In the next few days there's space for some further upside in the okhotsk and bering area, and barents as well starting from tomorrow. In one week time, though, major changes in the synoptic configuration could bring warmer air to the pacific side and barents as well, with the polar vortex more active on canada-newfoundland: a configuration which is especially negative for ice extension.
I agree that volumes and thickness are more important now than extension, which provide limited information on the overall condition of arctic ice.
In particular, it is interesting to note that so far winter has been warmer than usual on Hudson and Newfoundland, and colder than one year ago on CAA and Beaufort, when the gyre was very active.
Distribution of ice shows thicker ice in CAA, CAB and part of Beaufort and ESS, and thinner in Chuckchi. Thinner ice on Hudson as well. Overall, apparently, a more favourable distribution of ice thickness compared to one year ago, even though transport from the Fram seems to be much more relevant this year.
As usual, only time will tell.