The NHL trade deadline is approaching on March 7, and several teams are making moves to strengthen their rosters. The Buffalo Sabres are looking to make a trade similar to the one that brought Bowen Byram to the team last season, with center Dylan Cozens, winger Alex Tuch, and Byram himself being frequently mentioned in trade speculation. The Sabres are not interested in acquiring more draft picks or prospects but may have to accept such offers for pending unrestricted free agents like Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker if they are not re-signed by the deadline.

The Anaheim Ducks have no urgency to move forward Trevor Zegras, but they could listen to offers if a team is willing to meet their high asking price. Goaltender John Gibson is reportedly open to being traded to a contender like Edmonton or Carolina. The Ducks have salary-cap flexibility and attractive futures to use as trade bait if longer-term opportunities present themselves.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to address their third-line center, depth scoring, and right-shot defenseman positions. With the Eastern Conference being wide open, the Leafs may need to be bold in the trade market to acquire impactful help. General manager Brad Treliving will have to decide whether to part with top prospects and the 2026 first-round pick to make significant moves.

In other news, the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament concluded its round-robin games, with Canada defeating Finland 5-3 and Sweden upsetting an injury-battered Team USA. Canada will face the United States in the championship game on Thursday. The tournament featured NHL players from the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, with each team playing three games in a traditional round-robin format.

The Vancouver Canucks are set to return to practice, which could provide an update on the status of defenseman Quinn Hughes and goaltender Thatcher Demko, both of whom are recovering from injuries. The Seattle Kraken recalled winger Jordan Eberle from his conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate, but he remains on long-term injury reserve.

The USHL is preparing for its 25th season at the Tier 1 level, having signed declarations from all 16 member clubs to compete in the 2025-2026 season. The league continues to assert its dominance in developing elite hockey talent, with more than 195 USHL alumni listed on NHL rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season. The league is also exploring expansion opportunities and initiatives to enhance the player experience through technology, training disciplines, and academic preparation.