The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline is less than a month away and coming into focus.

The deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET on March 3 and, as usual, there is plenty of movement expected in advance of it.

Here are 10 storylines to follow in the leadup to the big deadline day.

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30 NHL trade candidates to watch ahead of the deadline

 

Toews and Kane

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will forever be linked together for what they accomplished with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015), but also might be linked forever because of how they left Chicago.

The veteran forwards are pending unrestricted free agents, in the last season of matching eight-year contracts they signed together July 9, 2014. Each could be traded before the deadline with the Blackhawks (15-29-4) last in the Central Division and clearly rebuilding for the future.

Each must agree to be traded because of clauses in their respective contract, which makes it anything but a lock either will be moved, but if they give the thumbs up it only makes sense for the Blackhawks to trade them in order to add more pieces to their rebuild.

Kane has 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists) in 45 games. Toews has 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 46 games. Kane is second in Blackhawks history with 1,214 points (439 goals, 775 assists) and Toews is sixth with 880 (371 goals, 509 assists).

Forward Max Domi is also a pending UFA who the Blackhawks could trade. He leads Chicago with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 48 games.