As the NHL season approaches its halfway point, and with the March 6th trade deadline looming, speculation is rife surrounding potential moves by the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Calgary Flames. While the holiday roster freeze is in effect, it hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning.

Edmonton Oilers:

The Oilers recently acquired goaltender Tristan Jarry, but he's already sidelined with a lower-body injury, expected to miss a few weeks. The Oilers are seemingly comfortable with Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram in the meantime, but should that tandem falter, Alex Lyon and Laurent Brossoit could resurface as potential targets. Beyond goaltending, Edmonton is reportedly looking to add a shutdown defenseman in the mold of Mattias Ekholm. Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues has been mentioned as a possible target, with the understanding that Blues GM Doug Armstrong has few untouchable players on his roster. Coach Kris Knoblauch wants Trent Frederic to take a step back over the holidays and return to the lineup refreshed, almost treating games after the break like a new season.

Toronto Maple Leafs:

The Maple Leafs are facing a period of uncertainty, prompting widespread calls for change. While GM Brad Treliving and coach Craig Berube appear safe for now despite the dismissal of assistant coach Marc Savard, almost nothing is off the table when it comes to potential roster moves. Even the possibility of trading Auston Matthews in the offseason has been floated. The Leafs have been linked to St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk, with some suggesting the Leafs were interested in Rasmus Andersson and Dougie Hamilton. The team's struggles have led the front office to operate as buyers, despite limited draft capital and trade chips. GM Brad Treliving has a previous bond with Andersson, having drafted him in 2015 when he was the GM of the Flames.

Calgary Flames:

The Calgary Flames find themselves in an interesting position with several veteran players drawing interest amid the team's recent performance. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson is a prominent name in trade discussions. Andersson is eligible for UFA status next July. The Toronto Maple Leafs have shown interest in acquiring Andersson, and he is reportedly willing to sign with the Leafs if a trade can be worked out. Kent Wilson of the Calgary Sun considers Andersson to be the top defenseman in the trade market now that Quinn Hughes is off the block.