Thanksgiving is just around the corner for American NHL fans. It's also an important milestone on the regular-season calendar for the league's 32 clubs.
As Hall of Fame player and current Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Mark Recchi pointed out last November, the coaching staff on every club stresses the importance of holding a playoff spot by Thanksgiving.
Citing NHL stats going back to 2005-06, Recchi indicated that 76.3 percent of the teams that were in playoff position by "Turkey Day" went on to qualify by season's end.
That could stir up trade activity among clubs hoping to improve their chances of securing a berth or those struggling to avoid falling further out of contention.