NHL trade rumors commence with big news after Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The National Hockey League has traveled a different timeline this season than it has in a while.

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Because of the NHL return to the Winter Olympics, roster moves had to change their procedure. The trade deadline, and all the rumors that came with it, were impacted.

The league chose to go on a roster freeze during the Olympics, a logical approach to take. That meant that, before the Games began, there was a deadline for moves to be made.

It wasn’t an actual trade deadline, but it did spur activity. The New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings right before the roster freeze deadline.

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Now, the action can begin again.

At 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, the roster freeze was lifted.

Buyers and sellers will soon reveal themselves.

The trade deadline is March 6 at 3 p.m. ET. That’s a week from Friday.

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Anyone trying to make a playoff push with a deal better spring into gear.

Anyone looking toward the future and offloading contracts that aren’t useful has to get to work.

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Nothing will match the excitement of the Olympics, but the rumor mill is back. Hockey fans will have plenty to pay attention to.

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