This Week in the NHL: Welcome to Trade Deadline SZN

So many games. So little time. What should you focus your NHL hockey fandom on if your favorite team’s games don’t scratch the itch enough?

Welcome to This Week in the NHL. From now until April, we’ll lay out a collection of key games, events and deadlines to watch on the league calendar each week.

So what’s on tap for March 4-10? Can’t think of anything big happening. Can you?

Auston Matthews’ chase for 60 goals

Could he do it…this week? It wouldn’t seem possible in theory. Matthews currently paces the NHL with 53 goals in 59 games. The Leafs have a four-game slate this week, meaning he’d need seven to get there by the end of the week. When he notched his 50^th last month in his 54^th game, he became the fastest to hit the milestone since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. Lemieux reached 60 that season in game No. 62, so Matthews has a chance to beat that timeline and be the fastest since Lemieux got there in 55 games during his historic 1992-93 season. If Matthews gets to 61 goals this season, he’ll break his own single-season franchise record of 60, set in 2021-22.

March 5: James van Riemsdyk’s 1,000^th game

Edmonton Oilers @ Boston Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET

Time flies. Wasn’t ‘JVR’ just hearing his name called second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers? Nope, that was 2007. He’s now 34 and will play game No. 1,000 when Boston hosts Edmonton Tuesday night. With more than 300 goals, fifth among 2007 draftees, he has come close to delivering on his No. 2 pick status. He’s in the midst of a mini-resurgence with the Bruins this season.

March 7: The Caps’ and Pens’ final stand?

Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m. ET

When you build a franchise around generational talents Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby and take home a combined four Stanley Cups, embracing a rebuild does not come easily. But the Caps and Pens missed the playoffs last season and are barely hanging on in the Eastern Conference playoff race this season. Their clash on Thursday, one day before the deadline, feels symbolic. Each team feels on the brink of relenting and selling. Could we see the likes of Anthony Mantha, Nic Dowd, Jake Guentzel and Reilly Smith changing teams in the coming days?

March 8: 2024 Trade Deadline

It’s here. If you want an upgrade for your Stanley Cup push, you must get your trade call in to the NHL Central Registry by Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET. We’ll have coverage here on dailyfaceoff.com for everything that happens – and be sure to check out our live show on YouTube from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.