Write Your Own Playoff Chase-Trade Deadline Story

If you love Build-A-Bear workshop, hotel custom breakfast omelette stations, and grocery self-checkout, now you can do the same for hockey sports writing.

For a limited time - until the March 8 NHL trade deadline - mix and match these player, coach, and pundit catch-phrases to build your own trade and playoff race stories.

Or, use them to fill out your own playoff chase, trade deadline bingo card. I'm sure you've got favorites I've overlooked. Anyway, let's get started!

Playoff Race

"We can only control the things we can control."

"We control our own destiny."

"It's a must-win game."

"It's a four-point game."

"It was a three-point game."

"Every game is like a playoff game."

"Every game is a tough game in this league."

"As a competitor, you love this time of year."

"_________ have the first tie-breaker."

"It's scoreboard-watching season."

"We're taking it one game at a time."

Trade Deadline

"Should ________ be buyers or sellers?"

"Top trade targets for _________."

"The asking price is too high."

"He's a playoff player."

"We're only _________ points out of a playoff spot."

"We were in on _________ until the last minute."

"Retaining salary."

"Tight against the cap."

"An opportunity to look at our young players."

"Good depth acquisition."

"Stockpiling draft picks."

"No movement clause."

"A mystery team is involved"

"That would be an overpay."

"________ was a healthy scratch."

"________ getting a chance to win a Stanley Cup."