The league's best division will also be one of its most fascinating at the trade deadline. Full of Stanley Cup contenders hoping to survive the playoffs, the activity in the next month might determine which team is the last standing. Here is a look at the Central's buyers and sellers heading toward the Feb. 29 trade deadline, from the divisional leader on down:
The Blackhawks made a big splash at the deadline last year in acquiring Antoine Vermette and Kimmo Timonen with the salary-cap space created by Patrick Kane's injury. They don't have that cap space this year, and had the Blackhawks not won the Stanley Cup, history wouldn't have been kind about last year's buying spree.