The NHL’s trade deadline remains smore than a month away, set for March 6, but the impending Feb. 4 roster freeze has action heating up around the league. TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest news and rumours ahead of the freeze and will return after for the final Countdown to TradeCentre.

Follow all the latest trades here and the most up to date signings here.

Maple Leafs caught in no man’s land?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won two straight games after finally snapping a six-game winless skid, but it appears their course has been set for the trade deadline.

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston told First Up on TSN Radio 1050 Tuesday that “more than likely we’re talking about this team selling” with Toronto sitting seven points back of the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card spot.

Johnston noted that the Maple Leafs are caught in a sort of “no man’s land” with reaching the playoffs becoming increasingly unlikely and the team too high up the standings to fall into a top-five draft slot in order to keep their 2026 first-round pick.

The Boston Bruins own the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick this year, having acquired it and forward Fraser Minten for defenceman Brandon Carlo. The pick is top-five protected and should the Maple Leafs wind up keeping it, the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers would own Toronto’s first-rounders in 2027 and 2028, regardless of position.

The Maple Leafs are currently nine points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets, who are fifth-last in the league, with 26 games remaining in their season.

Toronto forward Bobby McMann is becoming a hot name ahead of the deadline with 18 goals and 31 points in 55 games this season while carrying an expiring cap hit of just $1.35 million.

Johnston said Tuesday there may not be another player available at the deadline with as strong ofa production-to-cap hitratio as McMann, which could create a seller’s market for the Leafs. He added, however, that with so many 2026 first-round picks having been already moved in previous trades, the return the Vancouver Canucks received for Kiefer Sherwood could represent an expected package back.

Vancouver traded to the San Jose Sharks last month, receiving two second-round picks and defenceman Cole Clayton back for the pending unrestricted free agent.

The Maple Leafs will play their final game ahead of the Olympic break on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Trotz in charge of Predators deadline

Barry Trotz announced Monday he will be stepping down as general manager of the Nashville Predators, but he will remain in his role until a successor is found.

With the club putting a target on finding his replacement ahead of June’s draft, Trotz will guide the Predators through the trade deadline this season and suggested again Monday he is leaning towards being a seller.

“I’ve got to listen to everything,” Trotz said at a press conference announcing the news. “We’re not in the playoffs right now, so I’ve got to listen to everything. I owe that to both the gentleman next to me (chairman Bill Haslam) and our fan base, and anybody who is a fan of the Predators, I have to look at everything. And I’m going to look at it from now, and I’m going to look at it from the future. So, everything’s on the table.”

The Predators sit three points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the wild-card spot in the Western Conference after putting together an improbable comeback from 5-1 down Monday night to beat the St. Louis Blues 6-5 to pick up two crucial points.

“I was feeling sick on the bench (for Trotz),” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said post-game. “It could have been 7-1 there, but I was just feeling really sick about that.

“…We dug in and found a way to make Papa Barry proud.”

Monday marked a second straight win for the Predators, who continue to hold hope of getting back into the playoffs after missing out last year.

Now owning a record of 26-23-6, the Predators have been digging out from an 8-13-4 record in the first two months of the season.

Trotz said last week he could not rule out trading forward Ryan O’Reilly, who is trending towards a career-best season with 20 goals and 53 points through 55 games.

“Kind of unexpected, but since I’ve been playing for him, he’s been an awesome person,” O’Reilly said of Trotz after Monday’s win. “As a group, it was something that gave us all a shock.”

Fleury Watch Continues

Marc-Andre Fleury was on the ice with the Minnesota Wild on Monday and his agent Allan Walsh seemed to only fuel speculation around an NHL return.

“Flower training! #Buzzzz,” Walsh wrote on X in response to Fleury on the ice.

Michael Russo of The Athletic had previously reported Fleury would work with the Wild for skates when goaltenders Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt were at the Olympics and filled in Monday with Wallstedt ill.

Fleury retired after last season, posting a 14-9-1 record with an .899 save percentage and 2.93 goals-against average in 26 games with the Wild.

The 41-year-old netminder has been contacted by various NHL teams about a comeback, but told Russo that month a return remains unlikely.

“Probably not,” Fleury said. “A couple teams asked. But I just said, ‘No.’ It’s tough for some reasons.”

With Wallstedt’s name popping up in rumours ahead of the trade deadline, though, Russo suggested the Wild could turn to Fleury if they do elect to deal the rookie netminder, with a natural fit as Fleury remains around organization.