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We have an exciting day of NHL action ahead of us, with 24 of the league's 32 teams set to be in action. Let's take a look at a couple of plays worth backing.

Kings (+100) @ Devils (-120)

The Devils changed their defensive coverage to more of a zone scheme coming out of the All-Star break. They also got Jack Hughes back from injury.

Those two things have paid immediate dividends and made the Devils look like a completely different team.

They own a 3-1-1 record since All-Star Weekend and have performed better at both ends of the ice. Their defensive play has been more stable, and their offense looks like the juggernaut it was expected to be - it's generating more high-danger chances at five-on-five than all but three teams.

I think they'll build on their recent success on Thursday night. The Kings have been stuck in the mud for what feels like forever, unable to gain footing and put together quality showings.

That's becoming more difficult by the game as their goaltending has predictably fallen off a cliff.

David Rittich has started four straight games, the last of which he allowed five goals on just 17 shots. They'll probably go back to Cam Talbot, which will probably be even more favorable for the Devils.

Talbot has conceded at least three goals in seven consecutive starts and given up 8.33 goals above expectation since the calendar flipped.

Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and company are no doubt chomping at the bit to pounce on a reeling team with poor netminding.

Look for them to do just that en route to the team's third straight win.

Bet: Devils (-120)

Oilers (-200) @ Blues (+170)

The Blues routinely give up more shots and chances than they generate and compensate with clinical finishing. That's not a recipe for success against the Oilers.

Stuart Skinner has been one of the league's best goaltenders for quite some time - a crazy thought given how the year started.

He's posted a .940 save percentage and saved 19.57 goals more than expected since the holiday break. Those are downright absurd numbers.

Although Skinner obviously won't maintain those long term, he's very much in form and won't give opponents more goals than they deserve on any given night. The Blues likely need that to have a chance in this game.

The Oilers are among the best even-strength teams in the NHL and often earn a big edge in terms of chances. They should have their way against a Blues team with a 42% expected goals share over the last 10 games.

Given the firepower on this Oilers roster, more chances will generally lead to success on the scoreboard.

I expect Edmonton to take care of business in regulation and bring St. Louis back down to earth.

Bet: Oilers in regulation (-130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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The would-be No. 1 name on the list in Elias Lindholm has already been shipped out, as have fellow coveted players Sean Monahan and Andrei Kuzmenko.

Even with those players off the board, there are plenty of intriguing options for contenders and retooling teams alike. Those options include pending unrestricted free agents who could be snagged as rentals, as well as those under contract beyond 2023-24.

This list takes into account both the likelihood of a trade and the player's skill level, placing more emphasis on the former. The skaters and goaltenders below aren't ranked solely by their level of talent or production.

Here are the top players who could be sent packing ahead of the March 8 deadline.

1. Chris Tanev

Can submit 10-team no-trade list

Tanev has been the consensus top candidate to be moved ever since the Calgary Flames traded Lindholm away for the package including Kuzmenko on Jan. 31. Calgary has reportedly fielded calls on Tanev from numerous teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.

The grizzled-yet-still-reliable shutdown blue-liner will likely need an extension in place with the acquiring squad, which may explain why a deal hasn't happened yet. Still, Tanev should remain in heavy demand in the lead-up to the deadline.

2. Noah Hanifin

Can submit 8-team no-trade list

Hanifin's future remains unclear, but the Flames rearguard would likely be the best player available at his position if the two sides come up empty in extension talks. He didn't want to sign over the summer but was still open to re-upping with Calgary at the time. However, as long as that new contract doesn't materialize, he'll be among the biggest names out there.

3. Adam Henrique

Can submit 10-team no-trade list

Henrique will garner plenty of interest for several reasons. The Anaheim Ducks forward has a wealth of experience, for one. While his cap hit isn't ideal, he's a proven first-liner who can solidify a better team's top six by lining up either on the wing or down the middle.

4. Sean Walker

Walker has fit in perfectly with the Philadelphia Flyers ever since they landed him in a three-way swap last June. While his club has exceeded expectations this season, the defenseman remains an appealing trade target given his team-friendly contract and the lack of an extension that would take him off the market. As Torts said, the Flyers would be "dopes" not to listen to offers for Walker.

5. Vladimir Tarasenko

Has full no-trade clause

When Tarasenko inked a one-year pact with the Senators last July, it made him a prime candidate to be moved at this deadline if Ottawa's season went south. With the Sens bottom of the Atlantic Division, it wouldn't be shocking for general manager Steve Staios to try and get something for the still-effective Russian winger rather than risk losing him for nothing this summer.

6. Jake Allen

Can submit 7-team no-trade list this season, 3-team list in 2024-25

It's no secret or surprise that the Montreal Canadiens are in sell mode given where they are in their rebuild and the fact that they already traded Monahan in early February. Allen has value as an experienced goaltender - and likely the best one available - on a reasonable contract, even though that pact extends beyond the current campaign.

7. Jake Guentzel

Can submit 12-team no-trade list

Guentzel would be much higher on the list - potentially even at the top of it - if it were obvious he'd be shipped out. While there hasn't been any strong indication that'll happen, the Pittsburgh Penguins' diminished playoff hopes and his expiring contract still make him a strong candidate.

8. Scott Laughton

Players under contract for two more seasons beyond the current campaign aren't always hot commodities at the deadline. But Laughton's cap hit is quite team-friendly, and his game - characterized by sandpaper and penalty-killing prowess - is tailor-made for the playoffs. The Flyers could very well keep him for a postseason run of their own, but other contenders could come calling - especially considering Philadelphia reportedly gauged interest in the forward in early February.

9. Alexandre Carrier

Carrier isn't the flashiest name on this list by any means, and he's undersized by NHL standards. But the Nashville Predators defenseman is underrated, and he wouldn't be a financial burden. Carrier doesn't rack up points but is fundamentally sound, blocks shots, and would be a safe addition to a contending club's third pairing.

10. Jakub Chychrun

Can submit 10-team no-trade list

If this is giving you deja vu, it's understandable. The Senators - who acquired Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes last March after he was on the block for over a year - have reportedly been listening to teams interested in him. He called that notion "ridiculous," but Ottawa is far from a contender this campaign and already has rearguards Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson signed long term at over $8 million apiece.

11. Frank Vatrano

Vatrano's enjoying a career year with the Ducks, so his value's peaking at an ideal time. He's not a rental, but dealing the Massachusetts-born forward - who recently earned his first All-Star nod - would still be a logical move for Anaheim, a club that's clearly rebuilding with a younger core.

12. Nick Seeler

If the Flyers look to sell, Seeler might be the easiest player on their roster to trade. He won't be as coveted as some of his teammates, but the Minnesota-born blue-liner provides physicality and blocked-shot prowess on a league-minimum contract.

13. Jordan Eberle

Can submit 16-team no-trade list

The Seattle Kraken have taken a step back this season, and as a pending UFA with experience, Eberle would be a natural candidate to be moved. His goal-scoring has dipped this campaign, but he's otherwise been a lock to produce at a 20-goal clip, doing so over an 82-game pace (0.24 per game) in all 13 of his previous campaigns.

14. Alexander Wennberg

Can submit 10-team no-trade list

The longer the Kraken remain outside the playoff picture, the more likely they are to sell. Wennberg would be a trade candidate by virtue of his contract status and his value as a top-six center. The Swede plays on Seattle's top power-play and penalty-killing units, so he's versatile, too.

15. Joel Edmundson

Can submit 10-team no-trade list

Edmundson is a physical defenseman who once upon a time helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup. Regardless of how significant those contributions were, that type of experience is coveted come deadline time. The Washington Capitals are fading in the Metropolitan Division, so they'll clearly try to get what they can for Edmundson before March 8.

16. Ilya Lyubushkin

One of several players the Ducks may ship out, Lyubushkin's candidacy to be moved is academic. Not only does his contract make him an affordable rental, but he offers defensive skills for contenders looking for depth on the back end.

17. Pat Maroon

Can submit 16-team trade list

Maroon's resume speaks for itself, even if he earned his three consecutive Stanley Cup rings somewhat coincidentally. It's undeniable, though, that the veteran Minnesota Wild forward has plenty of playoff experience (150 games, to be exact). That'll undoubtedly entice contenders to pick up the phone.

18. Marc-Andre Fleury

Has full no-movement clause

That protection in Fleury's contract always makes a trade less than certain, but he's waived a similar clause before. The three-time champion, who now ranks second all time in wins, isn't what he once was. But he'd be a big boost in the dressing room and on the ice as a backup on a contender.

19. Pavel Buchnevich

Can submit 12-team no-trade list

As is evident above, there are several reasons why Buchnevich may not be traded. The urgency level isn't high given he's under contract for another season after this one, plus his cap hit and modified no-trade list could hinder a deal. But the retooling Blues would be foolish not to at least listen to offers for the productive winger.

20. Anthony Duclair

The San Jose Sharks are the most obvious seller as we approach this deadline, and Duclair would be wise to prepare for a trade. The winger has struggled since returning from a torn Achilles with the Florida Panthers last season. But he racked up 31 goals and 27 assists over 74 games with the Cats in 2021-22.

21. Tyson Barrie

Barrie's limitations are pretty well known by now. He's an offense-first defenseman who's most effective on the power play. Still, the Nashville Predators rearguard could have some appeal for contenders looking to improve their play on the man advantage.

22. Morgan Frost

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere was reportedly willing to listen to offers on basically every asset he had last April. He repeated his willingness to try anything to reshape the roster a few months later. Frost isn't a pending UFA and is still fairly young, but he could be a trade target given his palatable contract and improved play lately.

23. Dominik Kubalik

Kubalik is an obvious candidate to be dealt because of his expiring deal and the low average annual value of his contract. The Senators winger isn't producing offensively as he has in the past, but he posted 30 goals in only 68 games as a rookie in 2019-20 and 20 tallies in 81 contests last season.

24. Kaapo Kahkonen

There aren't likely going to be many goalies available ahead of the deadline, so Kahkonen should garner some interest by default. Contenders could do worse at the backup netminder position, and Kahkonen would be easier to acquire than his more coveted counterparts.

25. Erik Johnson

Johnson would be the quintessential trade-deadline rental. The veteran defenseman has no contract for next season, and his current AAV isn't astronomical. The Buffalo Sabres have to accept they're sellers soon, and when they do, Johnson could be among the first players they jettison.

(Salary source: CapFriendly)

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The Columbus Blue Jackets fired general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the team announced Thursday.

President of hockey operations and alternate governor John Davidson, along with the club's hockey operations management team, will assume the general manager duties in the interim.

"This is one of the hardest days I have had in my career as Jarmo is a friend, someone I have a great deal of respect for, and someone who has done a lot of good things during his time here," Davidson said. "While the future of our club is bright, our performance has not been good enough, and it is time for a fresh perspective as we move forward."

The Blue Jackets named Kekalainen, who hails from Finland, the first European GM in NHL history in February 2013. He held the position for parts of 12 seasons, overseeing the best era in the franchise's history, which included four straight postseason trips from 2017-20.

Kekalainen is responsible for five of the club's six playoff berths in the team's 23 NHL seasons.

The highlight of Kekalainen's tenure - and the organization as a whole - came in 2019 when the underdog Blue Jackets upset the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning with a four-game sweep in Round 1 of the postseason. It still marks the only best-of-seven playoff series win in franchise history.

Kekalainen went all-in at the trade deadline that year. He held on to pending unrestricted free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky and made splashes for Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel.

But the past few seasons haven't been kind to Kekalainen, as Columbus sits in last place in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season. Johnny Gaudreau has yet to live up to the hype of the franchise-record $68.25-million contract he signed as a free agent in 2022. This past offseason's additions of Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov also haven't fixed the club's issues on defense.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings for a Stadium Series clash on March 1, 2025, a league source confirmed to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

The game will take place at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State football program. It has a seating capacity of over 100,000.

Columbus is one of three franchises, along with the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers, that the NHL has never showcased in an outdoor game.

The Red Wings participated in the Winter Classic in 2009 and 2014, the Stadium Series in 2016, and the Centennial Classic in 2017.

Detroit and Columbus used to compete against each other in the Central Division before the NHL assigned them to separate divisions prior to the 2013-14 campaign.

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Dan and Sat debate whether or not topics like Phil Kessel in Vancouver, the idea of moving Ilya Mikheyev in the Summer, and much more are overrated or underrated.

This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Dan and Sat discuss the continued stellar play of the third line and if the Canucks should try to keep the two pending UFA's in Joshua and Blueger past this season. They also get into who the most value non-core member on the team is. Plus, hear from Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine and NHL.com on the team's success and all things goaltending.

This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

The Philadelphia Flyers named veteran forward Sean Couturier captain Wednesday.

He's the 20th captain in franchise history and will be the first player to wear the "C" since Claude Giroux in 2022. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton will serve as alternate captains.

"Sean was drafted here and has made Philadelphia his home," general manager Daniel Briere said. "I have personally seen his development from a responsible forward to one of the best two-way centermen in the game and a playoff performer. The adversity he has had to overcome has only strengthened his proven leadership."

Couturier was the eighth overall pick in 2011. He has dressed in 771 regular-season games for the Flyers, along with 39 playoff appearances. He's notched 493 career points and won the Selke Trophy in 2020 as the league's top defensive forward.

"It's such a great honor," Couturier said. "It's a really prestigious organization, so this makes it even more special. This city is my home, and I love it here."

Couturier was limited to 29 games in 2021-22 and missed all of last season as a result of two back surgeries. He's registered 33 points in 50 games this campaign and is second among Flyers forwards in average ice time at 19:47 per contest.

Philadelphia has been one of the league's biggest surprises this season, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points after finishing seventh in 2022-23.

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