Nazem Kadri, the Flames' battle-tested center with a Cup ring and a no-trade list that doesn't include Montreal, signals he's warming to a Habs move as the deadline looms. Insiders like Chris Johnston whisper that league sources confirm Kadri favors the Bell Centre, even if his $7 million cap hit raises eyebrows in a cap-strapped town.

Ottawa's front office quietly ramps up interest in Minnesota's Jesper Wallstedt, the 23-year-old Swedish netminder who's turning heads with his rookie stats and Olympic buzz. The Senators' goaltending woes have them hovering just outside the playoffs, and insiders like Chris Johnston peg Wallstedt as the perfect insurance policy behind Linus Ullmark at a cap-friendly $2.2 million through next season.

Insiders Chris Johnston and James Mirtle drop their bold predictions on where top trade targets like Robert Thomas, Nazem Kadri, and Vincent Trocheck land before the March 6 deadline. The Blues demand a king's ransom for Thomas, while Kadri's hefty contract raises eyebrows for rebuilding squads like the Canadiens. Front offices buzz with these fits as teams eye Cup runs, and no-trade clauses add the usual deadline drama that keeps GMs up at night.

Shane Wright's late surge before the Olympic break has Seattle pondering a bold move, with insiders like Chris Johnston floating a straight swap sending the former fourth-overall pick to Winnipeg for Cole Perfetti. The Kraken chase scoring punch after Wright's underwhelming season, while the Jets eye him as the long-term fix to their nagging second-line center woes.

The Minnesota Wild are positioning themselves as the frontrunners to land Vincent Trocheck before the March 6 trade deadline, according to insider Chris Johnston's latest projection. Bill Guerin's aggressive approach and the Wild's desperate need for a top-six center to compete in the NHL's toughest division have made them the team to beat in what's become a three-team Central Division battle.