Category: NHL

Vezina Trophy odds for the 2025-26 season have a new leader, with Ilya Sorokin claiming the top spot. This award is still very much up for grabs, though, with Andrei Vasilevskiy still close behind.

Here are the latest NHL odds to win the top netminding honor.

Vezina Trophy Odds 

Player		Movement
Ilya Sorokin	<<-125>>	▲
Andrei Vasilevskiy	<<+120>>	▲
Logan Thompson	<<+1100>>	▼
John Gibson	<<+3300>>	▲
Jesper Wallstedt	<<+3500>>	▲
Brandon Bussi	<<+6000>>	▲
Filip Gustavsson	<<+6000>>	▼
Jeremy Swayman	<<+6000>>	▼
Scott Wedgewood	<<+7500>>	▼

Odds movement

Ilya Sorokin has seen his odds go from +160 to -125 over the past four weeks. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy has also been on the upswing, going from +790 to +120 during the same span and leapfrogging Logan Thompson and Scott Wedgewood on the odds board in the process. 

Vezina Trophy prediction

Ilya Sorokin is the rightful favorite at this point of the season, but Andrei Vasilevskiy is right on his heels. Sorokin has had to do his best Superman imitation up to this point, and I can see the walls cracking sooner than later.

The Lightning are the much better team, and they can provide Vasilevskiy with better defensive support to keep their netminder clean.

I don't know how much longer the Tampa netminder will be plus money, so I'm hopping on him now at a unit.

Pick: Andrei Vasilevskiy (+120)

Stake: 1 unit

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Understanding NHL Vezina odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:

• Connor Hellebuyck -400

The (-) means that Hellebuyck is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $400 to win $100. Other contenders in the Vezina race might have plus (+) odds to win.

• Igor Shesterkin +650

Here, a bettor stood to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

NHL Vezina Trophy trends

• Connor Hellebuyck is the first netminder since Martin Brodeur (2008) to win back-to-back Vezina Trophies.
• The Montreal Canadiens have the most Vezina Trophy winners in NHL history (29).
• No goaltender has won the Vezina and Stanley Cup in the same season since Tim Thomas (2011).
• The Eastern Conference has produced six of the last 10 Vezina winners.

Vezina Trophy history

A quick look at recent NHL Vezina Trophy winners and the teams they played for.

Season	Player	Team
2024-25	Connor Hellebuyck	Winnipeg Jets
2023-24	Connor Hellebuyck	Winnipeg Jets
2022-23	Linus Ullmark	Boston Bruins
2021-22	Igor Shesterkin	New York Rangers
2020-21	Marc-Andre Fleury	Vegas Golden Knights
2019-20	Conor Hellebuyck	Winnipeg Jets
2018-19	Andrei Vasilevskiy	Tampa Bay Lightning
2017-18	Pekka Rinne	Nashville Predators
2016-17	Sergei Bobrovsky	Columbus Blue Jackets
2015-16	Braden Holtby	Washington Capitals
2014-15	Carey Price	Montreal Canadiens
2013-14	Tuukka Rask	Boston Bruins
2012-13	Sergei Bobrovsky	Columbus Blue Jackets
2011-12	Henrik Lundqvist	New York Rangers
2010-11	Tim Thomas	Boston Bruins
2009-10	Ryan Miller	Buffalo Sabres
2008-09	Tim Thomas	Boston Bruins
2007-08	Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils
2006-07	Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils
2005-06	Miikka Kiprusoff	Calgary Flames
2003-04	Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils
2002-03	Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils
2001-02	Jose Theodore	Montreal Canadiens
2000-01	Dominik Hasek	Buffalo Sabres

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Edmonton Oilers will certainly be a buyer to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts. They should be aiming to bolster their roste ahead of the playoffs.

Now, the Oilers are being predicted to land one of the NHL's most interesting trade candidates.

In The Athletic's most recent NHL trade matchmaker column, insider Chris Johnston predicted that the Edmonton Oilers will acquire Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

"The Oilers are all-in to chase a championship, but they’re operating with limited cap flexibility while sizing up new pieces. Enter McMann," Johnston wrote.

This is not the first time that the Oilers have been viewed as a potential landing spot for McMann. It is no secret that they could use another top-nine forward, and McMann undoubtedly would give them a boost if they landed him.

McMann is currently in the middle of a strong year for the Maple Leafs as well. In 56 games, the 29-year-old forward has recorded 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, and 126 hits. With numbers like these, he would certainly give the Oilers' top nine more secondary scoring and grit if they acquired him

Johnston also brought up how McMann's affordable cap hit makes him a realistic target for a team with limited cap space like the Oilers. 

"There won’t be another 20-plus goal man available at this deadline who commands a cap hit below the league’s minimum salary. But the Leafs can get him there with full retention. There’s going to be a premium charged for doing that, but part of being all-in is doing whatever it takes to increase your odds of winning," Johnston wrote. 

While McMann would be an excellent addition to the Oilers' roster, the same can be said for just about every other contender. Because of this, there is no question that the Oilers will have competition for his services if the Maple Leafs officially make him available. For example, in the same article for The Athletic, James Mirtle predicted that the Colorado Avalanche will land McMann.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if the Oilers can end up landing McMann from the Maple Leafs. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the NHL's biggest surprise this season. Many expected the Penguins to be among the worst teams in the NHL, but they instead have a 29-15-12 record and are second in the Metropolitan Division at the Olympic break.

With the Penguins currently holding a playoff spot, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they looked to add to their group once the NHL roster freeze lifts later this month. 

When looking at the Penguins' current roster, one of their biggest needs is another defenseman. Boosting their right side, in particular, should be one of the Penguins' top objectives. One trade candidate who could make a lot of sense for the Penguins because of this is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.

While Whitecloud was recently moved by the Vegas Golden Knights to the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, he has already been creating chatter as a trade candidate in Calgary. With the Penguins needing another solid blueliner, he is a player who Pittsburgh should strongly consider targeting. 

If the Penguins added Whitecloud, he could slot nicely on their bottom pairing but also move up the lineup if needed. Furthermore, due to his steady defensive play, he would be an obvious choice for the Penguins' penalty kill if acquired.

Another very appealing factor about Whitecloud is that he would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired. This is because he has a $2.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Ultimately, with the Penguins' blueline needing a boost, it would make sense for them to pursue Whitecloud. The fit looks strong on paper.

In 55 games this season split between the Golden Knights and Flames, Whitecloud has recorded two goals, eight assists, 10 points, 76 blocks, and 86 hits. 

San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren has been talked about often as a trade candidate. He will be a player to watch once the NHL trade freeze ends because of it.

Due to this, let's take a look at three teams that could make sense as landing spots for Liljegren. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

The Penguins may not have had many believers heading into the season, but they have been proving their doubters wrong. They currently are second in the Metropolitan Division standings and could end up being buyers because of it. With the Penguins needing more depth on their right side, perhaps they could take a chance on Liljegren. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and Liljegren also have history due to their Toronto Maple Leafs days. 

Detroit Red Wings 

The Red Wings should be on the hunt for a right-shot defenseman, and Liljegren could make sense as a target for them. If they acquired him, he would have the potential to give them a bit of an upgrade on their bottom pairing as they look to break their nine-year playoff drought. 

Buffalo Sabres 

The Sabres also stand out as a possible landing spot for Liljegren. It is no secret that the Sabres should be looking to improve their depth on the right side of their blueline, and bringing in Liljegren would provide them with just that. 

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

If the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to make a trade before the NHL’s March 6 trading deadline, upgrading the defense seems like the most logical route general manager Kyle Dubas will follow. Well, who are some potential players Dubas could target to improve the roster? [PensBurgh]

Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs said he’s embracing the “incredible opportunity” of representing Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete against the world’s best and make his country proud. [Penguins]

Defenseman Ryan Shea has emerged as a reliable NHL regular this season, posting career-high offensive numbers while cementing his role on Pittsburgh’s blueline after a couple of up-and-down years early in his career. Shea has taken advantage of the increased trust and opportunity afforded by a new coaching staff, showing he belongs at the NHL level. [Trib Live]

Updates from around the NHL…

Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring, and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves for the shutout as Team Canada rolled to a 5-0 victory over Czechia on Thursday. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also recorded two assists. [TSN]

American-born NHLers would not be outdone, however. Brock Nelson scored twice, and four teammates had two assists apiece, as Team USA beat Latvia 5-1. [Associated Press]

Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the league has secured greater access to Olympic content and flexibility around how games and player content are shared compared with past Olympics. He also expressed hope that this cooperation with the IOC and IIHF will continue to improve for future events. [Associated Press]

Bettman also said the league will defer to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decisions on Russia and Belarus’ eligibility for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. [Sportsnet]

Top NHL draft prospect and Penn State forward Gavin McKenna will continue to participate in athletic activities as he faces a misdemeanor simple assault charge. [Sportsnet]

While many players scattered for rest and relaxation over the Olympic break, Matvei Gridin had a different itinerary.

Instead of a beach getaway, the Calgary Flames rookie headed to Rockford, Illinois to take part in the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge — a reward for a strong first half with the Calgary Wranglers and another step forward in his development.

It may not have been a traditional vacation, but it was an opportunity Gridin embraced. Named an AHL All-Star for his performance this season, the 19-year-old has been a key contributor for the Wranglers, collecting 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games.

Get Griddy with it 🕺 pic.twitter.com/dzeHGVGRZ4

— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) February 11, 2026

Competing alongside some of the league’s top talent was an experience he didn’t take for granted.

“They’re the best players on their team,” Gridin told the Wranglers media postgame. “It’s nice to play with the skilled guys.”

Gridin picked up two assists in his first game, with his All-Star nod capping off what has been a steady upward climb in his first full professional campaign. His progress hasn’t been limited to the AHL, either.

The Russian forward has appeared in 13 games with the Flames this season, registering three goals and three assists for six points. He entered the break on a high note, recording his first career multi-point NHL performance with a goal and an assist against the Edmonton Oilers.

That momentum is something he hopes to carry into the stretch drive.

“Big second half of the season,” said Gridin. “Just trying to bring my best and play how I can play.”

Prior to the NHL’s Olympic pause, Gridin was reassigned to the Wranglers to ensure he continued to see meaningful ice time and further his development. The plan reflects Calgary’s long-term vision — giving one of their promising young forwards every opportunity to grow his game.

With confidence building at both the AHL and NHL levels, Gridin’s All-Star appearance is less about a midseason showcase and more about a player trending in the right direction as the Flames prepare for the season’s final push.

When Mark Stone was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, some Ottawa Senators fans consoled themselves with the thought that, had the Senators signed Stone to a long-term extension, the last few years of the contract might not look that good.

After all, he wasn't the game's finest skater to start with, so when age or injuries kicked in, he might lose a step that he didn't have to give.

Nearly seven years later, that theory isn’t holding up very well.

With 60 points in 41 games, Stone remains a top-20 NHL scorer. And on Thursday in Milan, skating for one of the most stacked Canadian rosters ever assembled, he was one of their better players. Stone was noticeable on almost every shift and scored in Canada’s 5-0 Olympic-opening win over Czechia.

He even broke out the classic goal-scoring face that Ottawa fans used to love.

When it comes to how Ottawa management handled a star like Stone, combined with getting next to nothing for him in a trade, his story has to be near the top of the list of biggest blunders in team history.

Former Sens GM Pierre Dorion said the organization only realized days before the deadline that Stone likely wouldn’t re-sign.

But on that very same day, across town, owner Eugene Melnyk told CBC Ottawa something entirely different: this trade had been planned for some time as part of the rebuild.

Those two explanations never quite lined up then, and they don’t now.

Had Stone been given a long-term extension in his previous negotiation instead of a one-year deal, he would have offered an excellent veteran presence in the young Sens locker room.

Instead, they traded him, and Ottawa then spent years searching for exactly the kind of culture-setting, two-way star they had already developed and let go, one who might still be their best player today.

It's easy to imagine a parallel universe where Stone was Erik Karlsson's successor as captain, showing the ropes to young forwards like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, and others. Tkachuk's father, Keith, publicly pleaded with the Senators to re-sign Stone.

“I want that Mark Stone signed so badly," Keith Tkachuk told TSN 1200 radio. "He’s been so instrumental to Brady’s development both on and off the ice. The Senators have to figure out a way and get this done.”

But Keith, who'll be in the Hall of Fame someday, wasn't calling the shots. Dorion and Melnyk were, and then they compounded things by making an atrocious trade.

Stone was traded to Vegas with forward Tobias Lindberg for forward Oscar Lindberg, prospect Erik Brannstrom and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (Egor Sokolov). 

Because he was excited about Brannstrom, who didn't work out as a prospect at all, Dorion called it his proudest day as GM. But only one GM in the deal had the right to strut.

"You don't get players like (Mark Stone) very often," Vegas GM George McPhee told the media. "Players this good aren't available through trade very often. Usually, you draft a player like this, and you hang on to him, and he plays his whole career with you. So we knew that he was out there, that he was going to be available, and the issue was, what's it going to cost? And the price was right for us."

Ya think?

No one Vegas gave up panned out for the Senators, or even in the NHL, and all they have to show for the deal is Belleville's Jan Jenik, who doesn't really appear to be in the team's plans. Jenik was acquired from Arizona in a minor league swap for Sokolov.

Tkachuk, a rookie at the time, didn't hide his fondness for Stone on the day of the trade.

"He was a huge impact for me this year, both on and off the ice," Tkachuk told NHL.com. "I was lucky enough to play with him all year. He welcomed me into his home when he didn't have to, and he kind of took me under his wing, and it means so much to me. He didn't have to; it's just the type of guy he is."

Tkachuk and the young core were soon left to raise themselves, playing for a new rookie head coach in D.J. Smith, who, like the kids, was also trying to learn on the job.

Stone, who says he still spends his summers in Ottawa, remains tight with Tkachuk. Long after the trade, they were even in each other's wedding parties, so just imagine the bromance if they'd been on the same team for the past seven years.

What's frustrating for Sens fans is that Stone didn’t go on to become a great player in Vegas. He remained exactly what he'd already become in Ottawa: an elite two-way star and a leader most NHL management teams would happily build around.

At least with Stone starring for Canada in Milan for the next two weeks, Sens fans can enjoy a rare opportunity to cheer loudly once more for the one that got away. 

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa. Read more Senators features and articles from THN Ottawa here:

From Hasek to Tkachuk: The Sens Have Been Burned By Best-on-Best Tournaments
Tim Stützle Named Germany's Alternate Captain As Outstanding Season Continues
Current And Former Ottawa Senators Competing At Winter Olympics
Senators Can Further Boost Playoff Hopes By Upgrading One Position At Deadline

One day after Team Sweden's opening 5-2 win against the hosts, Italy, at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, William Nylander was absent from practice once again.

Sweden skated on Thursday afternoon, with Adam Johansson of Expressen reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs' forward was missing from the practice. The plan, however, is for him to play on Friday against Finland, Johansson reports.

❌ William Nylander saknas återigen på Tre Kronors träning.

Filip Forsberg tar hans plats bredvid Eriksson Ek och Kempe just nu.

Annars är samtliga spelare på is. Samma backpar och kedjor som mot Italien.

🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/2a0FJF87EB

— Adam Johansson (@adamjjohansson) February 12, 2026

The 29-year-old, who's playing in his first Olympic Games, scored the game-winner and played 16:27 in Sweden's victory on Wednesday.

Also scoring in the game were Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche, Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers, Mika Zibanejad of the New York Islanders, and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was Sweden's seventh defenseman against Italy, didn't skate a single shift.

"It was a very special, fun start, playing Italy in Italy, so it was pretty cool," Nylander told TSN's Mark Masters after the game.

There were question marks surrounding Nylander's status entering the game after the forward missed their final practice due to maintenance. But, to no surprise, he ended up playing after getting into a skate on Wednesday morning.

"Just taking care of my body, making sure I'm good for the remainder of the season," Nylander continued.

The forward had played just three games with the Maple Leafs before the Olympics. He was dealing with a reaggravated groin injury, which he picked up against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15.

The game against Vegas was just his fourth back in the Maple Leafs lineup after missing the previous six games (from Dec. 28 to Jan. 10) because of the initial groin ailment.

Had Nylander been dealing with any groin injuries in the opening days at the Olympics?

"No, not today," Nylander smiled, after Sweden's win.

Maple Leafs Rank 61st In Sportico’s ‘Big Five’ North American Franchise ValuationsWhile the Maple Leafs continue to rule the NHL’s financial leaderboard, a new cross-league ranking reveals the staggering multibillion-dollar gap between hockey’s elite and the giants of the NFL and NBA

In the final two games before heading to Italy, Nylander scored a goal and four points against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. He leads the Maple Leafs with 18 goals and 52 points in 40 games this season.

Along with his goal against Italy on Wednesday, Nylander registered five shots on goal. The team-high belonged to Joel Eriksson Ek, who tallied nine shots in the game.

"I think just playing Italy in Italy was pretty special," added Nylander, "and getting the W."

Sweden's next game is against Finland on Friday at 6:10 a.m. ET (12:10 local).

New York Islanders center Bo Horvat made the most of his Olympic debut in Milano Cortina. In Canada's first game against Czechia, he scored a breakaway goal to give his nation a 3-0 lead. 

The play began as Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley gave Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand an outlet pass. Marchand then threaded the puck to Horvat, who split the Czechia defense before going five-hole on Anaheim Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal:

Bo Horvat surged through the middle and beat the Czech goalie for Canada's third of the day. 💥#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/6gX20pnmyA

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026

Before the goal, Horvat took a high stick in the final minute of the opening period, requiring some repairs. 

Horvat is one of two Islanders representing their countries at the Olympics, facing off with forward Ondrej Palat of Czechia on Thursday afternoon. 

The Montreal Canadiens will be a team to watch once the NHL Olympic roster freeze passes. With the Canadiens being among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, there is an expectation that they will look to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Now, the Canadiens are being connected to one of the NHL's top trade candidates.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Chris Johnston predicted that the Canadiens will be the team that acquires New York Rangers star center Vincent Trocheck. 

"The Canadiens’ biggest hole all season has been down the middle, and it’s going to be a battle at the deadline for the limited options who can fill the 2C role on a contender. Even at 32, Trocheck certainly fits that description, and the fact he comes with some term at a reasonable cap hit will help the Habs bridge the gap as their youth movement progresses," Johnston wrote. 

Seeing the Canadiens being viewed as a potential landing spot for Trocheck is not difficult to understand. There is no question that he would give the Canadiens' top six a nice boost if they acquired him. His stats this season show this, as he has recorded 12 goals, 24 assists, and 36 points in 43 games. 

Yet, with Trocheck being a legitimate top-six center who has a $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season, it is clear that the Rangers would want a significant return for him in a potential move. Yet, with the Canadiens needing another impactful center, he could be worth the price. 

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up being the team that lands Trocheck ahead of the deadline. There is no question that the skilled center is going to have several suitors. 

When the Pittsburgh Penguins return from the 2026 Olympic break, they will have five games before the 2025-26 NHL Trade Deadline. Given where they are in the standings, and the way they have played for the better part of the past two months, the Penguins seem to have positioned themselves as potential buyers, or at the very least, some sort of hybrid buy-sell team like they were a year ago.

While the idea of somebody like Jason Robertson or Robert Thomas is fun to think about and dream on, those are probably more offseason-type moves than in-season deadline deals. Especially as it relates to Robertson given the Dallas Stars current status as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The Penguins also already have a lot of depth at forward this season and probably have more good players than they can play at the moment. Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and even Ville Koivunen are worthy of NHL playing time right now, but there just simply is not room for them.

The defense is where the Penguins might be in a position to make a small addition. Not only due to the injury to Kris Letang, as well as the fact Erik Karlsson is playing in the Olympics and is not getting any tine to rest, but just because they could use a little more quality depth at the position in both the short-term and the long-term.

Based on everything Kyle Dubas has said this season, and based on everything he has done over the past year-and-a-half, I would not anticipate them being in the market for older players that are obviously rentals.

But what about a younger player on an expiring contract that could potentially be re-signed?

The ideal situation would be finding a young defenseman with team-control remaining beyond this season, but that sort of thing is probably easier said than done.

So let’s take a look at a couple of options that could be available and might fit what the Penguins are looking for.

Simon Benoit, Toronto Maple Leafs

Benoit is intriguing because he is still only 27 years old and is signed through the end of next season at an extremely manageable salary cap number of just $1.35 million per season. He is not going to do a lot to generate offense, but he has been a very solid defensive player this season and would bring some of the size and physical play that Dubas has tried to inject into the lineup this year.

He’s a bottom-pairing player, but he is cheap, you get two potential playoff runs with him and you know you’re going to get an honest effort and a player that’s not afraid to get in front of a shot.

He has been given exceptionally one-sided defensive assignments (only 26 percent offensive zone starts) with the Maple Leafs allowing just 2.58 expected goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play and only 2.32 actual goals per 60 minutes when he is on the ice. Both numbers are tops among Maple Leafs defensemen.

I could see there being interest, especially after the Penguins made a similar trade with Toronto at last year’s deadline to get Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins. That one worked out well.

Zach Whitecloud, Calgary Flames

Whitecloud has been a solid, if unspectacular player for a few years now in Vegas, and recently found himself as part of the Rasmus Andersson trade that sent him to Calgary. Given the state of the Flames season and their ongoing rebuild, there is no doubt he could potentially be on the trade block again over the next few weeks. He is 29, signed for more full seasons after this at $2.75 million per season, and could be a potential depth upgrade both this season and beyond.

Again, you are not going to get much offense out of him, but he is a solid enough defensive player that can help keep the puck out of your net. The contract is going to increase the return in terms of assets, so it might come down to a matter of how much you are willing to pay this year and how much you like Whitecloud.

Mario Ferraro, San Jose Sharks

The problem with Ferraro as a potential option is that he is an unrestricted free agent after this season and would likely be a rental. But he fits into the age range the Penguins might be interested in (27) and could be a potential extension candidate.

Ferraro has been stuck on a bad San Jose team for years and has typically outperformed his teammates when it comes to suppressing chances and goals. He probably has more offensive upside than a player like Benoit, but might cost more in terms of assets and be at risk of just simply being a few month rental. That might not be their preferred path.

Logan Stanley, Winnipeg Jets

Stanley is a massive physical presence at 6-foot-7 and over 230 pounds, but has never really fully established himself as a quality or consistent NHL Player until this season.

It has been a perfectly timed breakout as well, given the fact he is in a contract year and due for a raise after this season as a pending unrestricted free agent. I don’t know that I am willing to risk paying what he is going to get on the open market this summer, and I suspect he might come with a fairly high asking price from Winnipeg, but he is a potential defense option that should be available.

Braden Schneider, New York Rangers

I am going to include Schneider because he kind of fits the mold of what the Penguins might be looking for in a player — and the type of player they have looked to acquire at other positions — and will almost certainly be available.

I am just not sure I actually want him.

Or how much I would want him.

Or what I would even be willing to give up for him.

He is still only 24 years old, but is a restricted free agent after this season and would need some sort of a commitment contractually.

Maybe if you acquire him you give him a look the rest of the season, and if you don’t like what you see you just do not qualifying him an offer and let him go.

He has size and talent, but none of it has been put together at the NHL level and he seems to have taken a step backwards this season. Maybe a fresh start helps? He would not be high on my priority list.

The Chicago Blackhawks are currently sixth in the Central Division standings and 10 points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Due to this, there is an expectation that they will be sellers at the deadline. 

Because of this, Matt Grzelcyk is one Blackhawks' pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) who has created chatter as a potential trade candidate. Let's look at three teams that could make sense as landing spots for Grzelcyk if Chicago ends up making him available. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

Could a reunion between Grzelcyk and the Penguins be in the cards? The Penguins have been one of the NHL's biggest surprises this season and could look to add to their roster because of it. The left side of their defense could use a boost, and Grzelcyk could help them on that front. He also thrived in Pittsburgh last season, setting career highs with 39 assists and 40 points.

Buffalo Sabres 

The Sabres should be looking to add to their blueline depth ahead of the deadline. If they acquired Grzelcyk, he would give them another solid option to work with on their bottom pairing. At a minimum, he could be a useful seventh defenseman for the Sabres to have around.

Colorado Avalanche 

The Avalanche could be another team to watch when it comes to Grzelcyk. They were linked to him before he signed with the Blackhawks, and they could use another defenseman with a lot of experience. The Avalanche have also struggled on the power play this season, so Grzelcyk could give them another option to help shake things up. 

Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze is over, the Buffalo Sabres will be a team to watch. With the Sabres looking to end their 14-year playoff drought, it would make a lot of sense for them to add to their roster ahead of the deadline.

One of the Sabres' most important needs to address is their blueline. It is clear that they should be looking to address their right side specifically. When looking at likely sellers around the NHL who could help the Sabres with this, the Chicago Blackhawks stand out big time. 

The Blackhawks are currently among the bottom teams in the Western Conference and are expected to move out some of their players ahead of the deadline. Connor Murphy is one of their most notable trade candidates, and he would be a great fit on a Sabres club looking to get back into the playoffs. 

If the Sabres landed Murphy, he could slot very nicely on their bottom pairing and penalty kill. This is because he is a solid stay-at-home defenseman.

With Murphy being one of the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates right now, there is no question that he should generate a lot of interest once the trade freeze lifts. Yet, with the Sabres needing another right-shot defenseman, they would be wise to make a real push for him. 

With contenders always on the hunt for big, right-shot defenseman, a trade for Murphy would likely need to start with a second-round pick. 

In 57 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, Murphy has recorded four goals, eight assists, 12 points, 55 hits, and 84 blocks. While he is not an offensive defenseman, his dependable defensive play would make him a valuable addition to the Sabres' roster if they successfully landed him.