"We're five points out of the playoffs, with a team between us and 8th place," said the GM. "Add in two or three teams right behind us. The race is tight, and we have underperformed all season."

So, is that indicative of what they plan to do at the deadline? "We've made no decisions at this point. Each game either adds or substracts from the benefits. We'll see, and we'll let other team know soon."

While the Panthers could be buyers, or at the least stand pat, they do have some attractive pieces should teams come calling. Louis Leblanc could be one of the more sought after pending free agents as a rental. His 50 points are good for third in scoring on the Panthers. Defensemen David Rundblad and Erik Gudbranson would add depth to any playoff contender. Both are rated at 79 overall and add a veteran presence for a playoff run.

Time will tell, but we expect to see the Panthers shuffle some players at the deadline. If they lose tonight's game, we expect other teams to be notified that the Panthers are officially sellers.