Like clockwork, the hockey world asks itself the same question every February: Is this the year most notable trade chips change hands before TV networks begin their extensive NHL deadline-day coverage?

Usually, as the deadline comes into focus, the answer is an emphatic "no." This year, however, a busy 48 hours have made "yes" a distinct possibility.

Six trades were completed between Sunday evening and Tuesday afternoon, with a seventh trade - Kings defenseman Alec Martinez to Vegas - reportedly imminent.

To recap the finalized swaps: Devils players Blake Coleman and Andy Greene have new homes in Tampa and Long Island, respectively; Kings forward Tyler Toffoli has been moved to Vancouver; and a trio of solid rental defensemen - Canadiens blue-liner Marco Scandella, Sharks rearguard Brenden Dillon, and Senators defenseman Dylan DeMelo - have been shipped to St. Louis, Washington, and Winnipeg, respectively.

Let's unpack the flurry of activity and reassess the pre-deadline landscape.

Western bubble teams beefing up

Seven teams enter Wednesday sitting within three points of the Western Conference's playoff cut line, with only five postseason spots realistically up for grabs. Of those seven teams, three have taken matters into their own hands and traded for a veteran NHLer in recent days.

The Canucks, who acquired Toffoli from L.A. on Monday in exchange for forward Tim Schaller, the rights to prospect Tyler Madden, a second-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round pick, have thrown caution to the wind. Instead of standing pat or selling assets in light of major injury news (forwards Brock Boeser, Josh Leivo, and Micheal Ferland are all out for the rest of the regular season) GM Jim Benning doubled down by adding a rental.

What a divisive trade. On one hand, it's easy to label Benning irresponsible - why sacrifice futures for the non-guarantee of making the playoffs with a banged-up roster? How shortsighted. On the other hand, one can easily dub Benning bold - why not seize the moment, do your best to make the postseason, and see what happens? The Pacific portion of the West's playoff bracket is totally up in the air, so there is logic to it. Toffoli, a play-driver who should fit nicely on Elias Pettersson's right wing, will definitely help Vancouver in the short term.

The Jets, meanwhile, have barely managed to keep their heads above water all season as they adjust to life without Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, and Jacob Trouba. Yet a playoff berth is not beyond the realm of possibility. Adding a player like DeMelo - a third-pairing blue-liner on a contending roster - won't move the needle, but the price (a third-round pick) is negligible. Acquired Tuesday, DeMelo's a low-risk rental for Winnipeg.

Then there are the Golden Knights. As the deals trickled in to start the week, we knew Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon would join the party sooner than later. The trade with L.A., assuming it goes through as reported - Martinez for two second-round picks - should provide a significant boost. Martinez, 27, is a legitimate top-four defenseman signed through next season at a reasonable $4-million cap hit. Vegas has underperformed this season. On paper, it's the toast of the Pacific. A jolt like this was necessary.

With Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Vegas setting the tone nice and early, who's next? Edmonton, Calgary, Arizona, and Nashville are the other teams on the playoff bubble. The Oilers appear hesitant to join the fray, the Flames have been a puzzle all year, and the Coyotes and Predators are both run by general managers who love to wheel and deal. Based on recent events, the smart money's on some reactionary trades, at the very least, and perhaps more from the tunnel-visioned Canucks.

Rangers, Devils should be salivating

Kings GM Rob Blake has established a nice benchmark for the NHL's sellers. He's fetched three second-round picks, a quality prospect, and a fourth-line forward for a pending unrestricted free agent (Toffoli) and a 2021 UFA (Martinez). If Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks, the Kings receive a fourth-rounder too.

Two Metro Division squads - the Rangers and Devils - must be licking their chops over Blake's haul. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has at his disposal the league's most sought-after name in Chris Kreider, while Devils interim GM Tom Fitzgerald has the most coveted rental defenseman in Sami Vatanen.

Gorton and Kreider's camp could come to an agreement on a contract extension in the coming days, removing the speedster from the trade market. If an extension isn't hashed out, though, the Rangers should be able to snag a package along the lines of a first-rounder, second-rounder, and a prospect for Kreider. Win-win.

Vatanen, who's on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment, should garner plenty of interest from teams that missed out on the first wave of available defensemen. If he's ultimately deemed healthy enough to contribute down the stretch, New Jersey can start a bidding war for Vatanen's services. In terms of rental rearguards, this week's rush has left slim pickings beyond the 28-year-old righty.

Keep an eye on Bruins, Avs

It'll be fascinating to watch Boston and Colorado, two of the NHL's top six point-percentage teams, battle it out off the ice in the lead-up to the deadline. Both clubs are serious Cup contenders looking for reinforcements up front.

The Bruins' search for a second-line winger has been public knowledge all year, while the Avalanche's need for similar help intensified when Mikko Rantanen sustained a multi-week upper-body injury in Monday's game against the Lightning.

Neither team got its mitts on Toffoli. Coleman, the best bargain buy around, has been crossed off both of their wish lists thanks to Sunday's Devils-Lightning deal. One would think Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a versatile, two-way forward, is now of great interest to Boston and Colorado, if he wasn't already. New Jersey's Kyle Palmieri, a marksman on a fair contract, would also be an excellent fit for both lineups. Montreal will certainly field calls on Ilya Kovalchuk. And don't sleep on the usefulness of Ottawa's Vladislav Namestnikov.

There are decent options left. Just not a ton. This year is already a little bit different.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

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Claude Julien was understandably fed up with his team after it was swept in its season series against one of the worst NHL teams of the modern era.

The Montreal Canadiens bench boss expressed his frustration following Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the lowly Detroit Red Wings, a contest in which the Canadiens blew a 3-1 third-period lead.

"We can't seem to play a good game for a full 60 minutes," Julien told reporters postgame. "It's frustrating and it's unacceptable. If you want to be a winning team, you have to be able to play the same way for 60 minutes. We haven't been doing that lately.

"If we keep on playing the same way we played during the first two periods, we'll win the game. But we weren't able to do that."

Andreas Athanasiou scored twice in the final frame, and Mike Green also tallied to lift the basement-dwelling Red Wings to a victory and a four-game season sweep of the Canadiens.

"There's clearly a lack of confidence," Julien added. "Regardless of what we say on the bench, we seem to be playing on our heels. We watch the other team skate instead of being proactive. We have to get more from certain players."

Montreal is now 10 points out of a playoff spot with 20 games remaining. The Canadiens have five teams to leapfrog in order to move into a postseason berth.

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The Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are working to try to finalize a deal that would send defenseman Alec Martinez to Sin City, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Martinez will be held out of the Kings' contest against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday for precautionary reasons, Los Angeles announced.

However, no trade is expected to materialize before the Kings return home on Wednesday, adds McKenzie.

Martinez is under contract through 2020-21 at a $4-million cap hit.

The 32-year-old has spent his entire career with Los Angeles, helping the club win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.

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The San Jose Sharks traded defenseman Brenden Dillon to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional 2021 third-round pick, the Capitals announced Tuesday.

San Jose will retain 50% of Dillon's salary and cap hit. Additionally, the Capitals will trade their own 2021 third-round pick unless they win the Stanley Cup, in which case they will give up the Arizona Coyotes' 2020 third-round selection, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The 2020 second-round pick was originally acquired from the Colorado Avalance.

Dillon, 29, recorded one goal and 14 points in 59 games this season with the Sharks. He led San Jose in hits (178) and ranked fourth in blocked shots (67) while averaging 19:22 of ice time per game.

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The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Marco Scandella to the St. Louis Blues for a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 conditional fourth-round pick, the team announced Tuesday.

Montreal will get the fourth-rounder if Scandella re-signs in St. Louis or if the Blues win two playoff rounds and Scandella plays in at least half of the games in the first two rounds, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Scandella will likely step in and replace Jay Bouwmeester, who is out indefinitely after undergoing a heart procedure.

This marks the second time this season Scandella has been traded, as he was flipped from the Buffalo Sabres to Montreal in January for a fourth-round pick.

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The Ottawa Senators traded defenseman Dylan DeMelo to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick, the team announced Tuesday.

DeMelo, 26, was a part of the trade package Ottawa received from the San Jose Sharks in the Erik Karlsson deal. The pending UFA carries a cap hit of $900K this season.

The blue-liner has played well with the Senators, chipping in 10 assists in 49 games while averaging 19:55 of ice time. In his first season in Ottawa last year, he managed four goals and 22 points in 77 games.

Ottawa now owns two first-round picks, three second-round picks, and two third-round picks in the upcoming draft.

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