Here's a look at some of the chatter around the NHL as we countdown to the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline. We'll try to do this most mornings between now and the deadline.

BOSTON BRUINS

If the Bruins did indeed have a puck-moving defenseman and a veteran center on their list of needs, then GM Peter Chiarelli might be almost done shopping. He acquired the center yesterday, picking up Chris Kelly for a second-round pick. There were also numerous reports about him being in talks with Toronto GM Brian Burke about Tomas Kaberle. Burke told a Boston radio station that he and Chiarelli are talking but didn't name players involved.

Kaberle has a no-trade clause, but his comments to reporters after the Leafs' win against Boston last night implied he'd waive it for a move to Beantown.

"I would think so," Kaberle said when asked if Boston was a good place to be if he does get traded. "Obviously they have a pretty good team, good goaltenders. I've played a lot of games against them and it is always tough and they're always tough to beat. We'll see what is going to happen."

Chiarelli says his management staff is tracking nine trade targets on defense. Kevin Paul DuPont of the Boston Globe believes that Kaberle is one, with Atlanta's Ron Hainsey and Zach Bogosian and Ottawa's Chris Philips also on the list. Kaberle makes a lot of sense for the Bruins, who are looking for an offensive-minded guy who can help the power play.

The compensation for Kaberle could be interesting. Paul Dupont writes a deal is "likely to include Boston’s own first-round pick in this year’s draft." There is little chance Toronto's first-rounder from the Phil Kessel deal would be involved, but Burke might not be willing to settle for a late first-round pick.

Boston still has a No. 2 in the 2011 draft, courtest of a trade with Minnesota for Chuck Kobasew two years ago. The Bruins, as detailed on this blog, are flush with high-end prospects.

Kelly cost the Bruins their own No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. It was a high price to pay for a No. 3 center, but the Bruins have the assets and Kelly brings some much-needed depth and playoff experience. While Boston is loaded with talent at the position, Fluto Shinzawa points out why it was an area of need.

"Even before [Marc] Savard suffered his latest concussion, the Bruins had been dissatisfied with their performance up the middle," Shinzawa writes. "Bergeron has been carrying the offense between Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi. Gregory Campbell has filled the club’s needs on the fourth line. But Savard hadn’t found his offensive tempo before his injury. [David] Krejci has been inconsistent all season. For the most part, [Tyler] Seguin has looked every bit the teenager he is. The team gave Blake Wheeler several looks at center, but he hasn’t given them the presence they’re seeking."

"In Kelly, the Bruins now have a veteran they’ll need if they are serious about a deep postseason run."

CAROLINA HURRICANES

The Hurricanes have shrugged off a slow start in the first half of the season to chase down Atlanta for the eighth spot on the Eastern Conference. Still, Carolina has to hold off both the Thrashers and the surging Buffalo Sabres, who are two points back and have two games in hand on the Hurricanes, if the Canes are going to return to the postseason after missing out last year.

Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer talked to team owner Peter Karmonos about the trade deadline. Karmonos told Alexander that GM Jim Rutherford has been authorized to add payroll if needed to help the club make the playoffs.

"Jim can do whatever he feels he needs to do to improve the team," Karmanos said. "We've worked together for 25 years, and he knows how I feel. Right now, the question would be who would you replace in our lineup? Another is, who's available? We're trying to figure all that out."

The Hurricanes have two established stars in Eric Staal and Cam Ward, and a host of young players moving into greater roles behind them. Carolina could probably use a veteran at both forward and defense to bolster the team's depth as crunch time nears. Rutherford has a track record of being willing to deal at this time of year, so don't be surprised to see the Hurricanes make an addition (or two) in the next two weeks.


DALLAS STARS

Yesterday it was the Colorado Avalanche as the "team in crisis" in the Western Conference. Today, it is the Dallas Stars. Dallas was one of the NHL's top stories of the season for a couple of months, forging a lead in the Pacific Division and challenging for the No. 2 seed in the West. Now, the Stars are without Brad Richards and have lost 8 of their past 10 games -- including a 4-1 defeat at last-place Edmonton last night.

"They didn’t lack in want-to, they lacked in composure," writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. "They were overwhelmed by the pressure of the situation. Needing points to stay in the playoff race, needing positive momentum heading into death trap games in Calgary and Vancouver, the Stars simply fell apart."

Dallas is now perilously close to being engulfed by the swarm of tightly-knit teams behind them. The Stars sit fifth in the West, which is really a four-way tie for the Nos. 4-7 spots. Eighth-place Calgary is two points back, and a postseason-less Spring is three points away.

For much of the first half of this season, Richards was the UFA trade bait rumor du jour. When Dallas established itself as a contender in the West, that speculation went away. If the Stars keep losing, expect it to return.

"If the Dallas Stars stay in free-fall they have to trade their UFA Brad Richards if his blow to head vs Jackets is minor, don't they?" writes Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson on Twitter.

Richards could very well become the Jay Bouwmeester of this year's trade deadline. Florida faced the "should they or shouldn't they" trade Bouwmeester decision two seasons ago, and the Stars as an organization face similar pros and cons about trading Richards.

Dallas is an organization that could greatly benefit from a playoff run, both in galvanizing the fan base and the financial windfall that comes from it. Florida desperately needed to make the playoffs, so the Panthers held on to Bouwmeester. Will the Stars do the same, or will they look to add assets for the future? Richards would be the best player on the market -- and there are several contenders who are almost certain to get into a bidding war for his services.

Teams can rise and fall quickly in the middle of the Western Conference, and the Los Angeles Kings have been a great example of that. The Kings are on the upswing after sweeping East contenders Washington and Philadelphia on back-to-back days and are now on a 7-0-2 run.

Los Angeles is currently in 10th place in the West, tied with Minnesota at 65 points but only one shy of the top eight and four back of Phoenix for the No. 3 spot. The Kings are also, like St. Louis and Columbus, a franchise that has been trying rebuild with youth and establish a group that contend for years to come.

It makes for an interesting dilemma for Kings GM Dean Lombardi, who wants to help his club reach the playoffs but also doesn't want to sacrfice building for the future. Lombardi said in an interview on NHL Network that his team's recent success hasn't altered his plan for the next two weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

"No -- so many parts of this plan are coming together -- even in the summer you gauge how certain players are going to perform and I think in most cases, although maybe some of young players took a little stumble before they got back on their feet, that our projections are we are where we thought we'd be and what we need," Lombardi said. "We'll continue to look for it.

Lombardi's Kings were one of the two finalists in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes, but trying to match New Jersey's creative deal, which endup being 15 years and $100 million, was not something he wanted to pursue.

"I don't think we look back on that because that deal never made sense for us," Lombardi said. "Part of putting this team together is a process and you've got to think not only about what is right in front of you but what's down the road. We have a very strong nucleus that is starting to come together. It needs time to mature, but we want to keep it together. It was one thing to go out and acquire a player prior to the [salary] cap, but you start doing things like that [now] and you're setting yourself up to create a huge hole later. Quite frankly that made zero sense for us the way it came out."

The Kings did eventually add Marco Sturm in a trade with Boston, but offense -- and in particular an impact forward -- remains on the wish list in Los Angeles. Lombardi's team was the one most-often linked to Jarome Iginla, though interim GM Jay Feaster has said he didn't talk to anyone about his captain. Expect the Kings to mentioned when other potential impact forwards are rumored to be on the move in the next two weeks.

"That was something we felt we needed to upgrade," Lombardi said. "We felt coming into the year that we'd be one of the best defensive teams in the League, which we are if you look at our goals against. Yeah, we'd like to increase our 5-on-5 scoring, but not at the expense of eventually having to blow this thing up because we went out and did something extreme."

Here's a look at some of the chatter around the NHL as we countdown to the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline. We'll try to do this most mornings between now and the deadline.

BOSTON BRUINS

While the Bruins continue to set the pace in the Northeast Division, back-to-back losses to the Detroit Red Wings has their credentials as a Cup contender feeling a little flimsy. Boston has a deep and talented roster, but an addition or two is probably needed for the Bruins to be considered among the top contenders for a Cup run.

"For us, we looked at it as a bit of a measuring stick, and obviously we didn't do very well," coach Claude Julien said to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald.

Expect the Bruins to be active in the next two weeks, and they have cap space (because of Marc Savard's injury) and assets to deal. Boston's top prospects are among the League's best, but the Bruins also have prospect depth and two first- and two second-round picks in the 2011 draft to work with. GM Peter Chiarelli made news by saying he'd move Toronto's first-round pick (likely a top 5-8 selection), but his own 1st rounder or the two No. 2s might be more likely.

Clearly, the Bruins are close to being a prime contender for the Cup, and as Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe writes, now is a good time to make a push in the Eastern Conference.

"With Pittsburgh shorthanded following injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and Washington off its points-producing pace of last season, the Bruins could challenge Philadelphia, the East’s top club, with additions at center and defense," Shinzawa wrote.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

There is no NHL franchise reeling more this morning than the Avalanche. The club has lost eight straight games -- a record in the Denver era. Colorado lost by eight goals last night -- also a record in the post-Quebec portion of the franchise's history. The hope that came with Peter Forsberg's return is now gone after his retirement.

The Avalanche are now firmly in 14th place in the Western Conference. The pack of teams competing for the final five spots in the playoffs has moved forward without them. Colorado is 10 points back of eighth place with 25 games to play. To say the team's chances of making the playoffs are slim to none is not an exaggeration at this point.

This could mean it is time to consider the Avalanche as potential sellers and GM Greg Sherman has some assets to move if that is the case. First and foremost among them is forward Milan Hejduk. Pendings UFAs who can be impact forwards are few and far between this season, so Sherman could have several suitors for Hejduk if he ends up being available. Defenseman Adam Foote is also a pending UFA but not likely to bring as much of a return. Both players have no-trade clauses (Hejduk's is a no-move) that would have to be waived.

Given that Colorado was in contention for a top-four spot in the West before this collapse, and how the franchise has been rebuilt with elite young players such as Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Kevin Shattenkirk, it is hard to believe that Sherman would "blow it up" and move other guys with years still left on their contracts. John-Michael Liles, another guy with a no-trade clause (though it is limited), would probably attract a nice return. He has one year left on his contract with a $4.2 million cap hit, but the Avalanche are already thin on defense and that would leave another big hole to fill in the offseason.

NEW YORK RANGERS

The Rangers have done an admirable job of staying among the top five-seven teams of the Eastern Conference despite a rash of injuries. A big reason for their buoyancy has been the play of the team's young players like Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello and Marc Staal.

New York hasn't been an organization known for showing patience, but Arthur Staple of Newsday writes that GM Glen Sather may be willing to do so this month.

"I think we can compete," Sather told Staple. "It doesn't mean we're going to do anything [at the deadline] or not do anything. The whole goal this season has been to keep these young guys going as well as they can, to create a team that takes some ownership in itself. It took us a while to get to that stage, but we're getting there."

If Sather does look to make a move, a veteran defenseman to put with his young corps could be a beneficial move. From Sather's comments, it doesn't sound like he's going to be willing to pay a big price to do so.

Here's a look at some of the chatter around the NHL as we countdown to the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline. We'll try to do this most mornings between now and the deadline.

CALGARY FLAMES

The number of teams that look like potential sellers in the Western Conference has decreased to maybe just one, and the Flames are a big part of that. Once looking like the Ottawa of the of the West (expensive veteran roster but languishing at the bottom of the standings), the Flames have shot into the top eight of the conference by winning 14 of 21 games.

Suddenly there isn’t nearly as much talk of players being shipped out from the Red Mile, and said players are happy about that.


"It's nice to not have to hear as many [rumors]," captain Jarome Iginla told Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald. "Literally, I think everybody’s name was in one at one time or another this year, so that's been a pretty nice change."

Should Calgary continue this run of good form, there could be more rumors involving the Flames but they will likely involve players coming instead of going.

“Everyone’s doing their part, and that’s the most important thing,” Sutter told the Herald. “What transpires from here till the deadline is out of everyone’s hands. We just have to play - and play well - and let’s see where we're at then. But I like the way our team’s playing, I like our hockey team. I like the way our team is being a team.”

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Michal Frolik hasn’t scored in 23 games, but it says here that he will be an upgrade for the Blackhawks and could thrive if he gets to skate with some of Chicago’s elite forwards. That said, will Chicago keep looking to upgrade its roster considering the Blackhawks remain in 11th place in the West and three points shy of the Flames?

‘‘We’re not going to shy away from making another trade if it’s there to be made,” Chicago GM Stan Bowman told Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s tough to make things happen. We’re pursuing it daily. We have a lot of conversations, and we’re not going to stop trying to make something happen.’’

If Chicago is going to make another move, remember the Blackhawks are pretty tight against the cap so don’t be surprised if another roster player has to be moved out to make such a transaction work. Also don’t be surprised if the guy coming in is a defenseman.

OTTAWA SENATORS

In case it wasn’t clear given their place in the Eastern Conference standings or from GM Bryan Murray’s previous comments, the Senators began the rebuilding process yesterday by trading Mike Fisher to Nashville. Getting a first-round pick for a second-line center is a quality return, and if the Predators make a run in this year’s playoffs the Senators will collect an extra pick for 2012 as well.

Murray made it pretty clear while addressing the media following the Fisher deal that it won’t be the last this month.

“There will be some deals,” Murray told reporters. “I don’t know how many, I don’t even pretend to know that, but there will be more deals. If we’re going to … follow our plan that we’ve outlined going forward, we have to make room for some people. We’re obviously going to acquire draft picks if we can and give ourselves a chance to pick as high as we can in this year’s draft and get good assets for the organization.”

The attention will now turn to other veterans on the Ottawa roster. Jason Spezza told Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen that Murray has not approached him about waiving his no-trade clause. It would probably be tough for Murray to find a taker for Spezza’s contract.

“No, I want to be part of the solution here,” Spezza said to Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun. “I feel this team has a lot more potential than we’re showing. We have a chance to make a quick turnaround here. I don’t think it’s going to be a long rebuilding process. We have good pieces in place, we just haven’t shown it. I think I can be a big help to turn this thing around and maybe take a little more responsibility on myself. Definitely, my thoughts right now going forward are really trying to fix this and trying to make us a better team.”

Defenseman Chris Phillips has been a popular name among potential trade targets, but he has a no-movement clause and could decide he doesn’t want to leave.

“I have talked to [Phillips] about what he would like to have happen for him, but Chris has not come back to me,” Murray told Bruce Garrioch of the Sun. “The door is open, ‘Come in and tell me what you want me to do and what you would like to do.’ I think he wants to stay in Ottawa. I’m not quite sure how that will work.”

Phillips is an unrestricted free agent and the type of veteran defense-first defenseman that contending teams covet at this time of year. Considering how many defenseman were traded for second-round picks last year at the deadline, that’s probably a good place to start when thinking of potential compensation for Phillips if he does agree to a move.

Teams are going to be making some very important decisions in the next couple of weeks, and the current roster will obviously have an impact on what areas clubs look to address via trades.

The wrinkle can often be the return of injured players. There are lots of injured players out there right now, and the expected return date for some of them could have a big impact on certain teams and their activities this month. With that in mind, here's a look at a couple of groups of injured players.

The first group is guys who have been out for most or all of the season but have returned recently or expected back soon. These guys will be treated "like a trade acquisition" by some team officials/media members. The second group is guys who have been impact players this year but are hurt now.

GROUP I: "LIKE MAKING A TRADE"

*Vinny Prospal, New York Rangers

Prospal missed the first 53 games of the season because of a knee injury, but returned Feb. 3. The Rangers need a veteran defenseman, but how the soon-to-be 36-year-old responds to coming off major knee surgery could determine if GM Glen Sather is in the market for another forward as well. The Rangers have overcome a lot of injuries up front, but Prospal was a key guy for them last year and if he's productive that would be a huge boost to their chances of making a deep playoff run.

*Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks

Salo has yet to play this season because of a torn Achilles' tendon, but he is very close to being back. Salo is expected to be in the lineup Saturday, and the Canucks' defense corps can certainly use him. Alex Edler and Keith Ballard are injured and Dan Hamhuis was smarting after a hit from Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf last night. When (if) they all get healthy, the Canucks are going to face a cap crunch, but for now Salo could be the addition the team needs on defense.

*Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche

OK, Forsberg hasn't been a member of Colorado's organization, but his foot earns him a spot on this list because he'd have been playing in the NHL if not for the chronic problem. The Avalanche have slumped to 14th in the West, so maybe Forsberg's return will spark the club back into playoff contention. If the team keeps losing and he plays well, maybe Forsberg would be willing to move to a contender. There certainly will be a lot of eyes watching Forsberg when he returns in the coming days.

*Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks

Emery is in the same group as Forsberg -- his hip has kept him out of the NHL but now he's healthy enough to try a comeback. He'll start the comeback in Syracuse with Anaheim's AHL affiliate, but he could end up as the No. 2 guy for the Ducks and is insurance for Jonas Hiller. That leaves one less team in the market for a goaltender, even if Anaheim wasn't going to be looking for a potential No. 1.

*Marek Zidlicky/Guillaume Latendresse, Minnesota Wild

These guys should be in Group II, but Wild GM Chuck Fletcher used the "like making a trade" phrase to describe their pending returns. Zidlicky has been out since December with a shoulder injury but has returned to practice. Lantendresse had sports hernia surgery in November and could be back in early March. Zidlicky would be a big boost and Latendresse would give the Wild more depth up front. Whether or not it keeps Fletcher from making a trade to improve the club remains to be seen.

GROUP II: IMPACT GUYS MISSING

*Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

His concussion is the most talked-about injury in the League. He said earlier today he expects to play again this season. The Penguins are already short one superstar center in Evgeni Malkin. If Crosby were to be shut down, would it be worth trying to replace both of them? If he is going to come back, expect GM Ray Shero to try and replace Malkin with a forward or two and keep the Penguins among the top Cup contenders.

*Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers are trying to hold onto a playoff spot in the East but doing so without their top defenseman (ice time) has been difficult. He's out with a broken finger, but he's close to returning after taking part in practice Wednesday. GM Rick Dudley has not been shy about his desire to make a trade. Getting a healthy Enstrom back might make it easier for him to focus on the team's problems up front.

*Brad Stuart, Detroit Red Wings

Stuart could be back by the end of the month from a broken jaw. Detroit just welcomed back Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom from injuries, and GM Ken Holland will have to decide if there is a cheap way to upgrade his team if he needs more depth on defense or if a goaltender with Chris Osgood out remains a priority.

*Tom Poti, Washington Capitals

Poti has had all kinds of problems staying healthy this season and has been limited to 21 games. He could be close to coming back from the latest lower-body ailment, but if GM George McPhee is worried about not being to keep Poti healthy (and if he doesn't spend all of his cap space on a center) it is possible the Capitals could look for a cheap veteran defenseman for insurance. Mike Green could play on Saturday, but if his head injury is worse than currently thought, then that could change things drastically in Washington.

*Mike Cammalleri, Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens are deeper up front this season than they were last year when Cammalleri carried the offense two a pair of playoff upsets. That said, he and Tomas Plekanec remain Montreal's top offensive players and the Canadiens will need him back in short order. Don't be surprised if Montreal is linked to a forward in the next couple weeks, even if adding a defenseman is probably the top priority.

*Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay Lightning

Malone has not scored at the rate expected of him this season, but he remains a key secondary guy behind the big guns in Tampa. The final diagnosis has not been delivered, but Erik Erlendsson reported he could miss 6-8 weeks with a torn abdominal muscle. Count the Lightning as another team that could be interested in adding a forward even with upgrading the defense as the biggest priority.

Here's a look at some of the chatter around the NHL as we countdown to the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Despite a loss to scorching hot San Jose last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets remain on the fringe of the postseason chase with 57 points -- good for 12th place in the West and six back of eighth-place Calgary. The big question for the Blue Jackets is what direction to go in the next couple of weeks.

Do the Jackets try to add and make a push for the 8th spot, or do they try to sell and get ready for next year?

"The players decide if the team is good enough," Columbus GM Scott Howson told Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch. "Right now, we're showing signs of climbing back in. If we can do a deal that makes sense for the team, we're going to do it."

One of the problems for Columbus is the lack of postseason trips in its brief franchise history. The Blue Jackets have only been to the NHL's spring dance once, and like a couple of their expansion brethern (Nashville and Atlanta) have not advanced to the second round. Getting more fans back to Nationwide Arena is critical, and this is the tough decision teams like this have had to make -- does a playoff appearance do more to help the franchise in that area or would trying to rebuild some more to be a contender in future years?

"The team, as constructed, is neither the 14-6 team of the autumn or the 6-14-4 team of the dark holiday season nor the 6-3-2 team of midwinter," Arace writes. "It is a team which, this morning, is three games over .500 and below the playoff bar. It is not good enough."

Should the Blue Jackets decide to sell, Howson has several interesting assets. Pending UFAs defenseman Jan Hejda and goalie Mathieu Garon could draw interest if Howson doesn't want to drasticly alter the makeup of his roster for next season.

EDMONTON OILERS

There are 14 teams in the West that still fancy themselves as a playoff contender, but the Edmonton Oilers are the one club that is clearly not. Still, Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini told the Edmonton Journal this deadline already has a different feel than last year's when he dealt Denis Grebeshkov, Lubomir Visnovsky and Steve Staios.

"This year there’s not the pressure to move players in order to make room. We have enough room for our young players," Tambellini said to the Journal. "But I'm approaching this as I have other deadlines — where I am wide open to listening to ideas of how other teams can help make us a better team now, and maybe importantly, in the future."

Jim Vandermeer is the team's top pending UFA, and could be one of those depth defenseman that about half the League goes looking for around this time of year. There continues to be lots of speculation about Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky, who both have one year left on their contracts.

Tambellini didn't have much to say about his pair of potentially coveted forwards, but it sounds like he is open to a variety of different options with trade proposals between now and the end of the month.

"There's a lot of different scenarios that will come across the desk in the next couple of weeks and if it's younger, great," Tambellini said to the Journal. "If it's something that makes sense as far as a veteran, we'll look at that, too. We'll make a deal if it's good for the Oilers moving forward. If not, we’re very comfortable with where we're at. We have young players in young positions, we have good veterans playing hard in their positions and contributing from a leadership perspective.”

FLORIDA PANTHERS

The Panthers are another team like the trio mentioned about with no recent playoff success, and their need for better attendance is probably even greater. Florida dealt Michal Frolik, one of the team's top forwards in recent seasons and a guy who will turn 23 years old next week, to Chicago yesterday along with goalie prospect Alexander Salak for Jack Skille, prospect David Pacan and former prospect Hugh Jessiman.

Assistant general manager Mike Santos told reporters in South Florida that this deal doesn't mean the Panthers will be sellers in the coming days.

"I think we’re buyers. Skille’s a known quality," Santos told the Miami Herald. "He might not have played as many games as Frolik in the league, but he was with an organization pretty deep in forward."

Frolik hadn't scored a goal in 23 games and had dropped to the fourth line at times for Florida. Skille, like Frolik, was a high first-round pick but hasn't been able to secure a greater role with the Blackhawks.

"We saw the upside [with Frolik], but in the last 10 to 12 games we're getting outhit badly, so we needed a more physical presence up front," Santos told the Sun-Sentinel. "We traded one guy with 8 goals for another with 7 goals, but he really brings that element we need, more physicality who's harder to play against."

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Any mention of the Capitals during the next two weeks will center (pun intended) around the team's need for an upgrade in the middle. Sure, there will be speculation about the Capitals being interested in a veteran goaltender, but unless there is an injury or GM George McPhee has a drastic shift in his assessment of Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, Washington is not going to be adding a potential No. 1 goalie this month.

That leaves us with the hole in the middle. Rookies Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault have now played a combined 70 games this season. Almost all of them were as the two centers that joined Nicklas Backstrom to form the team's top 3 in the middle. Johansson and Perreault have combined for 13 goals and 12 assists - not terrible numbers for one center on a contender but as the No. 2/3 combo it is pretty ghastly.

"Both have shown promise this season. Both also have been prone to bouts of ineffectiveness as they adjust to full-time roles in the NHL," writes Brian McNally of the Washington Examiner.

At this point it certainly looks like it will be a seller's market at center. There aren't a lot of obvious, impact guys available at the position and several contenders in the East, namely Washington, Pittsburgh, New York and Boston, could all be looking for one in the coming weeks.

Parity in the NHL will go a long way towards shaping the direction of clubs in the next couple of weeks, but injuries may play just as big a part or more.

Today has been a busy day for injury updates around the League, and some key players could have a big impact on the next couple of weeks. Here's a look at the news from the day (we'll have a larger, wide-ranging post about injuries and guys returning from them tomorrow):

* Pittsburgh confirmed what might have been the inevitable -- Evgeni Malkin will need surgery on his knee and is done for the season. This also confirms the Penguins' move toward the top of the list among the buyers in the NHL. Provided they are confident Sidney Crosby will be back soon from a concussion, look for GM Ray Shero to go hunting for a forward (or two) to try and replace Malkin's production. A center would be ideal, but given the team's lack of depth on the wing a Crosby-Jordan Staal-Mark Letestu trio down the middle could work with an extra scoring wing or two.

* Top goalie prospect Jacob Markstrom of the Florida Panthers might need knee surgery. Tomas Vokoun is a pending UFA and could be the best player on the market if GM Dale Tallon chooses to make him available. The thinking behind moving Vokoun is Markstrom, currently in the AHL after a couple of standout seasons in Sweden, would be able to step in as the No. 1 guy next season. If Markstrom's injury is serious, does that make Tallon reconsider moving Vokoun? The guess here is probably not - if there are a few teams interested in Vokoun the return could be big, and if Markstrom wasn't ready to be the starter next season, either because of injury or performance, there are always placeholders available for cheap at that position.

* Calgary forward Alex Tanguay is out indefinitely with a concussion. The Flames have stormed into the top eight of the Western Conference, but losing Tanguay (14 goals, 42 points) for an extended period of time could derail what isn't exactly a deep Calgary offense. Will the injury push GM Jay Feaster to make a move to help his team, or would a few losses without Tanguay have him thinking of going in the other direction?

* Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson is out indefinitely with a lower back injury. He hopes it won't be more than two weeks. Clearly GM Bryan Murray is going to be in sell mode in the next couple of weeks. Alfredsson was unlikely to be dealt, but this would seem to make it even less likely if teams were at all worried about his back being a problem during the stretch run or the postseason.

* Vancouver defenseman Keith Ballard and New York Rangers captain Chris Drury are also out with knee injuries. Ballard is expected to miss 3-4 weeks while Drury will be on the shelf for six weeks. The Rangers' cap situation with Drury out doesn't change much, but the team's need for a center could be increased. The Canucks are dangerously close to be in a very precarious situation on the blue line. Alex Edler is already out because of back surgery. Sami Salo could be back this weekend from a torn Achilles' tendon and rookie Chris Tanev has been a welcome surprise as a fill-in. where the Canucks go with their tight cap situation could depend a lot on how close Ballard is to coming back as the deadline nears and how Salo performs. 

Where does each team stand as the trade deadline approaches? Let's take a look around the League, one division at a time, and try to decipher which direction the teams might be leaning as the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 28 approaches. Next up is the Central Division, which features one of the favorites to win the title, one team trying to defend it and three teams with budget and long-term implications that could affect what they do this month.

DETROIT RED WINGS (31-14-6, 68 points)

The Red Wings are missing a bunch of key players, and getting everyone back to good health would make their lineup look a lot more formidable. Detroit GM Ken Holland also won't have a lot of cap space to work if everyone comes back.

Holland tried to add Evgeni Nabokov but that didn't work out. He could still be in the market for goaltending depth, but beyond that there aren't a lot of needs for a healthy Red Wings team, which would rival Vancouver in terms of talent and depth. Verdict: STANDING PAT

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (27-18-7, 61 points)

The Predators have also had their fair share of injuries, and they probably can't count on top center Matthew Lombardi returning. Steve Sullivan and Marek Svatos should be back soon, and they will help the offense. Still, more guys who can score goals would not be unwelcome for this team.

There are plenty of prospects and picks at GM David Poile's disposal -- the question will be how much, if any, salary can he add in a deal. He'll be looking to do something. Verdict: BUYERS

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (27-21-4, 58 points)

The Blackhawks, barring a serious injury, aren't going to have much more than about $1 million in space to play with this month. Chicago also doesn't have a definitive need. Corey Crawford has solidified the situation in goal, and there is elite talent (combined with youth and/or depth concerns) at forward and on defense.

Maybe there is a way for GM Stan Bowman to be creative and upgrade a spot by dealing one of his roster players for a guy who makes similar money. Verdict: STANDING PAT

ST. LOUIS BLUES (23-20-7, 53 points)

The Blues have slumped towards the bottom of the West, but have played the fewest games in the conference and sit six points back of eighth place with three games in hand. They are going to have to get hot this month to convince management of their credentials as a playoff contender.

St. Louis is another franchise that could use a trip to the playoffs to help re-establish its place in the market, but the Blues are also a young team and GM Doug Armstrong isn't likely to sacrifice any of the team's key young assets just to reach the back end of the top eight. If the Blues remain stuck behind the pack, pending UFA Eric Brewer could provide some help on defense to a contender. Verdict: SELLERS

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (24-22-5, 53 points)

The Blue Jackets have collected a young core of high draft picks, but the next step (i.e. being a consistent postseason contender) hasn't materialized. TSN's Darren Dreger reporterd goalie Steve Mason and forward Jakub Voracek could be available in a trade.

That's not a young team trying to sell veterans -- that's a team looking to tinker with its foundation. Defenseman Jan Hejda is a more traditional pending UFA who could be moved if the Blue Jackets do decide to remodel. Verdict: SELLERS

Where does each team stand as the trade deadline approaches? Let's take a look around the League, one division at a time, and try to decipher which direction the teams might be leaning as the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 28 approaches. Next up is the Southeast Division, which features four of the top nine teams in the Eastern Conference ... and the most intriguing team to watch this month in the NHL.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (32-15-5, 69 points)

The Lightning have already made one big move, adding goaltender Dwayne Roloson. There is also plenty of positive momentum for hockey on the Gulf Coast side of Florida. Fans are starting to show up at St. Pete Times Forum in big numbers again, and the club is doing a week's worth of events including new uniforms and arena renevations.

As currently constituted, the Lightning could be a dangerous team in the playoffs and have plenty of cap space to make more improvements. Will the new owners allow GM Steve Yzerman the financial leeway to make another move or two? Other top teams in the East are probably hoping the answer is no. Tampa Bay could be a top-four defenseman away from being really scary this spring. Verdict: BUYERS

WASHINGTON CAPITALS (27-15-10, 64 points)

If the Capitals have three needs, they are: 1) a No. 2 center, 2) a guy to center the second line and 3) someone to play in the middle of the line that comes after the first one. Is there another team that has one clear, definitive need like the Capitals?

Rookies Mathieu Perreault and Marcus Johansson have combined to play 64 games, most of them as the team's No. 2 and 3 centers, and have a total of 10 assists. That's a bad number for any team's No. 3 center, let alone the 2/3 combo. Perreault's wildly inconsistent production can't be counted on in the postseason, though the hope is Johansson will be OK as the No. 3 guy behind Backstrom and another veteran after a full season of NHL seasoning. There is cap room for GM George McPhee to add the No. 2 center this team has been searching for two years since Sergei Fedorov left. Verdict: BUYERS

ATLANTA THRASHERS (24-21-9, 57 points)

Well, the Thrashers are in freefall mode, having lost 9 of 11 games and GM Rick Dudley has already made his intentions clear. He wants to add two forwards and a defenseman if the current group doesn't provide some answers in short order.

Count the Thrashers among the teams that we're not sure how much money they can add despite having plenty of cap space. Atlanta could use a top-six forward, but the Thrashers need a shakeup of any kind. Maybe a veteran with Cup-winning experience would inject some renewed confidence? Remember, this franchise is trying to find some fans in that market and has never won a playoff game. Have to imagine Dudley is going to do something. Verdict: BUYERS

CAROLINA HURRICANES (25-21-6, 56 points)

The Hurricanes surged back to the brink of the top eight in the Eastern Conference, but have lost five of six and continue to squander chances to pass the foundering Thrashers. This is about where everyone expected the Hurricanes to be, fighting for a playoff spot, but being so close and not getting there would be a big disappointment.

GM Jim Rutherford has retooled his roster from two years ago and has plenty of young talent. The trick for him is be able to make a move or two that doesn't cost much either in the way of assets or money. Maybe most pundits didn't expect the Hurricanes to make the playoffs, but just getting there would be great for the development of some of Carolina's young players. Verdict: BUYERS

FLORIDA PANTHERS (22-23-6, 50 points)

The Panthers seem to end up here every year, just on the fringes of the playoff race. Florida has left some points on the table in the past couple of weeks and hasn't taken advantage of the opportunity Atlanta has afforded like Carolina and Buffalo have.

In the past there has been a lot of pressure for the Panthers to break their long playoff drought, but new GM Dale Tallon seems intent on building a contender, not a team that can squeak into the playoffs. Should Tallon decide to continue his remodeling job, he has some of the best potential rentals available in goalie Tomas Vokoun, defenseman Bryan McCabe and forward Chris Higgins. Those 13 draft picks from the 2010 Entry Draft have restocked a depleted farm system, and Tallon could continue to add to his coffers this month. Verdict: SELLERS

Where does each team stand as the trade deadline approaches? Let's take a look around the League, one division at a time, and try to decipher which direction the teams might be leaning as the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 28 approaches. Next up is the Northwest Division, which features the best and worst teams in the Western Conference and three teams battling to get into the playoffs in the middle.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS (33-10-9, 75 points)

The Canucks were probably the most complete team in the NHL, but that was before Alex Edler was lost to back surgery. Vancouver could possibly use one more bottom-six forward, but if top prospect Cody Hodgson sticks with the team that might be less of an issue.

What to do about replacing Edler is the big quesiton. Sami Salo just started a conditioning stint, and his return to the active roster would fill Edler's spot but also limits Vancouver's financial flexibility. Plus, Edler has been argubly the team's best defenseman so it not just about filling his place on the lineup card. Verdict: BUYERS

MINNESOTA WILD (26-19-5, 57 points)

The Wild are one of the teams in the West trending upwards of late after a slow start, but figuring out what GM Chuck Fletcher could do to improve the team is a little tricky. Minnesota is pretty close to the salary cap and has more than $51 million of next year's cap tied up already.

There are some reinforcements on the way in the form of injured players Marek Zidlicky and Guillaume Latendresse, and depth is definitely one of the team's strengths. Can Fletcher add an impact player without adding money in the short-term or the long-term? Seems like that could be a tough proposition. Verdict: STANDING PAT

CALGARY FLAMES (25-21-6, 56 points)

Like Minnesota, the Flames have turned their season around after a bad start. Like Minnesota, the Flames have precious little cap space and a ton of next year's tied up.

If the Flames keep winning, GM Jay Feaster will try to do something to improve the team, but he doesn't have a 2nd or a 3rd-round pick in the 2011 draft so he doesn't have them as ammunition and isn't likely to further deplete his cache of draft picks in June. He will have to move out some money to take some money back, but remember he is the interim GM and making the playoffs certainly wouldn't hurt his chances of having that tag removed. Verdict: BUYERS

COLORADO AVALANCHE (25-19-6, 56 points)

The Avalanche are going in the opposite direction of Minnesota and Calgary. Colorado needs to stop the slide, and one way to do it could be through an addition. There is plenty of cap space but GM Joel Sherman has a budget to contend with as well.

Colorado can score goals, but preventing them has been an issue. There is also the possibility that Peter Forsberg joins the team, so an upgrade on defense could make a lot of sense. Craig Anderson has not been nearly as good this season as last and isn't that expensive. It would be very interesting if the Avalanche looked around for a goaltender (say, Tomas Vokoun?) in the next few weeks. Verdict: BUYERS

EDMONTON OILERS (15-27-8, 38 points)

This was always going to be a rebuilding year for the Oilers, and given the contributions of their young players it has been a successful one. GM Steve Tambellini's quest in the next three weeks is to try and find more assets, whether it is picks or prospects, who can help the current young core be contenders in 2011-12 or 2012-13.

The Oilers don't have a lot to offer in the rental market, but there are a few interesting players with one more season left on their contracts. Forwards Ales Hemsky (if he gets healthy) and Dustin Penner would be very attractive in a thin market at that position, and defenseman Kurtis Foster could be an offensive boost to someone's blue line. Verdict: SELLERS