Defense spending ramped up around the NHL on Wednesday, with the blue line the focus of trades as the deadline approaches.

The Utah Mammoth made a splash by getting defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from Calgary for three second-round picks in the draft this year, Olli Maatta and unsigned prospect Jonathan Castagna.

Weegar, 32, gives the Mammoth an experienced player capable of playing big minutes as they attempt to get into the playoffs in the Western Conference. He had to waive his full no-trade clause to approve the deal and bet on Utah as a long-term home, since he’s under contract through 2031 at an annual salary cap hit of $6.25 million.

While Utah is looking to make the playoffs in the franchise’s second season in Salt Lake City, the top of the Central Division also keeps getting stronger.

The Dallas Stars got defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-rounder. Vancouver is retaining half of Myers’ $3 million salary for the remainder of this season and next, meaning the Stars get him at a modest $1.5 million hit for two possible playoff runs.

Myers is 6-foot-8 and in his 17th season in the league at age 36. He waived his full no-trade clause to facilitate the move.

The Stars were looking to add depth to their blue line and could also still add up front before the trade deadline on Friday. Myers joins a group on the back end led by Miro Heiskanen that also includes Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley.

Minnesota, likely Dallas’ first-round opponent, made a trade for bottom-six center Michael McCarron on Tuesday night. Colorado, which sits atop the Central, the West and the NHL, shored up its defense depth by getting Nick Blankenburg from Nashville for a fifth-round pick in 2027.

Two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida is now in that mode after losing three in a row in regulation, and the signing Wednesday of journeyman goaltender Louis Domingue may or may not signal the Panthers’ intentions. Sergei Bobrovsky, who has backstopped them to the back-to-back titles and three consecutive trips to the final and twice won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie, is unsigned beyond this season.