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Melrose Minute: Bracing for a busy trade deadline day

Sunday, 03.01.2015 / 11:45 AM

By Barry Melrose - NHL Network Analyst / Melrose Minute

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Melrose Minute
Melrose Minute: Bracing for a busy trade deadline day

The NHL Trade Deadline is always a busy day on the NHL calendar, but I have a feeling this one could be busier than most. The reason for that is simple. There are just too many tight races both at the top of the standings and at the bottom, too many teams in contention, but at the same time there are several teams that already know they're sellers. You put those two things together and what you get is a lot of movement.

Obvious candidates to make moves are ones just outside the Stanley Cup Playoff field or clinging to one of the wild-card spots. Teams like the Florida Panthers or the Minnesota Wild have already started to make trades in hopes of bolstering their chances. At the same time, though, the teams at the top will all be aggressive and that's because while we know there are some prime suspects, there doesn't appear to me to be one single bona fide Stanley Cup favorite. Are we ready to say the Nashville Predators are the team to beat? Are the Chicago Blackhawks going to be the same contender without Patrick Kane for three months? Are the Montreal Canadiens or Tampa Bay Lightning ready to take that next step?

Jeff Petry
Defense - EDM
GOALS: 4 | ASST: 11 | PTS: 15
SOG: 103 | +/-: -25
There are many strong, talented teams out there, teams where it wouldn't be a surprise to see them skating with Stanley in June. But no one is sticking out as the team to beat, and that means everyone is going to try to make a move to become that clear-cut favorite. At the same time, several big chips haven't been moved yet. The Edmonton Oilers haven't traded Jeff Petry yet. The Coyotes might move Keith Yandle. Are we going to see the Toronto Maple Leafs try to move Phil Kessel or Dion Phaneuf's contract?

The trade winds are already blowing. We've seen several big trades made this weekend. But for those of us who work in the game or watch the action, it's going to be a very busy Monday.

CHICAGO TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT

Nothing may have changed this trade deadline more than the injury to Kane. With a hole in the Blackhawks' top six, it was obvious a move had to be made and Chicago made it when it acquired Antoine Vermette on Saturday. At the same time, though, the Blackhawks know their time is now, that their players are in their prime and the window is still open. That's why you see moves like they made for Kimmo Timonen, a player who could add some serious depth to an already very talented blue line.

Early estimates are that Kane will be out 12 weeks, which means he could not see the ice again until the Western Conference Final if the Blackhawks get that far. I don't think the Blackhawks are good enough to win the Cup without Kane in the lineup, but they might be good enough to get through two rounds so he can be back on the ice. General manager Stan Bowman's job is to make sure they're good enough, and the two big moves Chicago has made show he's working toward that.

This is also an opportunity for any young players who don't feel like they get enough playing time to make a mark for Chicago offensively. No one's going to turn Kane into Wally Pipp, but someone like Teuvo Teravainen has a great opportunity to take some of those 20 minutes of ice time that are now up for grabs. The Blackhawks have a lot of horses to run with and we already expected them to be aggressive. In this climate, with that roster, they have to be. But Kane's injury changed the landscape of this deadline, and you could see ripple effects not just in Chicago but throughout the League.

PANTHERS MOVE FORWARD

One of the teams making its presence felt in a big way is the Florida Panthers. I've talked before about how Florida is developing into being a really solid team over the next few years, but with the Panthers contending for a playoff spot this season, general manager Dale Tallon is being very aggressive and I love it.

Jaromir Jagr
Right Wing - FLA
GOALS: 11 | ASST: 18 | PTS: 29
SOG: 122 | +/-: -11
Acquiring someone like Jaromir Jagr, even if it costs you two draft picks, is a great message to send to the rest of this team. The Panthers are young and talented, but with the exception of defenseman Brian Campbell, they haven't really won at this level. This team doesn't know how to win yet. Jagr is someone who will teach Florida's young guns what it means to play at a high level in the League. Players like Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Huberdeau will learn from how he plays, how he practices, how he works out, how he approaches the game. They'll see how he wants the puck and how he never panics.

Don't discount the addition of Dany Heatley, too, another veteran who has something to prove and can teach the young Panthers how to compete. Even if Florida doesn't end up making the playoffs, Jagr and Heatley's presence will be a boon to those young players in the locker room. Florida feels it's ready to take the next step and these moves will help it do that now and down the line. The Panthers are going for it and being aggressive and that's a great message to send, not just to your fans, but to the players as well.

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