The real hotspot at the NHL trade deadline could be Winnipeg.

No, the word hotspot and anywhere in Canada, isn’t usually used in the same sentence at this time of year.

But with the deadline set for 3 p.m. EST on Feb. 29, there will be a lot of eyes on Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in the next three weeks because has some of the biggest decisions to make, which will determine whether we’re going to see a lot of action in those final hours.

Heading into Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets were nine points out of a playoff spot after a 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at home Friday night and the reality is the club’s chances of making the playoffs are thin, which means Cheveldayoff has some work to do.

Though they’ve gotten calls on captain Andrew Ladd and defenceman Dustin Byfuglien - both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 - the belief is only one of them will be moved. Three league executives told the Sun Saturday they think Ladd is the one who will get shipped out.

The indications are Ladd’s camp may have turned down a six-year, $36-million deal at the start of the season. You have to wonder if he could get that kind of cash on the open market but the belief is one of his comparables is the seven-year, $42.5-million deal signed by Ryan Kesler in Anaheim.

“There won’t be any shortage of interest in Ladd if they decide to move him,” said a league executive Saturday.

As for Byfuglien, the indications are the Jets will make a serious effort to try to get him signed before the deadline. Another league executive indicated it might take a six-year deal in the $7.5-million range to make that happen but nobody is certain just how far the Jets are willing to going financially.

If dealing with those two isn’t enough of a headache for Cheveldayoff with the club losing as well, he also has to get restricted free agent blueliner Jacob Trouba signed and the talk is those discussions haven’t exactly gone smoothly with the two sides having plenty of work to do to get a deal done.

OFF THE GLASS: Montreal GM Marc Bergevin has been working the phones aggressively trying to make something happen to get his club out of its doldrums. The Habs haven’t hung out the ‘For Sale’ sign but they’re listening to offers on UFA forwards Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise along with defenceman Tom Gilbert. If the Habs can’t get goalie Carey Price back soon, then those talks will intensify ... The Canucks' payroll with the AHL’s Utica Comets is growing big time. The club sent defenceman Yannick Weber ($1.5 million) to the minors Saturday where he joined Chris Higgins ($2.5 million), Brandon Prust ($2.5 million) and fourth-liner Ronalds Kenins ($600,000) making NHL money. For those keeping score at home, that’s $7.1 million in Utica alone. Weber cleared to make room for the return of defenceman Dan Hamhuis, who had been out after taking a slapshot in the face on Dec. 9 against the New York Rangers. With only three weeks to the deadline, this will give GM Jim Benning a chance to decide what to do with Hamhuis. A UFA, he’d like to stay with the Canucks but would likely have to take a paycut from the $4.5 million he’s making this season. There is some talk there may be more than a passing interest from the Capitals in Hamhuis and he might fit the bill for Washington coach Barry Trotz. The club has been without defenceman Brooks Orpik for an extended period. He's skating but there’s some concern, especially with the Caps trying to make a long run this spring.

RUMOURS DU JOUR:While the San Jose Sharks went into Saturday with a 7-1-2 record in their last 10, that hasn’t stopped GM Doug Wilson from trying to make a change or two with his roster in an effort for a long playoff ride. As everybody knows, the Sharks can have any kind of regular season they want but it’s about having success in the playoffs and the word is Wilson has been telling his counterparts he’d like to get a defenceman if at all possible. The problem with Wilson is he can be difficult to deal with because he likes to kick tires but the heat is on him to make a move so he might be willing to pay whatever the market bears this season ... The Oilers have a decision to make on defenceman Justin Schultz before the deadline. Making $3.9 million and scheduled to be an RFA this summer, Schultz, who has 3-6-9 points in 37 games this season, could be moved. Schultz, 25, was signed by the previous regime and there’s plenty of interest in him if Edmonton wants to make a move. A lot of teams are looking for an upgrade on the blueline and the Oilers picked up blueliner Adam Clendening off waivers from the Anaheim last week ... Toronto GM Lou Lamoriello has been working the phones trying to get ahead of the rest of the teams selling ... The Carolina Hurricanes are closing in on a playoff spot but the word is centre Eric Staal is nowhere close to signing a new deal with the club and may get moved.

Have a nice Sunday and enjoy the Super Bowl.