We saw four Canadian teams make the playoffs last year thanks to the North Division, but this season looks like it might be a different story. As it stands, Calgary and Toronto are the only two teams well on the way to the postseason. Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver are currently on the outside looking in, while Ottawa and Montreal have been out of it for awhile.

Despite the varying differences in the standings between all seven Canadian clubs, each one should be active in one way or another at the trade deadline. Let's take a look at how each team should approach this year's deadline as March 21 approaches.

Calgary Flames: Trust what you got

Deadline cap space: $870,000

The Flames already made a big splash on the trade market by bringing in Tyler Toffoli well ahead of the deadline. As a result, the team now boasts one of the league's deepest group of forwards. Add to that an elite goaltender and a competent blue line, and you find yourselves with one of the toughest teams in the NHL to play against.

Calgary has little cap space at their disposal and a depleted set of draft picks. They managed to nab Toffoli without giving up one of their top prospects, which was some tidy work by GM Brad Treliving. At this point, Calgary needs to stand pat and trust what they've put together. Since Feb. 1, the Flames have won 14 of 17 games; the team is clicking on all cylinders and will be a nightmare to face in the playoffs. Perhaps the club opts to add a depth defenseman or forward for cheap, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if they're quiet.

Edmonton Oilers: Trade for a goalie

Deadline cap space: $591,000

Enough is enough in Edmonton. The club went into the year entrusting Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen in net - it hasn't worked out. The soon-to-be 40-year-old Smith has been on and off IR all year, and when he's played, he hasn't been great. Koskinen has gotten the bulk of the starts as a result but has only managed a .904 save percentage and -4.46 goals saved above average. He's played well as of late, but if the Oilers want to go deep in the playoffs, he can't be the one in the crease. The Oilers are the 12th-best team in the league with 3.21 goals scored per game but are the 11th-worst with 3.21 goals allowed per game. A fix in net could go a long way.

There are a number of options on the goalie market, with Marc-Andre Fleury far and away the best option out there. He's proven on numerous occasions he has what it takes to guide a team to the Stanley Cup Final, and can provide Edmonton the stability they desperately need. It hasn't been confirmed whether or not he would accept a trade out of Chicago, but the asking price will probably be hefty. If he were to allow a trade, Edmonton should be all over him. Otherwise, the Oilers might look for an upgrade with Joonas Korpisalo, Braden Holtby, or Jaroslav Halak.

Montreal Canadiens: Sell, sell, sell

Deadline cap space: $7.7 million

The Canadiens have teetered between being a buyer and seller at the deadline over the last decade, but this is the first year in a long time where a true fire sale could go down. Ben Chiarot is almost certainly going to get dealt, but the team has a handful of other players who could presumably find new homes.

Artturi Lehkonen, Brett Kulak, Cedric Paquette, Mathieu Perreault, and Chris Wideman are all on expiring deals and could be moved. Montreal's big-ticket names like Jeff Petry and Brendan Gallagher will likely only get moved in the summer - if they get dealt at all. Montreal has been playing great hockey under new head coach Martin St. Louis, so perhaps that will deter the team from selling cornerstone veterans and rebuilding. Kent Hughes' and Jeff Gorton's phone will surely be ringing off the hook for plenty of players on their roster. They're not in a position to sell low on anybody at this point, but if the right deal comes along, there should be no hesitation to accept as they usher in a new era in Montreal.

Ottawa Senators: Use cap space

Deadline cap space: $55 million

The Senators don't have a ton of assets to sell at this year's deadline. Michael Del Zotto and Tyler Ennis could fetch mediocre returns; Nick Paul, Erik Brannstrom, and Chris Tierney, who could still be a part of the team's future, aren't locks to be moved. What the Senators do have, though, is a massive amount of cap space that can be used to their advantage.

Contenders all around the league are pressed right up against the cap and will be desperate to shed some salary in order to bulk up for the playoffs. The Senators could be big winners if they help facilitate trades either by taking on contracts or by simply retaining salary as a third party. The club has a great foundation of young studs and is inching closer to contention, but they're just not there yet. Eugene Melnyk and Pierre Dorion need to capitalize on stockpiling assets if they don't want to be in this position next year.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Bolster blue line

Deadline cap space: $3.7 million

The Maple Leafs could go a number of ways at the deadline this year, but all signs point toward the club bringing in a defenseman to reinforce their middling defensive group. Sheldon Keefe and Kyle Dubas have both indicated their faith in Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, so it seems unlikely the team will add a goaltender. Perhaps Campbell's minor injury changes things, but he's still their guy come playoff time assuming he's healthy. The team's forward group is deep and dangerous and doesn't need much tinkering, scoring 3.71 goals per game - fourth-best in the NHL.

Toronto needs to address its defensive issues and bring in a solid blue-liner. Things are trending toward Jake Muzzin returning to the lineup before the playoffs, which is a great sign. But still, handing big minutes to Travis Dermott and Justin Holl isn't going to fly in the postseason. Dubas has said he isn't big on the idea of bringing in a rental player this year, but there are a number of defensemen on expiring contracts that the club can easily acquire and perhaps for a cheap price. Veteran blue-liners Justin Braun, Luke Schenn, Damon Severson, or Ben Chiarot could fit the bill and provide the Leafs with some much-needed help.

Vancouver Canucks: Don't make a panic move

Deadline cap space: $2.4 million

The Canucks might have a slim chance to make the playoffs at this point, but that doesn't mean they should be big sellers. Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller have been floated around in the rumor mill over the last few months, but parting ways with either player at this point might end up being a huge mistake.

Miller has proven himself since landing in Vancouver, and with one more year on his contract, there's not much of a reason to sell yet. He could still be in line for an extension, so there's no real rush to trade him, and he's been one of the team's best, most consistent players. Splitting with the 25-year-old Boeser wouldn't be wise unless the return is massive. Despite having a bit of a down year, he's still on pace for an impressive 27 goals while ranking third on the team with a 58.39 expected goals for percentage.

The beginning of the season was a nightmare in Vancouver, but things are looking brighter. With new management, a new coach, and the team heading in the right direction, there isn't an urgent need to offload one of the team's stars. If a team makes an offer they can't refuse, then it's a different story. But there's no need to make a trade at this point just for the sake of shaking things up.

Winnipeg Jets: Trade Andrew Copp

Deadline cap space: $669,000

Similar to the Canucks, the Jets are a great team on paper that simply haven't been able to put it together this season. Many pegged the team as a potential dark horse Stanley Cup contender entering the year. However, even making the playoffs is starting to look out of reach. The Jets have too much talent throughout its lineup to be as bad as they've been, but clearly something isn't clicking. They don't have a ton of rental players to offer on the market, but Copp should garner a ton of interest around the league if he's available.

The versatile forward is exactly the kind of depth player contending teams will be looking to add at the deadline. Similar to forwards Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, who were big additions at the deadline in the past, he could be the exact bottom-six piece teams need for a much-needed boost. He can play up the middle or on the wing and is on pace for a career-high 50 points this year. Copp should be able to land the Jets a nice package and would allow the team some time to address its bigger underlying issues during the offseason.

(Salary source: CapFriendly)
(Stats source: Natural Stat Trick)

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The Dallas Stars signed veteran forward Joe Pavelski to a one-year deal, the team announced Friday.

Pavelski's contract is worth a base of $5.5 million, plus an additional $500,000 in performance-based incentives. He'll get an additional $100,000 each for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 games played, according to the Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.

The deal also includes a full no-movement clause.

Pavelski paces his team with 59 points in 56 games this season while leading all Stars forwards in ice time. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason after playing out the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract.

The 37-year-old joined Dallas in 2019-20 as a free agent. He made a mark during the Stars' 2020 Stanley Cup Final run, logging 19 points in 27 contests. Pavelski also scored the team's first postseason hat trick since it relocated from Minnesota.

"In his three seasons here, Joe has proven to be one of the strongest, most respected voices in the dressing room, as well as being one of the most consistent performers on the ice," general manager Jim Nill said in a statement.

"He has played at an All-Star level this season, and by signing this deal now, it is a testament to what he sees in this organization and how this organization values what he brings day in and day out."

Pavelski represented Dallas at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. He's currently scoring at a 1.05 points-per-game clip, which is the highest of his career.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Sharks in 2003, Pavelski spent 13 seasons in San Jose. He has 416 goals and 486 assists in 1,142 career games.

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Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a suspected torn ACL, head coach Jeff Blashill announced Friday.

Fabbri is set to undergo further evaluation. He exited during the second period of the Red Wings' 6-5 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday with a lower-body injury.

The Red Wings placed him on injured reserve and recalled winger Taro Hirose from the AHL in a corresponding move.

Fabbri registered 17 goals and 13 assists in 56 games this campaign while averaging over 17 minutes a contest.

The 26-year-old has dealt with a slew of severe left knee ailments and has undergone multiple surgeries throughout his career. The latest injury is on his right knee, according to The Athletic's Max Bultman.

Fabbri suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in February 2017 as a member of the St. Louis Blues and missed the remainder of that campaign. He reinjured his knee the following training camp and was forced to sit out the entire 2017-18 season.

A first-round pick of the Blues in 2014, Fabbri has 73 goals and 79 assists in 302 career contests.

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Beyond the frustrations of a speeding, oddly shaped rubber bullet bouncing off of a series of surfaces at a variety of angles and haphazardly finding its way into a 4-by-6 cage, hockey betting is a night-to-night roller coaster.

According to our value-based betting guide, four teams showed value as underdogs Monday. They all lost; 0-4, -4 units.

Tuesday's massive slate showed six teams worth betting on. Five of them won; 5-1, +6.45 units.

It would be easier on our blood pressure if +2.45 units over two days was a little more evenly distributed, but such is life when betting a moneyline-centric sport.

The Blackhawks (-130) were one of those winners Tuesday. The Oilers (-125) followed suit Wednesday as a rare favorite worth betting from a value standpoint.

Why is it so rare to see sportsbooks provide value on a favorite? Well, because they usually don't have to. Bettors are fine with lining up on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals even in the second night of a back-to-back in Edmonton. They're content with getting plus-money on the plucky Ducks against the woeful Blackhawks.

As we turn our attention to the weekend, our search for value isn't defined by whether there's a plus or minus sign in front of a teams' odds. It's about how that implied probability compares to our valuations of each team.

The recipe

Before the 2021-22 campaign, we devised a three-part series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.

We made a small adjustment to our formula this week, moving this season's on-ice predictive metrics to 75% of our total rating. While our ratings are weighted to this season, basing 25% of the ratings on preseason "priors" allows us to place more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened this year. That's important because this season is still a relatively small sample size that includes some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.

The cheat sheet

What follows is my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games I've projected to be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.

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Thursday was a successful night for shot props. Jack Eichel threw up a dud against his former team but, luckily, Anze Kopitar and Mark Giordano capitalized on their advantageous matchups and led us to a profitable evening.

We'll look for more of the same as we find the best way to approach Friday's four-game slate.

Brock Nelson over 2.5 shots (-112)

Nelson is sizzling-hot right now. The Islanders center has taken at least three shots on goal in eight of the last 10 games, generating four or more at a 50% clip.

He's in a very good spot to continue his success Friday night. The Jets have been below average at suppressing shots and shot attempts over the last 10 contests, and they've struggled against the center position all season long.

They're conceding 10.81 shots per game to centers, which is a higher rate than all but four teams.

I doubt they're going to tighten the screws in the second half of a road back-to-back, particularly against someone generating as much volume as Nelson is.

Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 shots (-155)

Pietrangelo is another guy who has been gripping it and ripping it lately. He has averaged 3.2 shots per game over the last 10, with only Jack Eichel outpacing him during that span.

The Penguins are an above-average shot-suppression team but have struggled to limit defensemen recently.

Jaccob Slavin (twice), Dougie Hamilton, Jacob Trouba, and Aaron Ekblad, among others, have registered at least three shots in recent meetings against Pittsburgh. Clearly, trigger-happy minute-munchers have enjoyed plenty of success against the Penguins. Expect no different with the Golden Knights rearguard.

Patrik Laine over 2.5 shots (-167)

Even while losing games, the Wild have remained very stingy in terms of suppressing shots at five-on-five. So why back Laine here? Special teams.

The Wild have conceded shots at an alarming rate while killing penalties. They've given up 119 attempts, and 73 shots on goal, per 60 minutes of PK time over the last 10.

Laine is option No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 on the Blue Jackets' power play, so he's as likely as anybody to take advantage of this juicy matchup.

He should be able to generate a couple shots on the man advantage, which puts him in prime position to go over the number (2.5) for the ninth time in the last 11 games.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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It wasn't our night on the ice. Igor Shesterkin and Ville Husso both rank inside the top three in Goals Saved Above Expectation per start. Naturally, their meeting Thursday turned into an offensive explosion.

Additionally, the Boston Bruins couldn't win by a pair at home, and the Colorado Avalanche were blanked by Antti Raanta. Despite beating the closing line with all three bets, we were left empty-handed. It happens.

We'll look to bounce back with our best bets for the weekend ahead.

Jets (+105) @ Islanders (-125)
Mar 11, 7:30 p.m. EST

While the New York Islanders are coming off back-to-back high-scoring games, this contest screams under to me.

New York's offense isn't good. I think its recent outburst has more to do with playing the Colorado Avalanche - who are prone to pulling teams into track meets - and Joonas Korpisalo, one of the league's worst netminders this season.

The Islanders' underlying metrics are middling in terms of generating chances and expected goals. Plus, it's not like they're overflowing with high-end talent to consistently capitalize on the chances they do get, especially if Mathew Barzal remains out due to injury.

This team has had defensive hiccups along the way, but New York generally remains stout on home soil. Over the last 10 home games, the Islanders conceded just 53 attempts and fewer than two goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. Those are strong numbers.

Now, they draw a Winnipeg Jets team in the second half of a back-to-back with a fresh Connor Hellebuyck. He's struggled as of late, but his long track record of success leaves reason to believe he'll rebound sooner than later.

I think this line should be at 5.5 and juiced a little to the under. I'm happy to take my chances with the safety net 6 provides.

Bet: Under 6 (-120)

Wild (-205) @ Blue Jackets (+170)
Mar 11, 7 p.m. EST

The Minnesota Wild have hit a rough patch, winning just four of their last 10 games. That's hardly what you'd expect from a team with their level of talent.

But their play has been better than it appears. They rank fifth in the league with an expected goal share of nearly 54% over the last 10 contests.

Put simply, goaltending has been their downfall. Cam Talbot, in particular, has struggled to find his game.

It just so happens Friday will be an off night for Talbot, as Kaapo Kahkonen will get the nod in goal. He hasn't played great, either, but he's about eight goals clear of Talbot in Goals Saved Above Expected this season. He gives the Wild a better chance to win right now.

Minnesota is also drawing one of the better matchups it could hope for. The Columbus Blue Jackets have controlled a putrid 38% of the high-danger chances at five-on-five over the last 10 games.

Only the Chicago Blackhawks have generated high-danger looks at a lesser rate, while just three teams have conceded them more frequently.

The Wild should be able to dominate the run of play in this game, putting them in position to win their third in a row.

Bet: Wild in regulation (-130)

Kings (-121) @ Sharks (+100)
Mar 12, 9:30 p.m. EST

The Los Angeles Kings blew a lead to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. I like them to respond with a bounce-back win Saturday.

San Jose has been getting decimated at five-on-five as of late. Its share of the expected goals at five-on-five is just 39% over the last 10 games, which is mind-numbingly bad. Erik Karlsson's return should help prop that number up a little bit, but there's only so much one player can do.

Even without Viktor Arvidsson, I expect the Kings to dominate territorially at five-on-five. They did so Thursday, controlling 62.5% of the high-danger chances.

That was also without No. 1 defenseman Drew Doughty in the lineup. If he's able to return Saturday, that's an added bonus for the Kings.

This team has proven doubters wrong all season long and found ways to get wins in spots you wouldn't expect. I believe Los Angeles will respond and put this struggling Sharks team back in its place.

Bet: Kings (-121)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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From a playoff race perspective, the Eastern Conference is boring.

The top eight teams are practically locked into playoff spots and should be buyers in the lead-up to the March 21 trade deadline, while the bottom eight clubs should be selling off expiring assets.

The Western Conference is much more fascinating. There's a cluster of teams at the top (Colorado, Calgary, St. Louis, Minnesota) that are obvious buyers destined for the postseason, while other clubs near the bottom (Arizona, Seattle, Chicago, San Jose) are clearly in a rebuild or retool phase.

The remaining eight teams, however, are all jockeying for five playoff spots. Below, we dive into whether these fringe playoff teams should buy, sell, or sit ahead of the deadline.

Anaheim Ducks

Standings: 6th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 4 points)
Playoff chances: 3.6%

The Ducks got off to a red-hot start this season, but it always felt too good to be true. John Gibson was playing out of his mind, covering up the team's suspect underlying metrics. Even with impressive play from youngsters Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale, Anaheim felt like pretenders.

That has proven to be the case. The Ducks are under .500 since Jan. 1, looking more and more like a team that's at least a year or two away from serious contention. This isn't their time to go for it.

New general manager Pat Verbeek is in a prime position to put his fingerprints on the team and help move along the rebuild. Pending unrestricted free agents Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Rickard Rakell will all be highly coveted at the deadline. Verbeek knows he can't let any of them walk and should trade all three. If he wants to keep one of them, Lindholm would make the most sense, though the defenseman's extension won't be cheap.

With the assets Verbeek receives for his main trade chips, the Ducks will be set up nicely this offseason. They'll have a stocked farm system and draft pick cupboard, an impressive young core, and ample cap space to make additions.

Verdict: Sell

Dallas Stars

Standings: 5th in Central (In playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 54.4%

Making the postseason is a priority for the Stars. And after going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games - largely thanks to a goal-scoring spree from sophomore Jason Robertson - the club is narrowly on the right side of the playoff cutline.

This dynamic, mixed with the news Thursday of No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen being sidelined indefinitely with mononucleosis, puts Dallas management in a precarious position ahead of the deadline.

Blue-liner John Klingberg, who requested a trade earlier this season, is a pending UFA having a substandard year. Forward Joe Pavelski has an expiring contract, too, though the club wants to re-sign the ageless wonder, so he's not going anywhere. Goalie Braden Holtby and forward Alexander Radulov - the Stars' other potential rentals - could conceivably be shipped out of town.

Stars GM Jim Nill could say screw it and hold onto all four players because he thinks they can help his team win playoff games. Or he could flip Klingberg, Holtby, and Radulov for picks and/or prospects while holding onto Pavelski.

Or Nill could settle for something in between Option A and Option B by pursuing a few so-called hockey trades, where the seller is also a buyer because they're acquiring NHLers in exchange for their own. This would help the Stars finish 2021-22 strong and refresh the roster for future seasons.

Option C appears to be the most likely - and best - approach for Dallas.

Verdict: Sell ... and buy?

Edmonton Oilers

Standings: 4th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 1 point)
Playoff chances: 64.5%

Missing the playoffs in the prime of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's careers would be catastrophic for the Oilers. Such a result might even cost GM Ken Holland his job, and he probably knows it. Holland needs to address some of the holes on his roster - and fast.

The biggest need is between the pipes. As expected, the duo of Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith has been shaky all season. Holland should be inquiring about Marc-Andre Fleury, Semyon Varlamov, Holtby, and just about every other goalie that would represent an upgrade.

The Oilers could stand to add a steady veteran on the left side of their blue line, too. Lindholm or Mark Giordano would make sense, but they won't come cheap. Calvin de Haan or Brett Kulak could be among the savvier value additions.

Verdict: Buy

Los Angeles Kings

Standings: 2nd in Pacific (In playoffs by 6 points)
Playoff chances: 96.2%

Let's face it, L.A. is playing with house money right now.

It would take a significant fall from grace for the Kings to miss the playoffs - even though parts of the roster around veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are still under construction. They're slightly ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, since the Kings draft and develop so well, GM Rob Blake has plenty of tradable assets.

Put another way, there's no reason why L.A. should do anything drastic over the next week. Yet, if there's a deal on the table that can help expedite the Kings' timeline back to contention, why not pull the trigger? Plucking Jakob Chychrun out of Arizona would certainly qualify as one such power move.

The GM that ultimately acquires Chychrun - the versatile defenseman who's under contract through 2024-25 at a palatable $4.6-million AAV - will need to send the Coyotes a hefty package of picks and prospects. Blake can do that.

Verdict: Buy

Nashville Predators

Standings: 4th in Central (In playoffs by 4 points)
Playoff chances: 65.7%

The Predators are in an odd spot. They traded away veteran stalwarts Ryan Ellis and Viktor Arvidsson for futures this past offseason as part of what appears to be a retool on the fly. Yet they remain on track for their eighth straight postseason berth.

The biggest question revolves around pending UFA Filip Forsberg. General manager David Poile said he isn't trying to trade the 27-year-old sniper, but it would also be uncharacteristic of the executive to let a player of Forsberg's caliber walk for free. An extension seems most likely there.

The Preds could be surprise buyers, mainly because they have a veteran core and more than $10 million in cap space. Although anything is possible, that doesn't seem like Poile's approach right now - especially since his club isn't locked into a playoff spot.

Verdict: Extend Forsberg and sit

Vancouver Canucks

Standings: 5th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 3 points)
Playoff chances: 32.3%

Former GM Jim Benning's downfall was his willingness to make the playoffs at the expense of building a sustainable winner. The Canucks' new group of decision-makers, headed by Jim Rutherford, won't go down the same path.

Vancouver is far more likely to miss the postseason and seems primed to sell ahead of the deadline. That said, rival teams will have a huge influence on exactly how deep the Canucks cut into their NHL roster.

Sure, pending UFAs like Tyler Motte, Alex Chiasson, and Jaroslav Halak are probably on their way out. But the real juice is a trio of high-end forwards under team control: Brock Boeser, a pending restricted free agent; Conor Garland, who's locked up at a reasonable cap hit through 2025-26; and J.T. Miller, whose team-friendly deal expires after next season.

If there are enticing offers on the table for Garland, Boeser, and/or Miller, perhaps the Canucks become major sellers, making a splash or two. If not, it doesn't hurt to wait until the offseason to reassess the market for all three.

Verdict: Sell

Vegas Golden Knights

Standings: 3rd in Pacific (In playoffs by 2 points)
Playoff chances: 80.4%

Vegas' deadline plans hinge on the health of captain Mark Stone and defenseman Alec Martinez. Both players are currently on LTIR, and if they stay there throughout the remainder of the regular season, the Golden Knights will have roughly $7 million in cap space for the deadline. That alone could make them major players.

If Stone and Martinez are activated before the end of the season, though, the Golden Knights will need to shed salary. That could force them to trade either Evgenii Dadonov or pending UFA Reilly Smith.

So, theoretically, the Golden Knights could be buyers or sellers. Standing pat appears to be the most plausible scenario, though.

Yes, it seems unlikely either Stone or Martinez are activated before the end of the season, but Vegas doesn't have a ton of trade ammo. The Knights have already traded away their 2022 first-round pick, and their prospect pool lacks depth. They could add a low-end defenseman for a mid-to-late-round pick, but don't expect a major splash - despite management's aggressive track record.

Verdict: Sit

Winnipeg Jets

Standings: 6th in Central (Out of playoffs by 5 points)
Playoff chances: 5.0%

It's getting close to job survival time for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Jets' top hockey executive since 2011. The core he has assembled and trotted out for a handful of years simply isn't good enough to win a Stanley Cup, and missing the playoffs this year, which is probable, will only underline that fact.

Cheveldayoff's best trade chips are forwards Andrew Copp and Paul Stastny. Both veterans could definitely help a contender down the stretch and into the playoffs, but neither will command an overly impressive return package.

Some fans are hoping the GM pulls off a more significant trade - say, shipping out top center and longtime core member Mark Scheifele - but transactions involving star players with term tend to be better suited for the offseason.

Verdict: Sell

(Playoffs chances source: MoneyPuck)

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