Edmonton brass quietly circles a star veteran defenseman available as the roster freeze ends, aiming to shore up their blue line for a Cup run. Heavy.com sources hint at cap-friendly fits amid rising rumors like Weegar and Ristolainen chatter. Holland's crew knows one deadline deal could flip their contender status, but rivals lurk.

Dallas hunts blue-line muscle, and whispers link rugged rearguard Rasmus Ristolainen as the piece to toughen their Cup push. Stars GM Jim Nill eyes deadline deals to shore up a defense that's bent but not broken in tight games. Landing him could flip the Central race, but Philly's price tag tests Dallas' prospect pool.

Rasmus Ristolainen returns to Philly with a bronze medal from Finland's dominant Olympic run and scouts buzzing louder than ever. GMs see that physical shutdown game against the world's best and suddenly his $5.1 million cap hit looks like a steal for two playoff shots. Flyers brass now weighs cashing in on the resurgence or riding the hot hand into the deadline stretch.

The trade freeze lifts and GMs waste no time dialing up their lists, with Blue Jackets boss Don Waddell drawing a line in the sand against rental UFAs despite their playoff push. Jordan Kyrou's no-trade clause hangs over St. Louis like a storm cloud, while whispers of ready-to-go deals flood front offices from Calgary to Philly. As the March 6 deadline looms just 12 days away, contenders circle sellers like Flyers eyeing Ristolainen retention plays and Avalanche shopping for center depth.

Multiple teams quietly poke around the Flyers' front office about Rasmus Ristolainen, the big right-shot defenseman with one year left at $5.1 million AAV. Philadelphia sits on the playoff bubble at 25-20-11, eight points out in the East, and GM Danny Briere weighs moving the 31-year-old Olympic bronze medalist to clear space for prospects like Christian Kyrou.

The Olympic trade freeze lifts tonight, and GMs across the league sharpen their knives with just under two weeks until March 6. Flyers boss Daniel Brière eyes the market for wingers like Owen Tippett and vet D Rasmus Ristolainen, while whispers swirl about Devils shaking up their roster and Kings chasing a center to replace retiring Anze Kopitar. Montreal, suddenly a playoff threat tied for second in the Atlantic, debates flipping high-salary Patrik Laine to fuel a buyer's push.