The NHL's Feb. 29 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy or sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.

Trading Toronto

The Leafs have a lot of potential trade assets and as Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star writes, “The other shoe could drop at any time.”

“You never know,” Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lamoriello told the Toronto Star. “In your mind you have something you’d like to see transpire. Then you just have to see where it goes from there. If there was anything imminent, it would be done. That’s the best way to approach it. It’s no different for anybody. It just depends on the guys somebody is looking for.”

A few of the players mentioned as possibly being moved out of Toronto include, goaltender James Reimer, defenceman Roman Polak as well as forwards P.A. Parenteau, Shawn Matthias, Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes and Nick Spaling.

McGran also points out that the Leafs are two contracts under the limit and have enough salary-cap space to add contracts at an average of $10 million annually for the rest of the season.

Defending Boston

CSNNE.com writes that the Boston Bruins have a “profound need” for a top-three defenceman, a top-six winger to play with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and a bottom-six veteran forward with size.

The list of potential targets includes Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, suspended Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman, New York Rangers defenceman Keith Yandle, St. Louis Blues defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and Edmonton Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz.

Anaheim Ducks defencemen Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm are also highlighted by CSNNE.com.

“These are the kinds of players that Boston desperately needs, so Don Sweeney should do everything possible to close the deal should discussions get going. The same goes for Marco Scandella, Jonas Brodin and Matthew Dumba and the Minnesota Wild with needs very similar to those of the Ducks.”

Not so Wild?

Michael Russo of the Star Tribune writes that Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher could have trouble making a deal because he doesn’t possess a lot of trade options.

He writes that the team is full of long-term, veteran contracts including Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek and Niklas Backstrom.
Russo points out the rest of the options aren’t any easier to move.

“Pending free agents Justin Fontaine, Jarret Stoll and Ryan Carter wouldn’t get much and the Wild doesn’t own its second-, third- or fifth-round pick in this year’s draft or its second-round pick in 2018,” Russo writes.

For his part, Fletcher believes that the Wild have the parts to make a deal at the deadline if necessary.

“We have assets that other teams like, I can tell you that much from the conversations I’ve had,” Fletcher told the Star Tribune. “The question is: Are you going to make a good trade? That’s the whole point right now. I’m not interested in moving young assets for rental players at this point.”