Buy, sell, or stand pat?
That's the question faced by the NHL's 31 general managers in advance of the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
Here are suggestions on who should do what:
Ducks - Buyers: The ever-dangerous Ducks lost to Nashville in the conference finals last year and are hanging around in the playoff race after overcoming a plethora of early-season injuries.
Coyotes - Sellers: These desert dogs have a bit more bite as of late, but the Coyotes would be well served by making sure they have the best chance at winning the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes.
Bruins - Buyers: The better-than-expected Bruins will be searching for an experienced top-six winger to play alongside David Krejci come playoff time, and perhaps an upgrade on the blue line.
Sabres - Sellers: Another case of "failure to launch" in Buffalo as the Sabres continue to play the role of the middle-aged child who has become way too comfortable living in the basement.
Flames - Buyers: The signing of Jaromir Jagr didn't pay off for the Flames, and his departure leaves a hole up front on a team with potential to go on a run come playoff time.
Hurricanes - Buyers: New owner Tom Dundon is disappointed with where the Hurricanes sit in the standings, and - with Carolina only two points out of a wild card spot - may encourage GM Ron Francis to make a push for the team's first playoff berth since 2009.
Blackhawks - Buyers: No matter where the Blackhawks sit in the standings, they'll always be going for it as long as the core remains intact.
Avalanche - Buyers: With a major trade already in the books, cap space to use, and a wild-card spot in their sights, the Avalanche could go either way, but why not make a push to cap a remarkable turnaround from a historically awful 2016-17?
Blue Jackets - Buyers: In the midst of another strong regular season, the Blue Jackets have yet to win a single playoff round.
Stars - Buyers: The Stars often make offseason moves that make them seem like contenders, and GM Jim Nill needs to make sure his team doesn't fade when it matters most.
Red Wings - Sellers: The Red Wings have reportedly let it be known they're in sell mode, and defenseman Mike Green is likely to command a lot of attention.
Oilers - Sellers: Despite Cam Talbot's claim the Oilers will make the playoffs, this season is a write-off, and asset mismanagement is a big reason why.
Panthers - Sellers: Much to the delight of the Golden Knights, the Panthers did some selling in advance of the expansion draft, so maybe GM Dale Tallon should sit this round out.
Kings - Buyers: Like the Blackhawks, the Kings have a Cup-winning core intact, but some pieces need to be added to the puzzle in order to properly contend.
Wild - Sellers: The Wild are a bubble team with little cap space to spare, so it might be worth trying to get something in return for expiring contracts.
Canadiens - Sellers: It's been a very disappointing season for the Canadiens, a team that may not want to rely on the current regime to kickstart a rebuild based on recent trade history.
Predators - Buyers: The Predators already made a huge splash in acquiring Kyle Turris, but Nashville learned the hard way last year that roster depth is so important in the quest for the Cup, hence the pending return of Mike Fisher.
Devils - Buyers: The Devils are in a weird spot, better than most thought but not quite ready to contend, meaning it may be best to stand pat and look at a trade candidate like Drew Stafford as an internal rental. although teams may come calling for him.
Islanders - Buyers: Uncertainty in regards to the long-term status of John Tavares hangs over the Islanders, but this high-scoring team needs an upgrade in net as soon as possible.
Rangers - Sellers: Like Detroit, the Rangers are a team that's reportedly made it clear they're willing to deal.
Senators - Sellers: After coming within a goal of advancing to the Final a year ago, the Senators look lost, and GM Pierre Dorion could realistically trade anyone, even Erik Karlsson.
Flyers - Buyers: The Flyers are right on the playoff bubble after missing out last season, and with one of the best lines in hockey (Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Sean Couturier), they could surprise with a little help.
Penguins - Buyers: The Penguins have been in search of a third-line center for quite some time, and we should all expect reinforcements to arrive in the push for a threepeat.
Sharks - Sellers: With Joe Thornton sidelined indefinitely, the Sharks might be set to sink rather than swim.
Blues - Buyers: The Blues don't have much cap space to work with, but in a wide-open Western Conference, the door is open to go deep, and they'll surely look for help at the deadline.
Lightning - Buyers: The Lightning are hungry for a Cup win, and it's almost guaranteed that GM Steve Yzerman will make a move, with the only question being how thunderous.
Maple Leafs - Buyers: The Maple Leafs have a bunch of pending free agents up front that can be flipped for help or held onto for a postseason run, and there's clearly a need to upgrade on the blue line.
Canucks - Sellers: For some reason the Canucks seem intent on re-signing Erik Gudbranson, but expect Thomas Vanek to be moved, with the potential for a Sedin brothers deal also in play.
Golden Knights - Buyers: The Golden Knights are playing with house money as an expansion team with a very real opportunity to contend for the Cup in year one, so why not go all in?
Capitals - Buyers: The Capitals are hanging around with the NHL's best despite losing some key players after another failed playoff run, and as long as Alex Ovechkin is scoring goals at a high rate, there's a chance things could work out one of these years.
Jets - Buyers: The loss of Jacob Trouba for an extended period of time means the Jets should look to add on defense, while some added scoring could help this franchise finally win its first playoff game since entering the league back in 1999-2000.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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