Matthew (Tkachuk is) going to be out for an extended period of time and we hope to get him back for the playoffs.

“We’re still sort of in that, you have a projection diagnosis and rehab course of action, but how and where and in what manner the progress of that rehab is still yet to be determined.” — Bill Zito on Matthew Tkachuk’s injury status and what it means for the team’s deadline plans as of March 3.

Outlook: “Vegas east?” The defending champs have already brought in Seth Jones as a huge move, then Vitek Vanecek as a smaller one to address goaltending depth behind Sergei Bobrovsky. And they still have over $5 million of cap space to find another sizeable upgrade, thanks to Tkachuk’s salary going on LTIR for the rest of the regular season.

They’re as all in as anyone could be, especially facing the chance they lose one or both of Aaron Ekblad and Bennett to free agency this summer. Bobrovsky is also 36 and has just one more season left on his contract — without Spencer Knight as the safety net for the future anymore, who knows what becomes of Florida’s crease when “Bob” is done? Zito will aggressively push those chips in and use as much cap space as he can.

Status: Buyer, seeking upgrades

Deadline Day Cap Space: $3.653 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring, perhaps a goalie upgrade

Potentially Available: Brandt Clarke, futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’re definitely looking for a scorer. I get different debates on how big they’re thinking here. I’ve had some people say to me, ‘They’re going to go bigger than you think.’ I’ve had other people say, ‘Yeah, I don’t see it, but I think they’re going to try and get the best scorer they can find.’ I wonder if they upgrade in goal, not (Darcy) Kuemper, but maybe the backup position.”

Outlook: Quinton Byfield and Clarke have popped up in trade rumours at various points this season, though it seems both have cooled off, even though Clarke has been scratched for a few games in a row. A few years ago when rumours were also floating around about these young players, the team had to tell them they weren’t being traded. Something big would have had to change if that weren’t the case today.

The fact is the Kings face a difficult road through the playoffs, staring down the possibility of a fourth straight Round 1 meeting with Edmonton. The Kings are stingy on defence, but have the 23rd-ranked offence, lower than any team in a playoff spot except Calgary. Their power play is even worse — 29th and behind every playoff team. If they look to make an addition with that first-round opponent in mind, it’s clear scoring has to be in focus.

Status: Small-time buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: *$7.525 million (*If Joel Eriksson Ek, on IR, misses rest of season, add $5.25 million of space. If Kirill Kaprizov, on LTIR, returns, remove $9 million of space. If both come back, they have almost no space. If both are out for the regular season, they’d have $12.75 million in space)

Draft Picks

Team Needs: More scoring, centre

Potentially Available: Futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “Everybody’s heard the Brock Nelson conversation, the Brock Nelson jokes that (GM Bill) Guerin was fitting him for Wild jerseys while they were together at the 4 Nations. I’m sure they would love to do something like that, but it’s really tricky, their whole situation. I think he’d like to do more. I have no doubt that he would like to do more, but sometimes it’s out of your control, and it’s a little bit out of control for Minnesota right now.”

What the GM has said: “I’m not kicking my feet up and just taking a break. We’re going to proceed business as usual and see what works out there. You never know — it could be a dollar for dollar. It could be an actual hockey trade. Those are pretty rare this time of year, but it could happen.” — Bill Guerin to The Athletic after acquiring Gustav Nyquist.

Outlook: The day will soon come for the Wild to be a very interesting star chaser, but that is not likely to be at this trade deadline. Still pinned down by the $14.743-million cap charge for the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, Minnesota will have basically no cap space if and when Kaprizov is activated off LTIR. And, since that is expected to happen before the end of the regular season, they are not in a buyer’s position anymore. Guerin has also said he hopes to not have to put Eriksson Ek on LTIR at all.

Gustav Nyquist appears to have been their “big” trade, and there isn’t too much space for anything more significant. The Wild have cooled from a great start, 13-11-0 since Jan. 1. Much of that stretch has been played without Kaprizov, who himself will be a huge addition when he’s put back into the lineup.

Status: Long-term buyer, possibly soft seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $6.694 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Young players to buy low on, perhaps a surprisingly big add

Potentially Available: David Savard, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think Montreal is a hockey-deal team. If (GM Kent Hughes) can add something for term, he’ll do it. They’re not just a deadline team, they’re a hockey-deal team. He’s thinking big picture.

“If there’s a big swing that comes to Hughes, he takes it.”

What the GM has said: “I don’t think we’ll deviate from the plan, in the sense that the plan is to build a team that can compete for the championship for years.

“We want to see where we go in the next stretch before the deadline, and we’ll make decisions based on that.” — Canadiens GM Kent Hughes on Jan. 8, after the team won eight of 10 games to get back in the playoff hunt.

Outlook: The Canadiens were still thought to maybe be a year or so behind Ottawa (or, ahem, Buffalo) in their rebuild, so the honest goal for the season was to get further into it playing meaningful games and have the young players feel pressure in March, or April. That has been a success and now the Habs are very much a real competitor in the playoff race.

But, still, management insists the eyes remain on the future. So much of what will make up the final version of this core is still on the way — Ivan Demidov and David Reinbacher top that list. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t pull a rabbit out of the hat at the deadline though, and perhaps make a Kirby Dach-type deal — a young player with upside and long-term controllability.

Re-signing Jake Evans shows they’re not just giving up on every expiring deal and selling off rentals for more draft picks. Perhaps that means Savard or Armia stays, but there’s likely some middle ground where at least one or two expiring contracts get moved out. Above all else, what the Canadiens want to find is trade value, and if they can get it, they’ll pull the trigger on a deal, big or small.

Status: Seller, short-term builder

Deadline Day Cap Space: $32.932 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Picks, young NHL-ready or near-ready players

Potentially Available: Colton Sissons, Ryan O’Reilly, Michael McCarron

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think (GM Barry Trotz) is looking. I think if he found a more long-term piece, I think he would do it. He’s open for business. The key thing is the key group, the core group, especially the ones brought in over the last couple years, I haven’t heard any evidence that any of them have asked out. That means he’s keeping that group together and trying again.”

What the GM has said: “We started doing some of our work a bit early, obviously with the Justin Barron trade, we felt that was the right move. So we sort of were preparing for it, but at the same time trying to use some young players to go forward with. I’m very aware of where we are, and if the right deal comes our way, then we’ll be a seller more than a buyer, I know that. In our situation, it will probably be closer to the trade deadline and when we make that move at the trade deadline, some of those names (Sissons) may be included. We don’t have any big, big pieces that people are going to do a Rantanen-type of trade with you.” — Nashville GM Barry Trotz to 102.5 The Game host Jared Stillman before 4 Nations Face-Off.

Outlook: Rather than trading Juuse Saros last year, Trotz re-signed the 29-year-old for the long term, then traded away prospect Yaroslav Askarov and spent big in free agency on Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. Those moves committed the team to restructuring for the playoffs rather than any retool or rebuild and early returns are … not great.

It doesn’t stand to be an exciting trade deadline in Nashville, who have already moved out Alexandre Carrier, Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak. The Preds aren’t going to give up on the overall direction chosen, and will more likely look to try to fix things in the summer and run back some version next season (when $8.55 million worth of buyout penalties for Matt Duchene and Kyle Turris remain on the books).

Status: Buyer with potential to go big

Deadline Day Cap Space: ~$15 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring, defence depth, centre

Potentially Available: Dawson Mercer, Simon Nemec, futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “The Devils, even before (Jack Hughes’ injury), they were looking for a centre. They’d been pretty known about that, they’d been very active. Tom Fitzgerald had been one of the most active general managers. He was looking for a centre. I think he was also looking for a defenceman. I think they were one of the teams that poked around on Brayden Schenn, but didn’t like the price.

“Now you’re thinking, OK, we’ve got a bigger hole, potentially, how do we attack it? Can you attack it in this short term or is it you stick to your plan, see what kind of centre you can add and just handle it from there?

“I don’t want to guess about what the Devils may end up doing here, but all of a sudden they are looking at it and objects in the rearview mirror are closer than they appear.”

Outlook: There’s no question the injury to Jack Hughes threw a giant wrench in New Jersey’s plans. His $8 million AAV goes on LTIR, so the Devils will have around $15 million they can add at the deadline (Dougie Hamilton is believed to be week-to-week and able to return for playoffs). But unlike some other situations where that LTIR player will return in the post-season, this doesn’t appear to be the case for Hughes. He’s not expected back until training camp.

So, the question now is: how much does the injury alter the Devils’ overall plans to be a contender looking to buy? Indications are the plan will remain the same and the team will look for a centre to push on with. But unless they blow up the deadline with an unforeseen blockbuster, there’s no sugarcoating the fact this injury is a huge blow to the Devils’ Stanley Cup hopes.

Status: Should-be seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $7.875 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Reality check, to pivot to a different future

Potentially Available: Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Noah Dobson

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “Teams believe that their players are going to be available. They do think they’re going to get a shot at Nelson, at least. Palmieri is out there too, but Nelson is the one with the buzz and has a bunch of people waiting.

“The Dobson one, someone asked me what I think on Dobson, and I don’t think for a second he’s asked for a trade, I don’t think the Islanders have really thrown him out there. It’s been a hard year for him. I want to see what happens when they really start talking about his contract, which I assume is going to happen in the summer. They have time for this. This does not have to be decided now.”

Outlook: Look, we all see the standings. The Islanders are four points back of a playoff spot, which by itself doesn’t look like a huge difference to make up. The complication for the Islanders is that they also have to climb over five teams to get to the second wild card, which actually is a massive ask when teams can pick up a point for losing in extra time.

New York has won three of its past four games and doesn’t play again until after the deadline has passed, so it won’t be making up any more ground. This is the information management is working with to make its decisions and, as faithful to his team as GM Lou Lamoriello is, it’s gotta be clear that at least some pending UFAs have to go, right?

The way trades have been happening, it appears to be a sellers’ market, which builds an even stronger case as to why the Islanders shouldn’t hesitate to sell. Nelson would be one of the more attractive centres available. It’s time for this stalled team to turn over.

Status: Seller, potential to surprise and buy big

Deadline Day Cap Space: $15.071 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Depth centre, defence, scoring right winger

Potentially Available: Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Reilly Smith

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “We’ll see about Kreider. He’s been hurt, so you wonder about something like that heading into a deadline. Something that will become a bigger storyline if it isn’t cleared up, (Artemi) Panarin’s heading into the last year of his contract. He’s going to be 34 in October, so that’s another one that, suddenly, you’re looking at and saying, ‘OK, what does this mean for him and them?’ I don’t think they’re rebuilding. You don’t get J.T. Miller because you’re thinking about rebuilding. I think this is going to be a big summer for them.

“I expect them to be looking at it and saying, ‘OK, we’re moving these pieces off the board now, but anybody who thinks we’re going to be quiet or not heard from or anything like that, not true.’

“I think whether it’s now or later, we’re going to be hearing from the Rangers.”

Outlook: “Uneven” might be a good word to describe New York’s season. The Rangers didn’t start too badly, 11-4-1 in the first month and a half, though they did have some concerning underlying numbers when it came to high-danger chances being allowed. When Jacob Trouba’s and Kreider’s names appeared in trade rumours, the team took a sudden nose dive and over the next month and a half, New York was 7-15-0, last in the league. Since Jan. 3? The Rangers are 14-7-3 and looking like they could be a tough out … if they manage to get back to the playoffs.

Of course, this might not be the final version of the Rangers. Smith will surely be traded, as he’s been held out of games all week. New York has all sorts of cap space to buy with, but there’s a sense it’s more in the sellers’ bin right now, and preparing to jump back in as a big buyer this summer. Of course, if the right deal comes along by Friday, we can’t count out the Rangers using that cap space and nearly any roster player, to be the surprise actor of the day. They’re not dead yet.

Status: Want to be a buyer, have almost no space to do it with

Deadline Day Cap Space: $850,000

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring, defensive depth

Potentially Available: Draft picks

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I wonder about a guy like Ryan Donato. That’s a name I’ve heard linked to Ottawa a bit, and that makes sense to me.

“I’m sure there’s a bunch of other players if you go through and see who scores at a low (AAV) number who might be available, I’m sure you can find names out there for Ottawa. But Donato is the one that comes up for me.

“I think Ottawa, they don’t have to do anything reckless, but I do think they have to add. I think this is a season where you really have to go for it. You’re right there.”

Outlook: Oh, how they’d love to be a buyer. The Senators are on the cusp of returning to the playoffs, though a heated battle down the stretch awaits. This is where you might look for defence depth, an upgrade behind Linus Ullmark in net or — surely, for the 31st-ranked team in five-on-five goal scoring — a forward or two who can put the puck in the net.

But the Senators are in a tough cap spot, with less than $1 million to spend. They’ve been attached to Chicago’s Donato in rumours, but even that may not be so straightforward now that the Hawks can’t retain any of his $2-million cap hit. If Ottawa finds a trade, it’s likely for something small and in the depth mode. But even that would be a show from management that they believe and want to help the group where they can.

One note is that while the above graphic shows Ottawa has all its first-round picks, the penalty from the Evgenii Dadonov trade was to forfeit its first-rounder in either of 2024, 2025 or 2026. So, either this year or next, the Senators will have to give it up. That is, unless the NHL ends up rescinding the penalty, as it did for the New Jersey Devils for the Ilya Kovalchuk cap circumvention contract.

Status: Will have pressure to sell, but can be patient

Deadline Day Cap Space: $8.426 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Young players under control, centre, shoot for the stars

Potentially Available: Rasmus Ristolainen, Scott Laughton, Andrei Kuzmenko

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “Laughton, it’s a big price. Someone called me and said, remember they held out a year ago for a first-rounder and they got it (for Scott Walker). I think you look at the prices right now and Laughton, with another year of term, you can see it, that they could potentially get it. I’ve heard Laughton has told the Flyers he doesn’t want to leave, he’d prefer to stay. And I do think the Flyers would like to do right by him in the sense that where would you be interested in if we did send you somewhere? I think he’s been prepared for this. He’s liked. There’s no question about that.

“Ristolainen, publicly and privately (coach John) Tortorella has been very blunt he doesn’t like the idea of them losing him.

“When we talk about New York and the Rangers, whatever they’re doing now, it’s setting up to try and do something big. I think Philly thinks the same way. I think they’d like to make an add that has significant impact for them at some point. They have this cap space, they’re not saving it.”

What the GM has said: “We’re looking at what’s out there. The reality is, there’s not a lot of high-end centremen in this league. When teams have them, they want to keep them or the price is crazy. We’re not willing to give up on our future at this point. Yes, I realize that it’s a glaring need that we’d like to upgrade. But, it has to make sense,” — Daniel Briere at his mid-season press conference.

Outlook: The two biggest trade chips the Flyers have, Ristolainen and Laughton, are both under contract beyond this season, so unless their price is reached, they can hang on. Besides, they’re kind of in the playoff race — on the fringe of it, at least — and can fall back on giving the group a chance.

If this is a sellers’ market but if someone steps up to offer a first-rounder for Laughton, the Flyers might just have to take it because the fact is they’re building toward better days and the pick might better help accomplish that in the end, whether they use it on a prospect, or in a bigger trade at a later date.

Status: Sellers seeking futures, early-20s players

Deadline Day Cap Space: $11.018 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Ideally, young players who can help turn the corner in the next two-to-four years. Failing that, first-round picks and more long-term prospects for the post-Crosby era.

Potentially Available: Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, Noel Acciari, Anthony Beauvillier, Matt Grzelcyk

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I don’t see anything happening with (Sidney) Crosby.

“With Karlsson, I don’t know if it’s going to happen now, but after his bonus is paid this summer, all of a sudden the actual cash left on his deal is about $11.5 million over two years. That’s not impossible. So I do think we will see Karlsson talk, but I don’t know if I expect it until this summer.

“I’ve heard Pittsburgh has asked about some of Buffalo’s young players. Like (JJ) Peterka, that’s a big price if it ever happens, but that guy has Pittsburgh written all over him. I think they’ve asked Buffalo periodically this year about some of their younger guys, AHL guys who look like players. I continue to think that’s what they’re looking at.”

What the GM has said: “Going into the deadline, we’re going to continue to have discussions that fit where we are at in our strategy overall. But we’ll also try to be in the mix for any younger players that become available and can come in and help our team. So we’ll try to use the collection of assets we have now to try to add to the group, if the right younger player becomes available. That collection of assets will get us into those discussions,” — Kyle Dubas on Feb. 1, after trading Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor to Vancouver.

Outlook: If Buffalo’s spot at the trade deadline is the most dangerous, Pittsburgh’s is the most difficult. A team that really should be rebuilding, but can’t, the Penguins are having to straddle that line, searching for young players with upside, while not giving up on Crosby’s final years yet.

The Penguins acquired Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn from Nashville on Wednesday for Michael Bunting, which raised some eyebrows. Novak scored 43 and 45 points the past two seasons, but the 27-year-old has sagged with the rest of the Predators this season. He’s the type of young-enough player with proven upside that makes sense for the Penguins’ stated goals.

But Schenn? Could the team flip him again before the deadline, or does it see a dressing-room fit with the player signed through next season?

The biggest questions around what Pittsburgh could do revolve around Karlsson, and the Penguins have one more salary retention slot to help make that work. Rakell, Crosby’s linemate, is also a potential trade candidate, but could rock the boat. As for Crosby — if that fanciful move ever happens, it doesn’t appear as though it’ll be in 2025.

Status: Seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $33.357 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Everything to do with futures

Potentially Available: Luke Kunin, Nico Sturm, Mario Ferraro

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think that’s what you’re looking at with San Jose, what do they do with their UFAs and what else can they accumulate? They added (Tyler) Toffoli, Toffoli’s been good for them. They tried to bring in a few more veterans. I just wonder if that’s what they continue to try to do, get more veteran players around there.”

What the GM has said: “It’s important for me to have an open mind about where we’re going and what another team might be willing to offer for one of our players, and weigh it against the value of keeping those players around and having them with our group.

“We’re not in the mode of just gathering picks for the sake of gathering picks.” — Mike Grier at his mid-season press conference.

Outlook: Keep building up those blocks. San Jose may trail Chicago in the league standings, and far and away has the worst goal differential, but it is starting to have some exciting pieces show up in the lineup. Macklin Celebrini is making a strong case for the Calder Trophy, William Eklund leads the team in scoring at 21 years of age, Fabian Zetterlund is showing great upside at 25, and Will Smith is quietly flying under the radar as another excellent rookie at 19.

But the final product still seems to be a few years off, so the top priority for the Sharks remains to trade expiring contracts, and anyone else who may age out by the time the team is ready to make the next step, if they can get a solid offer for them.

Status: Seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $6.155 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: To turn over a core that hasn’t grown since the franchise’s first playoff appearance two years ago

Potentially Available: Brandon Tanev, Jaden Schwartz, Andre Burkovsky, Jared McCann, Jamie Oleksiak

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think the interesting thing is what happens with some of the guys who have term. Jaden Schwartz, one more year. Burakovsky, two more years, but a big number, ($5.5 million). … McCann, two more years at ($5 million), but I don’t think they have put McCann out there, I’ve heard that’s the other way around, teams calling them. Oleksiak, one more year (at $4.6 million), I know they’ve gotten calls on him.

“This trade deadline could be very interesting because I think Seattle has big decisions to make on overall franchise direction. It’s been a hard year for them, so I don’t even think this is a trade deadline discussion, this is a philosophical discussion for them too. Where do they want to go?”

Outlook: The sell-off began Wednesday when Seattle traded Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand to Tampa Bay. Gourde was certainly expected as a pending UFA, but Bjorkstrand has one more year left on his deal, so the Kraken could be thinking of taking a bigger pivot at this deadline.

After making the playoffs two years ago, when they surprised with the fifth-best offence in the league, the Kraken have failed to build on that and been a bottom-half scoring team since. They lack star power, players who can take games over, and goaltending depth has been a huge concern. They’ve tried to pack some holes with veteran additions over the years, but it’s clearly not working. The only question now is, how deep will the cuts go?

Status: Borderline seller, possible kingmaker, or may be quiet after all

Deadline Day Cap Space: ~$12 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: To decide if they’re in or out on this season and how to proceed with a core it’s committed to that hasn’t shown too much growth

Potentially Available: Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, Jordan Binnington, Brayden Schenn, Radek Faksa, Ryan Suter

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’re starting to win, so do the Blues look at it and say, ‘Hey, we’re in the playoff race now we’re not doing anything’? Regardless of it, I don’t think Schenn is going anywhere unless it’s a high price.”

“I think Toronto is weighing Schenn for sure. I think Vegas has looked at it. But now you’re sitting here, does St. Louis even want to do it now that they’re in the race?”

What the GM has said: “As we say every year, the players will tell us what we’re going to do. Right now, we have a massive uphill battle. I think we really dropped the ball coming out of Christmas. (Coach Jim Montgomery) had done a nice job getting the guys in a good spot and then we didn’t take advantage of a really positive schedule in January. Now, everyone has to live with the white noise around us until mid-March, but we’ve created that for ourselves.” — St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong on Feb. 23

Outlook: Go back to the 4 Nations break, and the Blues were far enough out of the playoffs that they seemed highly likely to sell. A plethora of big names were popping up on trade boards — five on Nick Kypreos’ — and while the expectation wasn’t that Armstrong would trade all of them, the signal was that he was fed up with a lack of development and was open to shaking the foundation of the core.

Now, however, the Blues are very much in it, helped both by 5-1-1 run since the 4 Nations break and from the fact Vancouver and Calgary aren’t sprinting away. Two trade candidates, Buchnevich and Schenn, have no-trade clauses, so will have ultimate say. That also goes for four defencemen. But if it’s not going to work in St. Louis and the alternative is to get traded to a contender, at least one of them might be talked into the idea.

As of Thursday morning, the Blues are all of a sudden one point behind Calgary and Vancouver, though with two more games played than both.

Status: Buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $819,227

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Depth defence

Potentially Available: Why not more draft picks and prospects?

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think they’re looking for some scoring. I mentioned (Alex) Tuch. I don’t know what Tampa has to trade. Every year of going for it, they don’t have a ton.

“I do think they’re going to add. I do think they see themselves as a team that can be a threat, and a legitimate threat, so I don’t think they’re going to sit here and let this all go by. But you look at a guy like Tuch, I think he’d be perfect to them, I just don’t know if they’re going to be able to do it. So I’m looking for other fits like that.”

What the GM has said: “We’ve added $10 million in players today (Gourde and Bjorkstrand), so we’ve kind of used up most of our cap space. … Anything we do between now and Friday, if we do anything — big if — it’s going to have to be that $800,000 with something coming out.” — Julien BriseBois on Wednesday after acquiring Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle.

Outlook: We had listed a “scoring winger” as a team need before this piece was published Thursday, but that was taken care of Wednesday when the Lightning acquired both Gourde and Bjorkstrand from Seattle. One of the NHL’s best teams for the past two months, the Lightning are springing into action just in time for the stretch run, gearing up for another playoff season and looking to avenge back-to-back opening-round losses.

After acquiring those two players, the Lightning aren’t left with much more cap space, so their biggest trades are probably done. They could still nibble around the edges, but anything bigger would require roster players moving out. They’re nearly back to a dollar-in, dollar-out situation.

Status: All-in buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $101,562

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring centre who can play on second or third line, defence

Potentially Available: Max Domi, Nick Robertson, David Kampf, prospects, 2026 first-rounder

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I also believe that if it becomes a thing — it’s just (GM Brad) Treliving’s way — he would poke into Rantanen. It can never be a long-term thing unless their cap situation completely changed, but I find it very hard to believe that if Rantanen got out there, Toronto wouldn’t at least see what it took to do it.

“Now that St. Louis is winning, would they even (trade Brayden Schenn)? And Toronto, it’s a big price. They don’t have a lot of futures. They have four things people are looking at: their first-rounder in 2026, (Easton) Cowan, (Fraser) Minten and (Ben) Danford. And, plus, Toronto would probably need retention. I think they’re going to add a centre, although again if Rantanen’s out there, I think they poke around on him.”

What the GM has said: “That’s the trick is you gotta determine fact from fiction, what players are actually available. You look around, there’s still lots of teams in the race. If I had to categorize it, it’s busy and you’re talking to lots of guys, but in comparison to years past, it’s a little bit slower just because I think there’s a lot more teams that maybe haven’t declared yet. We’d certainly like to help ourselves.” — Brad Treliving to the media last week.

Outlook: Toronto is looking at Florida adding Seth Jones, with room to do more, and Tampa Bay adding Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Meanwhile, the Leafs are sitting here with about $100,000 in deadline-day cap space, which is going to require some cap gymnastics to get anything done.

But it is doable. The team can move someone like Connor Dewar or Ryan Reaves to waivers/minors to find relief. In the right move, they could open themselves up to including Robertson or Domi to free up even more space. The bottom line is they have options to get the cap space they need to bring in the players they desire, but it has to make sense.

And, the fact is, none of those players will be the central pieces of a trade. Toronto is also going to have to give up Minten or Cowan or Danford to move the needle for a selling team. The Leafs also don’t have a 2025 first-round pick, so would need to dip into their 2026 pool of picks to go that route. If they do, it would certainly have to be for a player with term … or Rantanen. And it’s clear that, above all else, the Maple Leafs need a centre.

Status: Capable buyer, possible seller, unclear intentions

Deadline Day Cap Space: $25.589 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: A star player, big splash move, to cash in picks and prospects for players

Potentially Available: Matias Maccelli, Nick Bjugstad, Lawson Crouse, Barrett Hayton

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’re in the race, it’s a bonus for them. They can at least say, ‘Hey, we’re here, we’ve got meaningful games.’ I think Utah takes a big-picture look at this. They want to take a big swing at some point. Like, if Rantanen hits the open market, that’s a team I could see (saying), ‘OK, we’d like a shot at this.’”

What the GM has said: “If we can make dynamic changes and add a dynamic piece, we’re all for that. We’ve got the assets to do that.

“But I’d like to see this group fight together, and I think they’ve earned that right. I think we lead the league in man-games lost on defence, and yet we were able to kind of battle through that and find ways to win and stay in the hunt. I think it’s good for this group to stay in battle together.” — Utah GM Bill Armstrong on March 4 to Craig Morgan at NHL.com.

Outlook: We can all see the buying window is opening here in Utah. It has too many picks and prospects and, eventually, will run out of reserve and contract spaces for them all. The owner wants to spend and compete, the front office surely will embrace that mindset after years of putting along in Arizona, and the time will come. Is that for free agent Rantanen or Mitch Marner? Is that for a blockbuster trade? Certainly, Utah is a big team to watch when the summer markets open.

But could it get a jump on things now? Utah is in the playoff hunt as well and may act as a buyer at the deadline. That could mean adding something small to give the roster a vote of confidence, or it could mean being a surprise blockbuster team that puts the NHL’s newest team on the map. There’s no question it’s coming, but will the first splash happen by the deadline?

Status: More buyer than seller

Deadline Day Cap Space: $10.321 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring, depth forward, centre

Potentially Available: Brock Boeser, Carson Soucy, Elias Pettersson (F), Pius Suter

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’re looking for another forward, I think they’d like to add another centre. I’ve heard them and Suter are not close on an extension, and that was not going to be an easy gap to bridge. The Boeser thing, everyone you talk to there is like, ‘I have no idea where this is going to go this week.’

“I’ve been told unlikely anything happens (with Elias Pettersson) this week, but after this season, it’s going to be really fascinating to see where it goes here.”

What the GM has said: “I believe that, with this group, we’re just going to continue to build and get better. I don’t envision us to take a step back. The results might not be the way we want (this season), but I don’t envision us to take a step back.” — Patrik Allvin to Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre.

Outlook: Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of the Canucks.

The NHL’s top-rated soap opera goes on, with the next exciting chapter wrapping up on March 7.

It’s wild how we got here, one year on from the Canucks’ surprising the hockey world by nearly knocking Edmonton out of the playoffs, to a team in such disarray that a core centre has already been traded. As inconsistent and frustrating as it’s been, the team is not giving up, and is still very much in the playoff race. The Canucks defence corps has actually been build up quite nicely, but the forwards have to come together better (and we’ll see what the next days and weeks bring on the Thatcher Demko front).

Trading Elias Pettersson before the deadline seems a long shot, and he walked back some prickly comments this week to take some responsibility for his own struggles. We’ll likely revisit that one in the summer after seeing how the rest of the season goes, though any team run by Jim Rutherford has wild-card potential.

The Canucks do have a call to make on pending UFA Boeser, with 40-goal upside but more likely something less than that. How do you trade such a player and not take a step back? This is what Canucks management is having to juggle right now. They’re sort of in seller mode with their UFAs, but will be looking to buy anyone with term who they think will be able to help improve things in the seasons to come. Good luck.

Status: Expected buyer, big-game hunter

Deadline Day Cap Space: $2.422 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Scoring forward

Potentially Available: Futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think we always know with Vegas you expect the big swing. That’s another team that if Rantanen becomes available as a rental, you have to believe (GM Kelly McCrimmon) will do what it takes to try and get it done.

“Vegas is a really good team, everybody knows how talented they are. I don’t know really what they have to trade. They don’t have as deep a prospect pool — they have some good prospects — but don’t have as deep a prospect pool as some other teams. He’s traded away his first-round draft pick already this year (in the Tomas Hertl deal). Next year, it’s gone from the (Noah) Hanifin deal, so he doesn’t have a first-rounder until 2027. It’s just about giving him credit as a guy who is aggressive and tries to get things done. But I do think they’re going to add a scorer, somewhere, somehow.”

What the GM has said: “I don’t see us being big players at the trade deadline this year, but the amount of work you do oftentimes is pretty similar whether you (don’t) get much accomplished in terms of making trades versus when you might have a year where you make quite a few trades. We’ll be diligent and very engaged, but it’s impossible to say what exactly might happen between now and March 7.” — Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Feb. 21.

Outlook: I (and probably no one) cares what McCrimmon says about this being a quiet deadline for the Vegas Golden Knights. If there is a surprise blockbuster to be had out there, you know they are in on it and, somehow, might be able to actually pull it off. We’ve seen this play too many times before.

The Golden Knights have $2.4 million in available deadline-day space and only William Karlsson on LTIR, though he is expected back before the playoffs, so that extra room is not available. Shea Theodore, out week-to-week, could still get put on LTIR, and if he were to miss the rest of the regular season, Vegas would have that extra space. Hmmm …

Status: Cautious buyer

Deadline Day Cap Space: $3.65 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Depth forward, depth defenceman

Potentially Available: Futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “They’ve got Ryan Leonard coming and not every college player comes and makes an impact, but there’s guys that do, like Chris Kreider did in 2012, and I think Leonard has the ability to do that. But I still think they look at another forward and just say, ‘OK, is there another guy we can bring in here who can maybe play multiple positions, multiple roles, score some goals and defend?’ I would think that’s going to happen here.

“Are they happy with their seventh D? Right now, it’s Dylan McIlrath, but do they look at that and say we need to add?

“Based on what they’ve said and what I’ve heard, I’m not expecting anything big, which of course means they’re going to drop a massive deal on us.”

What the GM has said: “Obviously, the team’s had a really good year so far. We got a couple months here to go where we need to continue improving our game and getting to the next level. Obviously, when the playoffs start, everything ramps up, and we got to make sure we’re ready to do that. I think it’s going to be a balance of: Are there ways to improve our team versus risking over-tinkering with what’s been a pretty good group so far this year?” — Capitals GM Chris Patrick on Feb. 27.

Outlook: The Capitals did so much remodelling of their roster last summer, and the results have been so good, that it’s hard to imagine they’ll change much more and be a big buyer by the deadline. They do have the cap space to make a notable addition, however, and may want someone more experienced than Leonard, should he join the team at the end of his college season.

Washington added Lars Eller earlier this season and if it buys more at the trade deadline, it will probably be for experienced depth along similar lines.

Status: Buyer, aggressiveness to be determined

Deadline Day Cap Space: $12.403 million

Draft Picks

Team Needs: Defenceman, second- or third-line centre

Potentially Available: Alex Iafallo, futures

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think (GM Kevin Cheveldayoff) has looked around and I think he’s tried to figure out, What are the swings I can take, big or small.

“I don’t know that they look at it and say there’s a huge swing available to us. They’ve got their next three first-round picks, so they could do it if they wanted to. I’m not sure there’s that kind of huge swing available to them and I think they’ve looked around to see what it is. So then I think what you’re doing is you’re saying, ‘How do we fill the holes?’ And I think one of the holes is, these are the kinds of names I think about: (Jamie) Oleksiak, has term, left-hand shot. I think about (Mario) Ferraro, he’s not as big as some of the other guys but he’s got another year, left-hand shot. I think about (Rasmus) Ristolainen, he’s a right-hand shot and you might want more a lefty than a righty, we’ll see. But he’s got term as well.

“If they don’t land the biggest name or the sexiest name, I don’t think it’s for a lack of trying.”

What the GM has said: “We’ve been all-in here every single year for the last little while and we’ve used lots of different capital, so a lot of the assets that maybe traditionally are there aren’t there, so that makes it a little more difficult. Sometimes when you’re talking to teams (about) their ask, you just don’t have what they want.” — Kevin Cheveldayoff to the Winnipeg Jets‘ Check In.

Outlook: Look, we have to be honest about where the economics are heading in the NHL and fairly question for how much longer the Jets can be an upper-limit team — or at least how often they could pay those numbers when the cap rises to $113 million and beyond. It’s a small market with a small arena and creeping attendance concerns. It’s just the reality and could one day develop into a competitive disadvantage in the market.

But, in this moment, the Jets have been at the top of the NHL standings since the start of the regular season and are clearly Stanley Cup contenders — probably the best team Canada has to offer. If they don’t go all-in every way they can on this group, under what other conditions would you do it?

They have all the cap space they need to go big, or fix several needs. They still have all their first-round picks, and even a fair amount of prospects other teams would want. There’s a clear need for preferably a second-line centre, but at least a third-line centre with some scoring punch. They could also use a sizeable addition to the blue line, preferably someone who can play top-four minutes (even top-pair minutes). Heck, they could use two of them. They could even stand to add another depth forward for the bottom of the lineup.

So there could be a lot to do and the Jets could always be handcuffed by players unwilling to waive a clause to play in Manitoba. But for the players out there who are attainable, the Jets are clearly in a striking position. There has been no better time to go for it.