The NHL Trade Deadline Looms

Once again it's almost the NHL Trade Deadline. Who is going to be traded??? Who is going to be sitting there on a crappy team after it's all said and done???

The guys on this list are, in my opinion, sure fire trades. Don't worry critics, I won't be 100% right. You'll have lots to chop up to throw back at me. ; )

Paul Kariya will be traded to the Vancouver Canucks. My guy there tells me both parties want this deal. Kariya retiring in Vancouver is what builds Stanley Cup stories. The Canucks need a story.

Kyle Turris wants to be traded and I'd expect the Coyotes to fulfill the wish. He's frustrated and he wants out.

Andrew Cogliano to the Coyotes is more than rumor. It's pretty real. The Oilers are just hesitant, but will be willing to deal before the deadline is up.

Keeping with the Oilers, the name Nathan Horton keeps going around the Oilers office. There has been interest there by the Oilers for a long time. With the Florida Panthers fire sale, is this the chance the Oilers were hoping for?

Ethan Moreau and Steve Staios will be traded before the NHL Deadline. The Oilers are adamant to get rid of them. Sheldon Souray and Lubomir Visnovsky are gaining interest, but the Oilers are asking a lot for either of them.

Dan Hamhuis will be traded by the Nashville Predators. No one is really sure where yet. He is getting a lot of interest. I'll keep you posted.

Aaron Ward to Boston is really getting serious. My friend is Boston tells me that they really want his "type" on the team for a playoff push.

Ray Whitney is on the move. Word has it he needs a new contract form the other team BEFORE he waives with the Hurricanes. He better not be a prima donna or he may not go anywhere.

Brooks Orpik has been linked to a number of teams over the Olympic break. But what I know is that the Black Hawks really want him for the playoffs. Can the deal get done?

Andy Sutton is most likely to be traded in the next 24 hours. I keep being told he's going to the Calgary Flames or the Colorado Avalanche. Let's see who the Islanders choose to deal with. **EDIT** Wrong. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators.

Dwayne Roloson is getting a huge pitch from former teammate Chris Pronger. It appears that Pronger is begging the Flyers to make a deal for Roloson. He says if your going to battle in the playoffs, you want Roloson to march along with you.

**EDIT** The Roloson to Flyers is real. When will it get done?

**EDIT** Slava Kozlov to the Bruins is also a real possibility. The Bruins have Marc Savard pitching for him.

**EDIT** Robert Lang to the Capitals may just get done today. A high to mid draft pick is what the Coyotes want.

**EDIT** Lubomir Visnovsky to the Boston Bruins is close to done. From what I heard, Brad Marchand and a 3rd round pick plus some salary to the Edmonton Oilers for Lubomir Visnovsky. The 3rd may turn into a 2nd round pick depending on how desperate Boston is for his services.

**EDIT** Sheldon Souray is rumored to be headed to the New York Rangers. Wade Redden is to be included in that deal. The Oilers don't want Redden.

**EDIT** Maxim Afinogenov will be on the move. It's not when, but where. I'm sure the Thrashers are not asking for a lot.

Today's Musings - Trades/Rumors/News

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Today was a interesting day. Here is what went on.

TRADE: Lethonen for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a 4th round draft pick. Waiting to see if it's true. (via @ajcthrashers) With this tweet, Eklund's Sources was the first to report it in full. Others were close, but we had the 4th round pick added to the deal before anyone else. Search the hashtag #Thrashers if you don't believe me.

- Getzlaf went and had an MRI done on his ankle. Speculation was running wild and I received some info stating that Steven Stamkos, Jeff Carter and Brad Richards are the 3 guys that are the "black aces" for Team Canada. I am told that Jeff Carter is the leading "black ace".  But from what I heard, Getzlaf may just be OK after all. Stay tuned "black aces".

- Jay Bouwmeester to the Penguins really has some legs. My guy in Pittsburgh says that they want a solid puck moving defenseman. JayBo fits that bill. I have also heard that if the Pens can't get JayBo, they will try and cut a deal for the Edmonton Oilers, Lubomir Visnovsky.

- I received this tip but I am not quite buying it. It sounds far fetched. I have been told the Pens are talking Mark Eaton, Ruslan Fedotenko and a 2nd rd pick for Flames Jay Bouwmeester. But Pens need more cap space.

- Then I was told the Calgary Flames would only want to part with Cory Sarich and that JayBo was not for sale.

- I have heard that Tuomo Ruutu from the Carolina Hurricanes is on the block. Not sure yet who wants him.

- From what I know, the Vancouver Canucks want another 2nd line forward and a 2nd pairing defenseman. Who are they looking at? I don't know.

- The more I hear Temmu Selanne's name... the more he's becoming a hot commodity. Saku Koivu, not so much. The Caps, Pens, Devils and the Sens all have interest in Selanne.

- I was also informed today that Kyle Turris wants to be traded. He's tired of wasting away in the AHL when he could be earning an NHL pay cheque on another team.

RANDOMS: Steve Ott to the Oilers, Carlo Colaiacovo to the Lightning, Flyers or Thrashers.


- STUPID RUMOR OF THE DAY: I was told this and almost peed in my pants from laughter. Steven Stamkos to the New York Islanders for a 1st round pick AND John Tavares. This will never happen in a million years.