Yesterday's rumor mill churned hot with Toronto shopping McMann and Roy to Edmonton, as the Leafs tweak their bottom six ahead of a Cup push. Meanwhile, extension buzz swirls around Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner, with their camps digging in for long-term security. In February's whisper game, these threads hint at deadline fireworks that could flip standings and locker room vibes overnight.

Columbus surges into the Olympic break with a 9-1 run over their last 10, forcing GM Don Waddell to rethink his deadline strategy after years of selling off talent. Instead of shipping out UFAs like Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment, the front office eyes re-signings and a homecoming for former captain Nick Foligno from Chicago. Foligno's gritty leadership could anchor a surprise playoff push, but Waddell knows one stumble post-break flips the script on these high-stakes plans.

The Columbus Blue Jackets make no secret of their desire to lock up captain Boone Jenner beyond this season, but front-office whispers question if his injury-riddled history justifies another big commitment. At 32, the longest-tenured Jacket bleeds blue, yet his $3.75 million cap hit looks like a bargain only if he stays healthy enough to lead the rebuild.

Whispers out of San Jose and Columbus have Timothy Liljegren, Boone Jenner, and Charlie Coyle popping up on trade radar screens as GMs eye the post-Olympic frenzy. Liljegren's untapped potential as a right-shot D-man makes him a sneaky fit for the Sharks' rebuild, while Jenner's captain grit and Coyle's middle-six reliability could shore up Columbus amid their wild-card push. Front offices know the roster freeze lifts soon, and these names signal real conversations heating up before March 6.