The NHL’s Olympic roster freeze is over and the final push towards the trade deadline is under way. TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest news and rumours with the daily Countdown to TradeCentre blog.

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Time to sell?

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered this week looking to see how the team would perform before setting their final course for the trade deadline.

The return to play from the Olympic break Wednesday was marked by a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, dropping the Maple Leafs to 27-22-9, still six points back of the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card spot but now with one more game played. Three teams also sit between the Maple Leafs and Bruins in the playoff race.

Joshua Kloke of The Athletic wrote after Wednesday’s loss that a defeat to the Florida Panthers on Thursday “would feel like a nail in the coffin that’s impossible to remove.”

“And so if Leafs’ management is waiting to see how this two-game stretch in Florida plays out to determine a trade deadline approach, it should wait no longer. The gap looks too wide to overcome,” Kloke wrote.

TSN Hockey Analyst Cameron Gaunce agreed with Kloke’s assessment, stating he believes it is time for the Maple Leafs to begin selling.

Gaunce: ‘This has to be the time where Maple Leafs start selling’ TSN Hockey analyst Cameron Gaunce joins SportsCentre to discuss how Maple Leafs management should approach the trade deadline, and if he thinks Olympic gold will lead to meaningful success for Auston Matthews in Toronto.

Key decisions for the Maple Leafs include what to do with pending unrestricted free agents Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger noted Tuesday that factors in those decisions extend beyond their playoff outlook.

“It’s less about Toronto’s playoff chances and really more about the cost effectiveness of extending certain players like Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton,” Dreger explained on Insider Trading. “So there are decisions pending.

“But what I’m told is that there is a plan in place, and Brad Treliving and hockey operations for the Maple Leafs are going to follow this plan. They are not going to chase an expensive extension.

“What will get noteworthy and interesting, given that we do have some time, is what if Toronto closes the gap and they’ve got to make the call on these pending unrestricted free agents. They can’t let them walk for free, so it could be interesting the next several days.”

McMann, 29, is in the midst of a career season, recording 19 goals and 32 points in 57 games with the Maple Leafs. He previously set career highs with 20 goals and 34 points in 74 games last season.

The 6-foot-2 winger is on the final season of a two-year, $2.7 million contract that carries a cap hit of $1.35 million.

Toronto paid up to acquire Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers last season, sending prospect Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick the other way.

The 31-year-old forward has eight goals and 11 points in 40 games this season while carrying a cap hit of $1.5 million after the Flyers retained half of his salary last year.

The Maple Leafs will return home to face the Ottawa Senators on Saturday following Thursday’s game against the Panthers. There are a total of five games left on their schedule before the deadline.

“There’s obviously only so many games left,” forward John Tavares said Wednesday. “All we can control is one at a time, but urgency has to be high.”

Myers watch is on

While trade rumours have surrounded winger Evander Kane and there has been some talk around centre Elias Pettersson, it appears defenceman Tyler Myers could be the next player on the move for the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks sat Myers for trade-related reasons on Wednesday as the team asked him to consider a trade that is on the table. Myers currently holds a full no-movement clause, which converts to a 12-team no-trade list this summer.

Dreger reports the trade offer was first presented to Myers and his agent, J.P. Barry, two days ago and they continue to deliberate.

Rick is correct. The Canucks have a trade option they’ve asked Myers to consider. He has protection and is taking his time to consider. I’m told it was presented two days ago. The veteran and his agent, J.P Barry continue to deliberate. https://t.co/RnUemEcDfX

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 26, 2026

Myers has appeared in 57 games this season for the Canucks and has a goal and seven assists.

The 36-year-old is in his seventh season with Vancouver after joining the team as a free agent in 2019 and is currently playing on a three-year deal that carries a $3 million average annual value and expires after next season.

The Canucks could be among the busiest teams over the next week in the lead up to the deadline as the team continues their rebuild after trading star defenceman Quinn Hughes earlier this season.

Earlier this week, Johnston pointed the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars as teams who have inquired on Kane, a pending unrestricted free agent, while Dreger reports there has been renewed interest in Pettersson ahead of the deadline.

Trocheck to set the market?

New York Rangers veteran Vincent Trocheck sits atop The Athletic’s latest Trade Board and it appears other sellers could be watching to see what he is dealt for before making their moves.

“There’s a sense leading into this trade deadline that the Rangers will likely establish the going rate for a centre with their return in a Trocheck deal,” Johnston wrote in his breakdown.

Trocheck, 32, has 12 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Rangers this season. He is coming off winning a gold medal with Team USA at Milano Cortina 2026.

The 5-foot-11 centre is on the fourth season of a seven-year, $39.375 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5.625 million.

Johnston echoed a sentiment that Dreger presented earlier this week when he noted the Calgary Flames could potentially hold on to Nazem Kadri until after Trocheck is dealt in hopes of receiving a greater return.

Trading Trocheck would fall in line with the course the Rangers set in January to begin a retool. New York dealt star winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings just ahead of the Olympic roster freeze after holding him out of their lineup for more than a week while working on a trade.

Flames forward Blake Coleman was second on The Athletic’s trade board, while New Jersey Devils defenceman Dougie Hamilton was third.