The NHL\u2019s trade deadline remains more 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.<\/p>\n
Follow all the latest trades here<\/a> and the most up to date signings here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Final hours to make a deal<\/p>\n The Olympic roster freeze is set to take effect at 3 p.m. ET today and while it appears most teams are expected to let the deadline pass without making a deal, the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> are hoping to make something happen.<\/p>\n TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Hurricanes, who are eight points clear atop the Metropolitan Division, would prefer to make an addition before going on the three-week pause.<\/p>\n \u201cI will say a team to keep an eye on is Carolina. The Hurricanes really would like to make a move before the trade freeze,\u201d LeBrun said on Insider Trading. \u201cThey\u2019re up for it and they have the cap flexibility to do it, but they have to find a team where there\u2019s a fit.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hurricanes have been among the teams attached to the pursuit of New York Rangers<\/a> winger Artemi Panarin<\/a>, but his search for an extension in the neighbourhood of four years at roughly $11 million per season has created a roadblock.<\/p>\n \u201c(It) remains the Rangers\u2019 intention to try to find a new home for Artemi Panarin<\/a> before 3 p.m. on Wednesday,” TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said. \u201cBut whether or not that happens, still not entirely clear. And there\u2019s a big reason for that. As much as the Rangers want to do that piece of business, so much of the control of this situation is in the hands of Panarin and his agent. They continue to talk to teams. There\u2019s been a range of interest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, a key part of getting this deal done is actually agreeing to a contract extension. I think there\u2019s a range of where teams are willing to go. I\u2019ve heard at least one team has put $40 million on the table for Panarin, but it\u2019s not until he signals to the Rangers that he\u2019s found the right situation for himself that can go forward. So, we\u2019ll see if they get that done by Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n Panarin has held been out of the Rangers lineup since last week in anticipation of a trade and the Russian winger will not take part in the Olympics, meaning it will have been a full month between games when he eventually suits up again after the break.<\/p>\n Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic<\/a> reports Panarin\u2019s preferred destination appears to be the state of Florida, in joining either the Florida Panthers<\/a> or Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>. Both teams are tight on cap space and have less than $16 million available next season with other roster spots still to fill. He points to the Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings<\/a>, San Jose Sharks<\/a> and Washington Capitals<\/a> as suitors with more cap flexibility, though it\u2019s unclear if Panarin would waive his no-move clause to join them.<\/p>\n Mercogliano adds that both the Rangers and Panarin would prefer to get a deal done sooner rather than later, with the pause in the schedule allowing the winger to settle in to his new home and keep the standoff from lingering over the team. <\/p>\n While a deal cannot be completed over the Olympic break, talks between teams can continue and LeBrun reports many general managers expect to use that window to continue to gauge their options. <\/p>\n \u201cI checked in with 15 NHL teams on Tuesday, and I will tell you that the majority of them thought they would be quiet ahead of the trade freeze,\u201d LeBrun explained. \u201cObviously, that changes in one phone call. Only a couple teams saying that they were trying to get something going, but the vast majority felt that they needed the Olympic break to see where they were in the standings to further some of those trade conversations.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of it is salary cap related as well. They\u2019re just not in a position right now to make that bigger move. They have to wait closer toMarch 6.But as one GM said to me, yeah, we can\u2019t make a trade during the Olympic trade freeze, but we can certainly, there\u2019s no freeze on our conversation. So, he expected that some of those talks will continue throughout the Olympics.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s some general managers who will have those conversations and will push through the entire break, working hard,\u201d TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger added on. \u201cThere are others who intend on taking maybe a bit of a breather, maybe the first week off before re-engaging or trying to re-establish something on the trade front. But all teams are going to be prepared because when the Olympics are over, they\u2019ve got that 12-day window in between making trades or contract negotiations. It\u2019s going to be a chaotic 12 days.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the Hurricanes, the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> have also been working the phones this week, thoughit\u2019s unclear if a trade will follow.<\/p>\n The Maple Leafs picked up a third straight win Tuesday, defeating the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, but remain five points back of the Boston Bruins<\/a> for the final wild-card spot with an additional game played. Toronto has been trending towards being a seller with pending unrestricted free agents Bobby McMann<\/a> and Scott Laughton<\/a> among the players who could be on the block.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Maple Leafs have been pretty busy over the last couple of days in terms of chatter, but doesn\u2019t mean necessarily that we\u2019ll have anything come the trade freeze,\u201d LeBrun noted.<\/p>\n Major sale in St. Louis?<\/p>\n Sitting second last in the NHL, it appears the St. Louis Blues<\/a> are ready to make major changes.<\/p>\n Dreger reports general manager Doug Armstrong is eager to \u201crefresh\u201d the Blues, though his asking prices may currently be too high to complete any deals before the roster freeze.<\/p>\n