NHL general managers have until 3 p.m. ET on Friday to make a splash, tweak the edges of their roster, or secure deals with an eye toward the future.

The Canadian Press takes a look at some of the players who could be on the move before the bell sounds and GMs put down their pencils:

NAZEM KADRI

The hard-nosed Calgary Flames centre would be a welcome addition to any team looking to make a playoff push. A Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, the 35-year-old Kadri had 12 goals and 41 points through 60 games in 2025-26 heading into Thursday’s action. His contract also includes three more seasons with an average annual value (AAV) of US$7 million. Calgary dealt defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.

ROBERT THOMAS

The two-way centre is just 26 and has five years remaining on a deal that carries an AVV of $8.125 million, but his St. Louis Blues are clearly in a rebuild near the bottom of the NHL standings. Thomas, who won the Cup in 2019, has 13 goals and 37 points across 44 games this season.

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VINCENT TROCHECK

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Coming off a gold medal with the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, the 32-year-old centre with 12 goals and 39 points in 2025-26 could also be heading out the door with the New York Rangers looking to retool. Trocheck’s contract has an AAV of $5.625 million for the next three seasons.

BOBBY MCMANN

The 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent winger with power and speed has put up 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games for the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. A late-bloomer, McMann has played a total of 200 regular-season contests in the NHL, registering 91 points (54 goals, 37 assists) and 121 penalty minutes. Toronto traded centre Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

BLAKE COLEMAN

Much like Kadri, the 34-year-old winger’s age doesn’t fit the Flames’ rebuild timeline. Coleman, who has one season left on his deal at $4.9 million, has produced 13 goals and 22 points in 48 contests this season. He won the Cup in both 2020 and 2021 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

RASMUS RISTOLAINEN

The big, right-shot defenceman has registered one goal and five assists as part of an injury-hit campaign with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Ristolainen, who has one season left on his current deal at $5.1 million, could help shore up a contender’s blue-line corps.

JUSTIN FAULK

Also a right-shot defender, the 33-year-old is another St. Louis trade chip potentially heading out the door. The dependable, offensively gifted Faulk has 11 goals and 32 points in 2025-26. His contract runs through next season at $6.5 million.

SCOTT LAUGHTON

The gritty centre seems likely to be heading for a Toronto exit with unrestricted free agency looming. The 31-year-old Laughton has eight goals and four assists in a campaign that included significant time away due to injury. The Maple Leafs paid a heavy price for Laughton at last year’s trade deadline when they acquired him from the Flyers in a swap that included a first-round pick going the other way.

CONOR GARLAND

The 29-year-old winger has five seasons left on a contract with an AAV of $4.95 million, but his Vancouver Canucks are another club in clear rebuild mode. Garland has seven goals and 26 points across 50 games in 2025-26. The Canucks dealt right-shot defenceman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

EVANDER KANE

The 34-year-old pending UFA is a proven playoff performer, including back-to-back Cup final appearances with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025. Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit were traded to Vancouver last off-season, but he could have another new address by the weekend following a season that’s seen the winger register 11 goals and 27 points in 59 games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026.

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EDMONTON – Some more late game heroics have given the Edmonton Oilers a spark in the midst of what has been a tough stretch.

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and three assists and Evan Bouchard scored the overtime winner as the Oilers overcame a two-goal deficit through 40 minutes to emerge with a badly-needed 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

With Brady Tkachuk in the penalty box for tackling Connor McDavid in overtime, Edmonton got it back to Bouchard and he blasted in his 18th goal of the season for the come-from-behind win.

“We did a good job in the third of putting them on their heels and keeping it fairly simple,” Draisaitl said. “We just needed two plays and it ended up working out for us. But we have to be careful not to be in those situations too many times. You can’t keep chasing games going into the third, it’s not a recipe for success.

“At this time (of year) you take any point you can get, and there are a lot of positives, for sure, but there are also still some things that we need to clean up.”

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The Oilers tied the game with just 1:25 remaining in the third period and their goalie pulled as Zach Hyman tipped a Draisaitl pass under Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark for his 25th of the season to send the game to extra time.

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“We need to keep the puck out of our net, obviously, but when we are down, we have the firepower to come back,” Hyman said. “We don’t want to be putting ourselves in that position like we have been of late too often.

“But sometimes you need a game like that where you can come back and it’s a complete team effort to dominate a third period and win a game. I thought it was a good one for us and hopefully a springboard for better games.”

Edmonton outshot Ottawa 12-3 in the third period and overtime.

“We know we can come back against any team,” said Bouchard, who not only leads all NHL defencemen with 71 points, but moved into a tie for 10th place in overall scoring. “It’s not what we want to do, we want to be playing with the lead. But it’s good to know to stay confident, that we have the guys that can get us back in it.”

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored and McDavid had two assists for the Oilers (30-24-8) who had lost five of their previous six outings.

“We’re not coming off this game patting ourselves on the back,” said Hyman of his team knowing that they could have played better. “We’ve been to the finals two years in a row, we know what it takes. We know what type of hockey you have to play.

“Having said that, the positive is that we know that we can come back in high-scoring games and there’s going to be some of those, but if you want to be successful you’ve got to keep the puck out of your net. I think we’re capable of that, we just have to do it more often and consistently.”

It was Edmonton’s first home game in an entire month.

Draisaitl recorded his seventh career five-point game amid some other milestones.

The German Olympic team captain passed Jari Kurri (1,043) for third on the franchise’s all-time points list. He also recorded his 301st multi-point game, passing Mark Messier for third most in Oilers history, behind Wayne Gretzky (472) and teammate McDavid (362).

Oilers rookie Matt Savoie picked up an assist to extend his points streak to a career high four games, with seven points in that span.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2024.

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TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs put a positive spin on their fourth straight loss since the Olympics.

The Maple Leafs gained a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, but they will enter their final 21 regular-season games seven points out of a playoff position.

But the Boston Bruins, the team that holds down the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, have played two fewer games than the Maple Leafs.

“We’re just trying to stay positive,” Toronto forward Dakota Joshua said. “It’s a tough time for our group.”

Last season, the Montreal Canadiens snatched the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with 91 points. That means the Maple Leafs need a minimum of 27 points in their final 21 games to have hope of securing a post-season berth.

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Joshua revealed that different Toronto players have stepped up with words of wisdom in the hopes of shaking the Maple Leafs out of a funk that has seen them lose 10 of their last 13 outings.

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“It’s about sticking together,” Joshua said. “It’s about finding a way.”

Joshua scored the Maple Leafs’ first goal before 18,255 at Scotiabank Arena in his third game back after missing two months with a lacerated kidney. The 29-year-old left-winger from Dearborn, Mich., admitted that it has been difficult to get his wind back.

“I’m feeling better every game,” he said.

The goal was Joshua’s first since he scored the game-winner at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 16.

Toronto head coach Craig Berube shuffled his lines in an attempt to get his team a much-needed win. Nicolas Roy, between Joshua and Matias Maccelli, was an effective trio, providing the home team with some physicality.

“Since (Joshua has) come back, he’s been pretty good,” Berube said. “I thought he did a lot of good things again tonight. Other than the goal, even though it was a great shot, good play. For me, he’s being that heavy, physical player that we need a good job for us.”

Berube also put his two best offensive players, captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander, together on a line with Bobby McMann. While Nylander scored the tying goal with 2:30 remaining in regulation on the power play, Matthews extended his season-high goalless streak to eight games.

“I thought they were good,” Berube said. “Auston had eight shots. Willie had (four). They created. They just didn’t finish.”

The Maple Leafs’ busy post-Olympic schedule continues on Wednesday and Thursday for their fifth and sixth outings in nine days against the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, respectively.

“That’s kind of like our blueprint,” Berube said in his analysis of the shootout loss to the Flyers. “We did a lot of good things tonight. We’ve got to go out to Jersey and do the same thing.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2026.

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MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis admitted a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting New York Islanders left a bitter taste with his players.

Montreal led Thursday’s game 3-2 late in the third, but the Islanders rallied with the game-tying goal in the final two minutes before scoring in the extra period.

The way that game ended was a point of emphasis on Saturday morning before the Canadiens hosted the visiting Washington Capitals.

“I think we learned from that,” said Canadiens forward Cole Caufield. “We weren’t too happy with ourselves and how we handled that third period (against the Islanders). Obviously, we knew we needed to have a good start and play a full 60 minutes (Saturday).”

The Canadiens entered the third period on Saturday with a 4-1 lead, thanks in large part to Caufield’s two first-period goals, the first of which came just 30 seconds into the game.

“When you get a goal the first shift of the game, it kind of sets the tone for the rest,” said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who finished the game with a goal and two assists.

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“It was a good start,” added Caufield. “We needed that tonight. It’s pretty cool to get those two early but, obviously, getting chances is the most important thing.”

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While the Capitals would trim the deficit to two, courtesy of captain Alex Ovechkin’s second goal of the night, Montreal was determined to not let the lead, or the game, slip away from them again.

“What I liked best about the game was how we managed the third period,” said St. Louis. “I know it’s different from the other night because we were leading by more, but they scored a goal to cut the deficit to two goals. We managed it better. We continued to play in the third.”

Suzuki was also proud of his team’s commitment to finishing the game properly.

“I think there’s some points in the game where we probably were sitting a little too far back,” said Suzuki. “Sometimes, you get uncomfortable when you keep losing the lead. I thought we did a better job of not trying to be too safe out there.”

The Canadiens have seen a third-period lead turn into a loss on eight occasions this season, including three in regulation time.

Montreal currently sits third in the Atlantic Division standings with 75 points, just one point back of the second-place Buffalo Sabres, who have played one more game than the Canadiens.

With the Detroit Red Wings just one point back of Montreal entering play Sunday, Caufield recognizes the importance of not letting teams back into games, especially as the team gets set to enter the final two months of the regular season.

“These are very important games,” said Caufield. “It’s a sprint to the finish line. Obviously, every team in our division has been pushing in the same direction. All these points matter. That’s what makes it fun.”

HONOURING THE OLYMPIANS

Before Saturday’s puck drop, the Montreal Canadiens recognized 11 athletes who competed at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. In addition to Suzuki, Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson of the men’s ice hockey team, short track speedskaters Danaé Blais, William Dandjinou, Félix Roussel, Florence Brunelle, Kim Boutin, Courtney Sarault and Steven Dubois were saluted at centre ice by the Montreal faithful.

A thunderous ovation was also given to freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury, who captured a gold and silver medal in moguls during the 33-year-old’s final Olympics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2026.

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TORONTO – There was no mincing words after the Toronto Maple Leafs’ latest loss, a 5-2 defeat to the visiting Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

“Just bad. Just fairly embarrassing, to be honest with you,” said Leafs captain Auston Matthews. “We need to have more pride in our play, no matter where we’re at, no matter what the situation is. We just have to have more pride in our game and we didn’t have that tonight.”

Matthews and the Maple Leafs have dropped three straight games coming out of the Olympic break on the heels of a three-game winning streak.

It’s getting dicey for the club which has made the playoffs in nine straight years — the longest active streak in the NHL — to ensure that run continues.

The Maple Leafs (27-24-9) entered action Saturday eight points out of a wild-card berth, and the road to get there is only more treacherous now.

“It’s hard. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve been in this position when we’re out looking in. So we gotta figure it out pretty quickly,” said forward William Nylander, who scored one of the Leafs’ goals. “Still not impossible, but we gotta play a lot better hockey if we want to be there.”

It was the Senators who looked like they wanted to be “there” a lot more.

Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each scored twice, and Thomas Chabot also got on the board for the Senators, who improved to 29-22-8 on the season to boost their slim post-season chances. Cozens also added an assist.

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The Maple Leafs scored the first goal of the game thanks to Morgan Rielly, but they were outscored 1-0 and outshot 16-0 for the remainder of the first period.

The Senators would string together 19 consecutive shots and three straight goals to take control of the divisional battle and earn their first win over the Maple Leafs since Game 5 of their first-round playoff series last year, which Toronto took in six.

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For the Maple Leafs, the slow start marked a continuation of sorts from Thursday’s loss to the Florida Panthers, when Toronto was outscored 3-0 and outshot 16-7 in the first 20 minutes.

“Good first five minutes, I thought. Obviously got the first goal, which we’ve been searching for,” said Toronto defenceman Jake McCabe. “And then we s— the bed after that.”

While the Maple Leafs struggled to find answers for their lack of desperation as they watch their playoff fortunes fade, they each cited “disconnect” as a reason for their current skid.

“We’ve had trouble stringing together good segments of games consistently. It’s just been too much of a roller-coaster,” Matthews said.

The Maple Leafs had leaned on their pre-Olympic run for optimism toward a potential second-half surge.

Now, that spark is all but snuffed.

“When I look at the game or show tape or go over things, there’s a certain way we need to play the game. But I can’t give guys this (points to heart) or this (points to head) and they have to come with that. That’s on them. They gotta bring the heart and the competitiveness that’s needed,” head coach Craig Berube said.

“I can go in there and yell and scream at them all I want. That doesn’t do anything either.”

With the trade deadline approaching on Friday, the Leafs could look very different in a week’s time.

Toronto’s pending free agents include forwards Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton in addition to defenceman Troy Stecher. Blue liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has one more season on his contract, is also a candidate to be moved.

Berube admitted that uncertainty could play into the Leafs’ struggles.

“But in saying that, those are all excuses. And we can’t make excuses. Until guys in there decide they want to play the right way and play as a team, that’s what you’ll get,” Berube said.

Rielly, the veteran defenceman and longest-tenured Maple Leaf, refuted a notion that the team is quitting.

“Obviously an effort like tonight given what’s at stake is confusing and unacceptable. So moving forward, we need to not allow that to happen again,” he said.

Matthews called the current skid a “tough stretch.”

“It’s never fun to lose. It’s never fun to lose in this kind of fashion, three games in a row. So it’s hard. It definitely wears on you, but we just have to be better. There’s no hanging our heads, there’s no feeling sorry for ourselves. Everybody’s gotta look in the mirror and be better.”

Toronto has three more games before the deadline, beginning Monday against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

MIXED REACTION FOR MATTHEWS

The Maple Leafs honoured each of their three Olympians during the first television break on Saturday. Sweden’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson and William Nylander, who returned home without hardware, received widespread applause.

The reception for gold medallist Matthews wasn’t as warm as the Team USA captain was met with boos from the crowd before they were drowned out by cheers. He stood on the bench to acknowledge the crowd.

American teammate Brady Tkachuk, the Senators captain, was jeered when he appeared on the arena’s big screen for the first time.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2026.

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TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs gave up four goals in the second period and dropped a 5-2 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena.

Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each scored twice, and Thomas Chabot also got on the board for the Senators, who improved to 29-22-8 on the season. Cozens also added an assist.

Morgan Rielly and William Nylander found the back of the net for the Maple Leafs (27-24-9), who have dropped three in a row. Their last win was Feb. 4 against the Edmonton Oilers, just before the Olympic break.

Rielly got the scoring started with his eighth of the season less than three minutes into the first period, but it was all Senators from there.

Ottawa landed the next 19 shots on net and scored three unanswered to take a two-goal lead midway through the second frame.

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Nylander responded to cut the Senators’ lead to 3-2, but Batherson struck back with his second of the period less than two minutes later on a play the Maple Leafs challenged for offside and lost.

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Cozens registered his second goal on the ensuing penalty, chasing goalie Joseph Woll after 23 saves on 28 shots. Anthony Stolarz replaced Woll and stopped all 12 shots he faced.

Linus Ullmark had 21 saves for the Senators.

The Leafs frustrations boiled over early in the third period in the form of a brawl in front of Stolarz, which resulted in 28 penalty minutes, including a 10-minute misconduct to Max Domi.

It was the Leafs first home game since captain Auston Matthews won gold with Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

TAKEAWAYS

Maple Leafs: Toronto’s slow starts continued. After scoring the first goal and recording two shots, the Leafs were outscored 1-0 and outshot 16-0 for the remainder of the first period. The two shots marked the Leafs lowest total of any period this season.

Senators: Ottawa’s win was its first against the Maple Leafs since it lost to its provincial rival in a six-game first-round playoff series last season. The teams will battle twice more this season, with both games in Ottawa.

KEY MOMENT

The Maple Leafs honoured each of their three Olympians during the first TV break. Sweden’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nylander, who returned home without hardware, received widespread applause.

But the reception for gold medallist Matthews wasn’t as warm, as the Team USA captain was initially met with boos from the crowd before they were drowned out by cheers. American teammate Brady Tkachuk, the Senators captain, was jeered when he appeared on the big screen. The U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold-medal game in Italy.

KEY STAT

Matthews extended his career-long assist streak to six games when he set up Rielly’s first-period goal. Oddly, the one-time 69-goal scorer has also now gone seven straight without a marker.

UP NEXT

Senators: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Maple Leafs: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press