The seven Canadian NHL teams range from legitimate Stanley Cup contenders to plummeting Connor Bedard hopefuls. While there's a significant talent gap north of the border, all seven squads can significantly influence the March 3 trade deadline in their own way.

Below, we dive into how each team should approach the frenzy.

Calgary Flames: Find top-6 winger

General manager Brad Treliving made it known well before the deadline that he wants a scoring winger to add some punch to the Flames' attack. The team ranks 16th in goals per game this season after finishing sixth in 2021-22, and Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary's prized summer acquisition, hasn't delivered offensively the way everyone expected.

With approximately $4 million in cap space and $82 million already committed to next year's roster, it's unlikely the Flames will be able to grab a big name like Timo Meier or any other winger with term. Perhaps Treliving can convince the Flyers to retain salary on seven-time 20-goal man James van Riemsdyk, and if not, Max Domi or Ivan Barbashev would be budget-friendly options who play with the type of snarl Darryl Sutter prefers.

While there's no shortage of suitable options to fulfill Treliving's desire for a more potent offense, Calgary's precarious position in the Western Conference wild-card race might make him reluctant to go for it. A quick string of losses before March 3 could oust the Flames from the postseason race, so the reigning Pacific Division champs may have to act swiftly and jump the market.

Edmonton Oilers: Add sensibly to blue line

It's clear the Oilers want reinforcements on defense to increase their chances at a championship while Connor McDavid runs roughshod in his best season yet. Edmonton has been linked to Chicago Blackhawks rearguards Connor Murphy and Jake McCabe, but talk of the club's interest in Erik Karlsson caught on like wildfire.

As fun as the two-time Norris winner's resurgence has been this season, and as salivating as it is to imagine his perfect saucer passes springing endless breakaways for McDavid, the Oilers are not an offensive defenseman away from becoming a championship team - even if Karlsson is one of the greatest to ever play the role.

The Oilers are among the worst teams currently holding a playoff spot in terms of expected goals against and shots against per 60. They should focus on adding bodies capable of limiting chances against instead of adding a dynamic offensive player when they already have two of the world's best up front. Bolstering two defensive pairings with affordable players is the smart thing to do, especially for a team pushing the cap limit.

Montreal Canadiens: Get involved somehow

The Canadiens have 11 picks in the 2023 draft - including potentially two shots at Connor Bedard - and if they play their cards right leading up to March 3, could stock up even more. Montreal doesn't have the same quality of trade chips it did last year when it shipped out Tyler Toffoli, Artturi Lehkonen, and Ben Chiarot for big hauls, but some intriguing pieces remain if they can get healthy by the deadline.

Sean Monahan had 17 points in 25 games before landing on long-term injured reserve and could be an enticing option for teams looking for depth down the middle at a reasonable cost relative to other centers on the market. Monahan arrived in Montreal as a pure cap dump, so getting anything back is gravy for GM Kent Hughes.

Joel Edmundson could also land the Habs a quality return. Perhaps the Oilers could come calling if they follow our advice above. Contending GMs have proved time and time again they're willing to pay for hard-nosed defensemen, and Edmundson is one with an extra year of term (at an affordable $3.5 million per) and a Stanley Cup ring to boot. He's a leader on this young team, but Montreal has nothing to lose at this deadline and could just be delaying the inevitable for 2024, at which point Edmundson will be valued as a rental.

If the players' health issues scare potential suitors away, the Canadiens would be wise to shift their focus to being a third-party salary broker to come away with an extra pick or two.

Ottawa Senators: Deal the UFAs

The lofty expectations generated by Senators supporters after a thrilling offseason didn't come to fruition in Year 1. Rather than search for ways to supplement its young core, Ottawa will again be selling off assets come March 3. The process is already underway now that Pierre Dorion shipped Tyler Motte to the New York Rangers, but five pending unrestricted free agents remain. Austin Watson, Derick Brassard, Travis Hamonic, Nick Holden, and Cam Talbot are all useful depth pieces, and acquiring a pick for any of those players will help in the long run.

The Senators only have $62 million committed to next year's roster, and although they've wanted to add at center and on defense for a while, now's not the time. Collecting as many assets as possible and using them as ammunition for a trade or two in the offseason is the logical route. On top of selling off the UFAs, Ottawa can snag extra picks by utilizing its $20 million in cap space to retain salary as a third party.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Add a defenseman

The Maple Leafs already made two forward lines better by adding Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, so their focus should shift to adding bodies on the back end. Without Jake Muzzin, Toronto severely lacks physicality and playoff experience on its D corps, which should be a serious area of concern as it barrels toward a playoff rematch with the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sheldon Keefe's crew is a top-five defensive team on the year, but Muzzin's absence creates a big hole, and management should strive to bring in someone of a similar ilk who can challenge Rasmus Sandin, Justin Holl, and Conor Timmins for valuable minutes. Toronto has just over $4 million in cap space to work with, which means it could hunt for someone more prominent than just a depth piece. However, the Leafs are already without six draft picks over the next two years, so they may have to give up a roster player - they have a glut of NHL-caliber forwards - to sweeten a potential package.

Even though the Leafs have parted with a ton of future assets in recent years, further emptying the cupboard might be the most likely option given how grueling the Eastern Conference playoff picture projects to be.

Vancouver Canucks: Tear it all down

The Canucks have endured a tumultuous season, but a productive deadline would provide a silver lining. In our estimation, that would mean finally committing to the rebuild that management has put off for far too long. It's become crystal clear there is no quick fix, and it's time to do it right.

Vancouver doesn't have many rentals to part with aside from defenseman Luke Schenn, who's a virtual lock to be dealt, but it does have valuable pieces with term who could be parted with. Brock Boeser and Conor Garland are two players who could yield quality returns and in no way should be considered untouchable. Although goaltender Thatcher Demko is only a year removed from being a star, the Canucks shouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger if a team comes calling. By the time this club is ready to contend again, Demko will likely be past his prime anyway.

While there's more pain ahead, the only way to start fresh and build toward a sustainable future is to clear as much salary as possible and kick-start the rebuild. All players not named Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes should be on the table this week.

Winnipeg Jets: Keep adding depth

The Jets aren't a dominant team analytically, but they have star players at every position and are in contention for the top seed in the Western Conference. Saturday's shrewd acquisition of Nino Niederreiter signaled that Winnipeg wants to make the most of its bounce-back year, and with over $4 million left to play with, Kevin Cheveldayoff should keep adding.

Bringing a strong bottom-six forward or two could go a long way for the Jets, who already have one of the league's best attacking units. Or, maybe after already adding up front, they could seek a defenseman to make Connor Hellebuyck's life a little bit easier. The Jets' strength is their core, but filling a couple more holes like they did in the trade with Nashville could elevate them from playoff participants to Cup threats.

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Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark was just as excited as everyone else in the hockey world after he became the first netminder in over three years to score a coveted goalie goal.

"It's pretty cool. The guys that have scored a goal in this league are terrific goaltenders that went down into the Hall of Fame as well," he told reporters after his team's 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks. "It's hard to describe what I'm feeling right now. I have to kind of digest it all. I'm just so bloody happy."

Ullmark is the 13th goalie in history to light the lamp in the regular season, joining Martin Brodeur (who did it twice), Chris Osgood, Pekka Rinne, Evgeni Nabokov, Cam Ward, Billy Smith, Mike Smith, Ron Hextall, Jose Theodore, Chris Mason, Damian Rhodes, and Mika Noronen. Brodeur and Hextall also scored one goal each in the playoffs.

Rinne was the last goalie to accomplish the feat when he did so against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 9, 2020,

Ullmark, who is also the first Bruins goalie in history to score a goal, said he's holding onto the puck for "safekeeping" and that it was something he and backup netminder Jeremy Swayman have been trying to pull off.

"It's one of the dreams that I've always had, I wanted to score a goal and now I had an opportunity," he said. "I tried it in the Winter Classic, didn't really make it. Now, everything came together."

Ullmark was mobbed by his teammates afterwards, and he skated down the Bruins' bench for some celebratory glove taps.

The 29-year-old wasn't exactly sure what happened when the puck left his stick in the moment.

"I thought it went in on my own net first, actually," he said. "I didn't see it, as soon as I shot it, I see three guys jumping towards me, I had no idea where it was. I didn't hear anything, I didn't see anything.

"Then you kind of become a little bit more aware of what's happening, that the guys are starting to look up ice. Then, I see it going towards the net and the rest is history."

It was a momentous victory for Ullmark in more ways than one as he required the second-fewest games in NHL history to reach 30 wins in a season after hitting the milestone in his 37th appearance.

Widely considered to be the Vezina Trophy frontrunner this campaign, Ullmark leads all goalies with a sparkling .938 save percentage and 1.86 goals against average.

The Bruins have continued their dominant ways all season long. They sit atop the league with a 45-8-5 record.

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The Montreal Canadiens had some bad news on the injury front on Saturday.

The team announced that popular rookie defenseman Arber Xhekaj will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder next week, while forward Kirby Dach is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Xhekaj, 22, hasn't played since Feb. 12 against the Edmonton Oilers. He exited the contest after a fight with Oilers blue-liner Vincent Desharnais.

Affectionately nicknamed "Wifi," the undrafted 6-foot-4 rearguard quickly endeared himself to Habs fans because of his penchant for dropping the gloves. Xhekaj put up five goals, 13 points, and 159 hits in 51 games while seeing just over 15 minutes of ice time per night.

Dach, meanwhile, was held out of the Canadiens' 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes because of an illness. However, further testing revealed that his illness-like symptoms were actually related to a lower-body injury.

The 22-year-old has impressed during his first season in Montreal, setting new career highs with 12 goals and 35 points in 54 contests. The Canadiens acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks in July for a first- and third-round pick in 2022.

Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield was ruled out for the remainder of the season because of a shoulder injury in January. Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 first-overall pick, hasn't played since Jan. 15 due to a lower-body injury.

The struggling Habs sit in the basement of the Atlantic Division with a 25-30-4 record.

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The Nashville Predators have apparently determined which direction they'll go at the March 3 trade deadline.

After dealing forward Nino Niederreiter to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, general manager David Poile's team is "very much open for business," Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported on Saturday's edition of "32 Thoughts."

Marek added he believes captain Roman Josi, goaltender Juuse Saros, and star forward Filip Forsberg are untouchable, but anyone else is on the table.

Marek said he expects defenseman Dante Fabbro to be moved next week, while teams have reportedly been calling about power forward Tanner Jeannot. Both players are pending restricted free agents.

Fabbro, 24, was the Predators' first-round pick in 2016. He's put up one goal and seven assists in 53 games this season while seeing his ice time take a substantial hit; Fabbro is averaging 16:03 per contest, three full minutes less than the past three campaigns. He carries a cap hit of $2.4 million.

Jeannot, meanwhile, erupted onto the scene in his rookie year last season, posting 24 goals and 41 points in 81 games while leading the team with 318 hits. However, he's totaled just five goals and nine assists in 56 contests this campaign while being handcuffed by a shooting percentage of 5.7%. The 25-year-old's price tag is $800,000.

Nashville has made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons but entered Saturday's slate seven points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

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Patrick Kane's time with the Chicago Blackhawks appears to be ending.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is sitting out Saturday's road game against the San Jose Sharks due to roster management, the Blackhawks announced. Forward Sam Lafferty also won't play for the same reason.

"Based on the current status of Patrick's situation, we collectively felt it was more appropriate to have him not play during this period of reflection," said Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The 34-year-old is believed to have left the team and returned to Chicago, per TSN's Darren Dreger.

Much has been speculated about Kane's future as he's a pending unrestricted free agent and holds a no-trade clause in his contract. The Buffalo native's preferred destination is the New York Rangers, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers and Arthur Staple.

Kane has 16 goals and 45 points through 54 contests this season, including three multi-goal efforts in his past four games.

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The Winnipeg Jets acquired veteran forward Nino Niederreiter from the Nashville Predators for a 2024 second-round pick, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Niederreiter, 30, has 18 goals and 10 assists in 56 games this campaign. He's under contract through next season at a $4-million cap hit.

The Swiss winger signed a two-year deal with the Predators last summer after four seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. The New York Islanders drafted Niederreiter fifth overall in 2010, but he played only 64 games with the franchise before being moved to the Minnesota Wild.

He's a six-time 20-goal scorer and has posted strong underlying numbers for much of his career.

The Jets are locked in a tight battle for the Central Division crown, sitting one point back of the Dallas Stars for first place with an extra game played. However, Winnipeg is only one point clear of the Wild and two clear of the Colorado Avalanche.

Nashville, on the other hand, is a severe longshot to make the playoffs with 62 points.

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The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Vitaly Kravtsov from the New York Rangers on Saturday for forward William Lockwood and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

The Rangers drafted Kravtsov ninth overall in 2018. He has six points in 28 NHL games this season.

Kravtsov had a tumultuous tenure in New York. He requested a trade in Nov. 2021 and was subsequently loaned to the KHL. Kravtsov returned to the Rangers this season but struggled to gain minutes. He again requested a trade earlier this month.

The 23-year-old has an $875,000 cap hit and is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

"Vitaly is very happy going to the Canucks, he has always liked Vancouver, he has lots of friends on the team," Kravtsov's agent Dan Milstein said, according to CHEK News' Rick Dhaliwal.

Kravtsov won bronze at the 2019 World Juniors with Russia alongside Vasily Podkolzin, his new teammate in Vancouver.

Lockwood played 13 games with the Canucks in 2022-23, tallying one assist. The 24-year-old has 12 goals and 18 points in 26 contests in the AHL. Vancouver selected the former Michigan Wolverine in the third round of the 2016 draft.

The trade gives the Rangers needed cap space to potentially target Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. The 34-year-old was scratched for Saturday's contest against the San Jose Sharks due to roster management. New York would have enough cap space to add Kane come Mar. 1 should Jake Leschyshyn be dropped from the roster Sunday, according to PuckPedia.

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