Buffalo and Detroit are within the top three of the Atlantic Division just behind Tampa and are sending just two and three guys respectively, which seems advantageous. The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> are just sending three while their rival Vegas is sending seven. All three teams at the top of the Central are way above average (sending between seven and nine players each), while a chasing team like Utah is sending just four.<\/p>\n One thing to watch: of the teams that lead divisions, the Carolina Hurricanes are sending the fewest guys (four), and they\u2019re also rumoured to be big game hunting at the trade deadline. East favourites?<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have to track if there\u2019s any connection between those teams and success\/failure down the stretch.<\/p>\n Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things hockey with some of the biggest names in the game. Watch live every weekday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ \u2014 or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN \u2014 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Full episode<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Who most benefits from the break?<\/p>\n Old dudes and the infirm. I spend a lot of time covering the Maple Leafs, so I\u2019ve seen how effective John Tavares is early in the year, and how effective he was coming out of last year’s 4 Nations break. <\/p>\n These days, though, he\u2019s dragging. Matthew Knies has nagging injuries, same with Brandon Carlo, and there\u2019s just a litany of guys who are barely getting through each night.\u00a0<\/p>\n This goes for most teams in the NHL, and it\u2019s hurting pace of play of late. I imagine that after a break, which coincides with pre-trade deadline hockey, you\u2019re going to see a significant uptick in pace, even with some of the stars not getting much rest at all.<\/p>\n 3. What is the Olympic trade freeze, and how does that shape the run up to the trade deadline?<\/p>\n Players wanted a real break, and they\u2019ll get one. Nobody can be traded from Feb. 4\u00a0at 3 p.m. ET to Feb. 22\u00a0at 11:59 p.m. ET (let\u2019s call it Feb. 23, shall we?). That\u2019s a clean two weeks, save for a few guys who are waiver exempt and can be sent to the AHL provided they meet certain\u00a0criteria (outlined here by PuckPedia<\/a>).<\/p>\n Coming out of the break you\u2019ll see 12 days from Monday, Feb. 23\u00a0to Friday, March 6, where guys can be traded. Teams are not allowed to practice between and including Feb. 6 and Feb. 16, meaning they\u2019ll be back for almost a week of practice before game action resumes, and GMs will be back at work too. What I\u2019m getting at is I think many conversations will be had that week, and several deals will be put in the drawer to finalize in the ensuing build up to the deadline.<\/p>\n 4. Will any of the risers in the Atlantic drop and open the door for the chasers?<\/p>\n The Red Wings and Sabres are currently slated to meet in the \u201cHoly Crap We\u2019re Back In The Playoffs\u201d Bowl, while Montreal and Boston currently sit as wild card holders. The gap between these teams and anyone else is significant, but the problem is there\u2019s some motivated teams chasing as we head into the season\u2019s final 25 games or so.<\/p>\n My two cents: everyone not named Boston is pretty safe. But the Bruins are in the final spot, and they neither create nor limit expected goals at a league average level. There\u2019s potential for one spot to open up here, and no shortage of suitors for it.<\/p>\n 5. Where is the push coming from in the East?<\/p>\n Some of the teams on the outside looking in:<\/p>\n The Leafs, who have already declared themselves as sellers, would not-so-secretly like to get red hot and play their way back into this thing. Even if they prune a little talent at the deadline, the idea of getting suddenly-good-again goaltending, a healthy William Nylander, Matthew Knies, Brandon Carlo, and a rested Tavares, could help them win some games down the stretch and be annoying.<\/p>\n![\"Real](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SNPodcast_RealKyperBourne_1280x720-640x360.jpg\")
Real Kyper and Bourne<\/p>\n