Teams ready to deal as trade deadline approaches

VANCOUVER: In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's NHL trade deadline, there has been a lot of talk and not much action.

That is expected to change when general managers engage in some furious wheeling and dealing in the last hours before the trading window closes at 1500 ET on Tuesday.

With 14 of the league's 30 teams within eight points of the playoff spots, the line between buyers and sellers is not as a clear as in previous seasons.

That uncertainty has brought more than the usual amount of buzz to a day that hockey-mad Canadians will monitor closely, with all three of the country's sports networks devoting an entire day of programming to the event.

"The calls are slowly starting to come in now from general managers basically saying we're on the bubble," Ken Holland, general manager of the NHL's top team the Detroit Red Wings, told reporters. "If you look at last year's trade deadline there were some steep prices.

"We're three years into the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and we're starting to get a real feel that developing the back end of your roster has to be done with cheaper players.

"If you don't have those players through the draft, where do you get them?

"I think teams are going to have to make harder decisions about trading first-round picks and real good prospects.

"On the flip side, when you get a legitimate chance to go on a long playoff run, it's hard not to spend some assets."

Marketing place ripe

While there has been little dealing, the marketplace has been ripe with speculation with some of the sport's big names being shopped around.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and with little hope of a playoff run, team management has been contemplating parting with long-time captain Mats Sundin.

But the big Swede has a no-trade clause in his contract and exercized it on Monday, informing the team he would remain a Maple Leaf.

With Sundin off the market, many teams will concentrate their efforts and dollars on Atlanta Thrashers' Marian Hossa.

The Thrashers are desperately trying to re-sign the right-winger to a long-term deal but will trade their second leading scorer rather than lose him to free agency next season and get nothing in return.

Calgary Flames sniper Alex Tanguay, Florida Panthers' Olli Jokinen and Tampa Bay Lightning's Brad Richards and his $7.8 million annual salary are all expected to find new homes before Tuesday's deadline.

Other teams will look to shore up their blueline for a Stanley Cup run, with defensemen Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres and the Lightning's Dan Boyle generating the most interest.

The Maple Leafs' Bryan McCabe has told manager Cliff Fletcher he will waive his no-movement clause if the move is in his best interest, while Los Angeles Kings former Norris Trophy winner Rob Blake would provide the type of poised veteran blueline presence teams covet.

Agencies

(China Daily 02/27/2008 page24)