The story developing around this NHL storyline has been building for weeks, and people directly involved in the discussions say a resolution is now close.
Coaching staff have spent recent sessions reworking rotations, prioritising depth over a short bench that struggled in the closing minutes of tight games.
Rival executives view the situation as a rare chance to acquire proven production without surrendering the long-term flexibility they spent two seasons rebuilding.
Analytics staff point to a clear trend: efficiency in high-leverage moments has fallen sharply, and the underlying numbers suggest it is a structural issue rather than variance.
Whatever happens next, the decision will shape the next two seasons of this NHL roster and the market that follows it.