NHL Trade Deadline 2016: Breaking Down Latest League Buzz

The NHL trade deadline is a little less than 24 hours away, and teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers (per Adam Gretz of CBS Sports) have already made moves to improve their teams for the stretch run.

Deals continue to be made, but by the time Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline hits, a boatload of trades involving the league's 30 teams are likely to be completed. 

One of the biggest deals could be for the Tampa Bay Lightning's Jonathan Drouin. The third pick of the 2013 NHL draft publicly asked for a trade in early January, and general manager Steve Yzerman may have his pick of offers to choose from.

"

I am hearing that @TBLightning have 5 offers that they are mulling over and intend to make a decision tomorrow on Jonathan Drouin. #lottery

— Brian Lawton (@brianlawton9) February 28, 2016"

Five teams have made offers to the Lightning, according to NHL Network analyst Brian Lawton.

Lawton also reported that the Ottawa Senators may be in the lead in the Drouin sweepstakes, having made the best offer for the speedy and potentially explosive Canadian.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Boston Bruins winger Loui Eriksson has been at the center of much of the trade talk in recent weeks because he will become a free agent on July 1. While the Bruins and Eriksson have been talking about a new contract, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that there remains enough of a gap between the two sides that a new deal is questionable at this point.

That leaves the Bruins with an issue. While they are within the playoff structure and Eriksson has played well (23 goals, 25 assists and eight goals on the power play), general manager Don Sweeney will have to decide whether to trade away one of the team's key players and potentially break up the line chemistry or keep him and then likely lose him for nothing during the free-agency signing period.

If Sweeney decides to part with Eriksson by the trade deadline, Friedman reported that the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are the teams that are most interested in his services.

Elsewhere, the Calgary Flames are on the outside of the playoffs and have little chance of rallying over the final weeks of the season to get into the postseason.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Defenseman Kris Russell is one of the their most vital assets, and TSN's Darren Dreger reported that Calgary management told Russell that he is likely to be traded. Russell has scored four goals and 11 assists this season.

The Bruins and the Washington Capitals are two of the teams that would have the most interest. The Bruins have needed a competent puck-carrying defenseman all season, while the Caps lost defenseman John Carlson to a lower-body injury, and he could be out at least three weeks, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

Teams are also targeting forward Alex Chiasson of the Ottawa Senators for a potential deadline-day trade, according to Dreger. Senators general manager Bryan Murray has taken calls on the 25-year-old winger. 

While Chiasson has just five goals and five assists this season, the 6'3", 208-pound forward remains a highly coveted prospect.