NHL Trade Deadline 2012: 15 Trades, None Involving Rick Nash

Rick Nash didn't leave the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline, but in general manager Scott Howson's address about an hour past the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Monday, he dropped a bombshell: Nash requested the trade.

Howson didn't reveal this in an answer to a question during the press conference. He said it as part of his own remarks, a detail that should not be ignored. In coming out and calculating such an announcement -- an announcement that was completely counter to the conventional wisdom surrounding the entire Rick Nash trade speculation at this deadline -- he's clearly shifting the focus back on his star player.

Now, as Nash continues the rest of the season with the Blue Jackets, he'll have to answer questions about wanting out. Howson, meanwhile, can defend his stance of refusing to trade his star player without getting the proper return for him. The general manager mentioned several times that the asking price was extremely high for Nash, adding that it "had to be high."

Nash might still be a Blue Jacket, but it doesn't appear as though he'll still be in Columbus come October.

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Suddenly on Sunday afternoon, just a day before the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline, the Nashville Predators popped up as a potential trade destination for Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash. The Predators certainly are interested in the forward, but a deal doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons.

For starters, Nash holds a no-movement clause and has to approve any trade. He's reportedly given Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson a list of teams to which he'd accept a trade, and there's a strong possibility that Nashville is not on that list. Besides, if Howson were to send Nash to a team in the division, he'd have to face him head-to-head six times a season. That doesn't seem like a smart move.

The Predators are adamant that they're on healthy financial footing and that they're willing to spend in order to win the Stanley Cup. By holding on to defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, and by acquiring Hal Gill and Andrei Kostistyn ahead of the deadline, the commitment to winning this season is tangible. But even for a team that spends to the salary cap, adding Nash's $7.8 million salary might not be a wise move.

That's just another reason why a Nash trade to Nashville doesn't make all that sense. (But on the flip side, think of the NASHville puns we're missing out on. Shame.)

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Perhaps they're just testing the waters, but the Buffalo Sabres are reportedly asking for a first-round draft pick in exchange for forward Paul Gaustad. Yes, that's the same Paul Gaustad who has 17 points and a $2.3 million contract that expires at the end of the season.

Gaustad has a lot of strong tools. He's good in the faceoff circle, he can play any forward position and is good on the defensive side of the puck. But a first-rounder for him? Yeah, that's asking quite a bit. Via Die By The Blade:

While the asking price might seem rather ridiculous, it could very well happen depending on how much interest there is out there for a player like Gaustad. There are teams like Detroit and San Jose that could be interested in Gaustad. Detroit already used their 1st round pick in the Kyle Quincey deal, but there are good handful of teams that have interest so that return could very well happen.

The likelihood of getting the return doesn't seem all that high, but you can't blame Darcy Regier for asking.

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P.A. Parenteau might just be the perfect rental player, with his low cap hit relative to his production. He has 58 points in 62 games for the New York Islanders this season, but only hits the cap at $1.25 million per year. Parenteau would be a huge addition for any playoff bound team and, theoretically, it should take too much to acquire him.

Not as much as the Islanders are asking, at least.

The Isles were asking for a first round pick for Parenteau last night. That could change but that was the deal at 5 p.m. #NHL #SNtrade

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 27, 2012

Parenteau is a nice addition, but to think he's worth a first-round pick might be a little outrageous. After all, he is still a rental player, and there's no guarantee that he will continue the same production beyond this season.

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James van Riemsdyk has been generally underwhelming with the Philadelphia Flyers so far in his career, but his potential is still sky-high and general manager Paul Holmgren would certainly prefer to keep the forward. That doesn't mean teams aren't trying to pry him away, though.

Leading that charge on NHL Trade Deadline day 2012 are the San Jose Sharks, who are rumored to be extremely interested in the forward.

Flyers still fielding calls on JVR. San Jose believed to have made an offer, but so far Philly isn't willing to move him.#tradecentre.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 27, 2012

Darren Dreger also reports that the Sharks have offered up goaltender Antti Niemi for van Riemsdyk, but that the Flyers are still not interested in the deal. Of course, with starter Ilya Bryzgalov and backup Sergei Bobrovsky, the Flyers are paying more money to goaltenders than any other team in the NHL. It's also safe to say they're not getting the bang for their buck in that department.

Niemi would give Philadelphia some confidence in the crease, presumably, but Holmgren has no choice but to stick with his investment in Bryzgalov.

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Nicklas Backstrom hasn't played a game since the beginning of 2012, and it's not a coincidence that the Washington Capitals waited until the morning of the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline to place the center on long-term injured reserve.

#Caps spokesman confirms Nicklas Backstrom is on LTIR.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 27, 2012

By placing Backstrom on LTIR, the Caps are allowed to exceed the salary cap by his $6.7 million cap hit, thus freeing up space to potentially make a move before Monday's deadline. Should the Capitals make the postseason, Backstrom could return without general manager George McPhee clearing that space again, but he wouldn't be able to play in the regular season without the team having room for his cap hit.

The Capitals are in the thick of the Southeast Division race and are undoubtedly the most talented team in the mix there, but they've been inconsistent all season long. Perhaps McPhee believes a deadline deal will give them the necessary boost they need to get to the postseason yet again.

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A year ago, Evgeni Nabokov refused to join the New York Islanders. He left the KHL and signed with the Detroit Red Wings, hoping to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and go on a run. Instead, he was claimed off of waivers by the lowly Isles, and that didn't make him happy.

That's all changed this season though. Despite the Islanders' typical position near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Nabokov has stepped in and been a revelation for the club. His attitude is a complete 180 from where he stood just a year ago, and now he's preparing to re-sign with Garth Snow's bunch.

As that impacts the deadline, he likely won't be moved, even though there are multiple teams that are interested in acquiring his services.

#SNtrade. Doesn't look like #Isles Nabokov will agree on new deal by 3pm deadline but talks expected to continue later in the week.

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) February 26, 2012

The Toronto Maple Leafs probably lead the list of clubs that could use Nabokov and his solid goaltending of late, and you have to assume that the 36-year-old's trade value is higher now than it might ever be. For the Islanders, though, who have obvious goaltending questions when it comes to franchise netminder Rick DiPietro, they'd be happy signing Nabokov to a contract extension.

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It appears as though Rick Nash won't be a member of the New York Rangers, at least not at the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline. According to a report from ESPN New York, Glen Sather has made the determination that Scott Howson and the Columbus Blue Jackets are simply asking too much for the services of their captain, and he's not willing to pay up.

It has been widely reported that the Blue Jackets are asking for an NHL player, a top prospect and a first-round draft pick, and the Rangers have been at the forefront of the rumors and speculation that have surrounded the Nash sweepstakes for weeks. It seemed like they were willing to pay for Nash, and there's always the possibility that they're simply posturing less than 24 hours before the deadline in hopes that Howson could lower the asking price.

But that doesn't seem likely, and if the Rangers truly are not involved in the trade talks anymore, the chances grow that Howson could simply hold on to Nash at the deadline.

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Keith Ballard was placed on the long-term injured reserve on Saturday, giving the Vancouver Canucks an extra $4.2 million to play with under the salary cap. With the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline quickly approaching, that throws Mike Gillis' club in the mix when it comes to trade rumors and speculation.

It might be wise for Gillis to search the market before 3 p.m. ET on Monday to see if he can give that Ballard-less defense a boost. Via the Vancouver Province:

"We want to try and keep our roster, but you never know what is going to happen between now and Monday afternoon - suddenly one deal gets made and that frees up something else. It's really difficult to say," Gillis said from Scottsdale where he has set up shop for the deadline. "There's constant pressure to think you need to get better but our team has been playing really well, the last month in particular. There's not a tremendous amount we can improve on."

The Canucks are definitely one of those wait-and-see teams. It doesn't seem like there's all that much that could happen with them, but they have cap room to play with at this point and as Gillis says, you never know what could happen.

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Of course the Toronto Maple Leafs have kicked the tires on a Rick Nash trade, just as they've toyed with the idea of sending guys like Luke Schenn elsewhere in hope of some great return. But as the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline approaches, it's looking more and more like Brian Burke and the Leafs will stay relatively quiet come 3 p.m. Monday.

Mikhail Grabovski won't be going anywhere, despite the news that contract talks have stalled a bit. Via the Toronto Sun:

Burke did confirm reports this week that the Mikhail Grabovski contract hit a snag - likely when Ales Hemsky and Tuomu Ruutu signed in the neighbourhod [sic] of $5 million a season. But he added that talks have not reached a state of animosity with agent Gary Greenstin that could see the potential UFA get a ticket out of town this week.

Burke told CBC's Hockey Night In Canada on Saturday night that he won't "blow it up" in an attempt to squeeze into the playoffs. He's still searching the market for a goaltender and something could develop on that front as the deadline nears, but it doesn't appear likely that a big move will occur with the Leafs. At least not at this stage.

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If the Columbus Blue Jackets are to trade Rick Nash at the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline, it makes sense that they'd attempt to fill their biggest need in the process. They do not have a goaltender and they could really use one. Hey, there are teams in the NHL that have young, capable backup goaltenders that Columbus would love.

Cory Schneider in Vancouver and Jonathan Bernier in Los Angeles top the list, but Anders Lindback in Nashville and Tuukka Rask in Boston are also some of the young goaltenders who have a lot of promise and could flourish if given a starting job in Columbus. According to the Columbus Dispatch, however, it doesn't look as though any of those players could move at the deadline -- to the Blue Jackets or any other team.

Few clubs have two goaltenders who could be considered NHL starters - Boston, Nashville, Vancouver and, maybe, Los Angeles. If those teams are even willing to listen to offers, the asking price could be astronomical.

"It's a tough market right now," one NHL source told The Dispatch. "If you want one of those guys, you have to pay the ransom."

For these teams, it makes sense that they'd be uncomfortable with a trade of a highly-touted goaltender at the deadline. In Boston's case, it seems silly entertaining the notion that Rask could be available considering Tim Thomas' age and the fact that Rask could certainly be the goalie of their future. Each of these teams are deep in the playoff mix as well, and while these are backup goaltenders we're talking about here, having that insurance in case of injury is always a smart proposition heading into the postseason.

It seems as though a Rick Nash trade in the summer makes more sense than it does right now at the deadline, simply because the market will open up so much more and Scott Howson might be able to get that goaltender he so desperately needs. That doesn't mean the Rangers or some other team won't blow him away with an offer he can't refuse before Monday at 3 p.m., however.

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We're just about 48 hours ahead of the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline now, and the Rick Nash trade rumors are picking up even more steam. Yes, the New York Rangers are the front-runners. Still.

Glen Sather's trade of Wojtek Wolski on Saturday afternoon freed up approximately $3.8 million in cap space for the Rangers, which could give them the necessary wiggle room to take on Nash's $7.8 million cap hit, depending on exactly what would be going back to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a potential deal.

That's the point of concern for Rangers fans. One report claimed that prospect Tim Erixon, a first-round pick and one of either Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto could be the deal for Nash, which would fall in line with Scott Howson's reported asking price for his franchise player.

But that seems like a curious deal from the Rangers perspective, considering the strength and depth of their defense has been perhaps their most impressive quality of their ascent to the top of the Eastern Conference this season. Losing one of two young defensemen who have been vital parts of that success and are clear parts of the future of the Rangers blueline would be an extremely high price to pay. Throw in the organization's best defensive prospect in Erixon and the potential deal makes you even more curious.

That doesn't mean a trade of Erixon doesn't make sense at all. It's a high price to pay, but anybody attempting to acquire Nash is going to pay for him, and considering the Maple Leafs and Sharks are also interested in Nash's services, the Rangers have to be the high bidder here. With prospect Chris Kreider reportedly off the table, Erixon might just have to be part of a deal if Sather wants to get it done.

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Suddenly, in the wake of the Jeff Carter trade completed by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday evening, the rumor mill has suddenly shifted away from Carter's former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, right to his new one. Captain Dustin Brown is on the trade block, and naturally, a lot of teams are interested.

BOS, BUF, EDM, NJD, NYR, PHI, TOR, VAN are amongst teams with high levels of interest in Brown. #TradeCentre #TSN

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2012

That's quite the list of teams. It makes sense, though. Not only is Brown a versatile forward with leadership qualities who knows how to get the puck in the back of the net, he's on a really friendly contract -- much more friendly than that of other huge trade piece Rick Nash.

Let's compare: Brown has just two years left on his deal at $3.175 million per year, while in acquiring Nash, a team would be taking on a $7.8 million cap hit until the summer of 2018. Nash also has a no-movement clause while Brown does not, which throws a huge wrench into any potential deal.

Kings blog Jewels From The Crown asked what the team should ask for in return for Brown, but no matter what Dean Lombardi would ask in return, it's certainly less than what Scott Howson is asking for Nash in Columbus.

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The rumored trade between the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Bluejackets is reportedly close to becoming official, pending physicals on Friday morning. The trade, which was rumored to be close on Thursday afternoon, will reportedly send Jeff Carter to the Kings in exchange for Jack Johnson and a first-round draft pick.

The news comes from Bob McKenzie, as well as numerous other NHL reporters.

Jeff Carter has been traded to LAK for Jack Johnson and 1st round pick. Pending a medical tomorrow.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2012

Carter was told a short while ago by CBJ GM Scott Howson he had been traded but it's contingent on passing a medical tomorrow.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 24, 2012

Again, it's quite the bounty to give up for Carter and the move seems to have been made somewhat out of urgency. Los Angeles needed a scorer, and was willing to give up quite a bit to acquire Carter, who had been rumored to be on the market as the trade deadline approached.

The Kings and Blue Jackets may be nearing a deal that would send center Jeff Carter to Los Angeles in exchange for Jack Johnson and a first-round draft pick. The trade has not been completed, but is at the "heavy rumor" stage and may be imminent, according to a report on Thursday night.

For the details, here's a string of tweets from Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times:

Things seem to have accelerated w/Kings-CBJ Carter trade--last 2 losses probably contributed. Could come together tonight. Johnson to go

— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) February 23, 2012

to CBJs. Probably a first-round pick as well. Had been told CBJ wanted another player. not sure where that stands

— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) February 23, 2012

looking like Johnson and a first-rounder for Carter but nothing officially announced yet

— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) February 23, 2012

Carter had been on the market with the trade deadline approaching, but talks appear to have heated up as teams try to wheel and deal before the window closes. The price for Carter is a stiff one, however, if the rumored return is as Elliot suggests.

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Add another team to the Rick Nash trade discussions. The San Jose Sharks are interested in the Columbus Blue Jackets captain and, according to TSN, they're expected to stay interested until Monday's trade deadline. Via Darren Dreger:

The San Jose Sharks are emerging as a strong contender for Rick Nash. Sources say Columbus initially targeted Logan Couture, but was quickly told that was a non-starter. But, make no mistake, San Jose will stay in the mix until Monday's deadline.

It makes sense that Doug Wilson isn't willing to give up Couture, just as it makes sense that Scott Howson would go after Couture, a Calder Trophy candidate just a year ago.

Dreger reports that the Sharks would prefer an offseason deal, which also makes sense to a certain extent for Howson and the Blue Jackets considering the market in general could have more of an appetite for Nash in the summer. Wilson is still interested, however, and the temptation of Nash on a line with Joe Thornton in the upcoming playoffs could be too much to resist.

If a trade happens though, Sharks blog Fear The Fin doesn't want to see Joe Pavelski go the other way.

In essence, he's a player who gives you immense value in all three situations-- even strength, power play, penalty kill-- and has a game that transitions extremely well into the postseason when quality of competition picks up and teams begin to throw numerous looks your way. There's nothing here not to like, too much here not to love, and his affordable contract (right there with Marc-Edouard Vlasic's for best on the team) is something that magnifies that ten fold.

Nash doesn't get you that bang for the buck even if he's a more talented player than Pavelski.

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Tuomo Ruutu and Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford took a few weeks to make a decision. Utlimately, they decided they'd like to stay together. It's a four-year contract extension for Ruutu, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. How much will he earn?

CAR and Tuomo Ruutu agree to terms on a four-year extension with an AAV of $4.75M. #TradeCentre #tsn.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 22, 2012

Ruutu would have been one of the prizes of the market at the trade deadline, and with the Canes so far out of the playoff picture, it seemed like a sure bet that they'd sell on the 29-year-old forward. But as he did with defenseman Tim Gleason, Rutherford opted to hold on to a valuable asset instead of trading it away for the questionable return of prospects and draft picks.

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The Washington Capitals have put defenseman Roman Hamrlik on the trade block, according to a report from RDS. But that doesn't mean the 37-year-old will come cheap in a market that's seemingly in love with defensemen.

#capitals Roman Hamrlik is being shop. The price is high right now.

— Renaud P Lavoie (@renhockey) February 22, 2012

Hamrlik has another season on his current deal, which hits the cap at $3.5 million per season. It makes sense that the Capitals would ask a high price off the bat, simply trying to feel out the market for Hamrlik, but we'll see how that changes as the Feb. 27 deadline approaches.

Hamrlik hasn't played against top competition for the Caps this season, but he's a physical defenseman and has been solid for Washington of late. He can play in all situations and can eat up plenty of minutes, so he'll definitely be a hot commodity for a number of playoff-bound teams. Considering George McPhee's bunch could be playoff bound themselves, it'll be interesting to see what they try to get back in a deal.

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Evgeni Nabokov's trade value might never be higher than at present, but Garth Snow and the New York Islanders seem stuck on resigning the 36-year-old netminder before his contract expires in July. Via Newsday:

Snow, who declined comment on any current or future contract talks but reiterated that he has no plans to trade Nabokov before next Monday's deadline, appears to envision Nabokov teaming next season with 21-year-old Kevin Poulin , who made 33 saves in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes and likely will get the call in goal Monday.

There are no assurances that Nabokov will take what the Isles will be offering.

Nabokov is having a phenomenal season and with the always-uncertain status surrounding franchise netminder, Rick DiPietro on Long Island, having a veteran backup around to help continue to mentor both Kevin Poulin and Al Montoya seems like a smart move.

But there's no guaranteeing that Nabokov will keep up his fine recent play next season or even beyond the trade deadline, and considering that he's a free agent come summer and his previous unwillingness to join the Islanders organization prior to the current season, it might be wise for Snow to sell high here. It doesn't appear as though that's what will happen.

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Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson spent the weekend meeting with several of the major players in every big trade negotiation -- not just that for star forward Rick Nash. Toronto Maple Leafs general manager had an "unscheduled meeting" with Howson in New York on Sunday, while Howson took in yet another game in Philadelphia Saturday, meeting with Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.

It doesn't seem like Philadelphia is all that interested at this point, but the Rangers and Leafs could certainly be players, as could the Los Angeles Kings and several other teams that could use the scoring punch.

The Columbus Dispatch believes Howson also met with Rangers general manager Glen Sather on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, but it doesn't seem like anything is on the immediate horizon seven days before the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

"As you get closer to the deadline, you start to have more certainty about what teams are thinking and you start to be able to define things with more clarity," Howson said.

Are things clearing up?

"Not enough, because we haven't done a deal," said Howson, who refused to comment on Nash or any other Blue Jackets player who potentially could be traded.

The Jackets are listening. It still doesn't make sense for them to make a move unless they're blown away by an offer, but of course, it's possible a team does that over the course of the next week.

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Mikhail Grabovski plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it's evident that the Leafs want to keep him around. But will they get an offer they can't refuse? According to TSN's Darren Dreger, yes, they just might. Here's what he said during the network's Insider Trading segment Thursday evening:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have an offer on the table right now that would give them a second-round pick and a prospect for Mikhail Grabovski. Brian Burke believes he can sweeten that if necessary, get a first-rounder out of that deal. But again, they're not making that decision until Feb. 27. They know they need him, the preference is to sign him.

It seems as though a trade is only in the mix should the Leafs be unable to come to an agreement on a new contract with the forward. If that doesn't happen by the Feb. 27 trade deadline, a deal could be had, but there are still 10 days for that to be worked out. Via Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets:

I'm guessing the gap in signing Mikhail Grabovski is that Burke is looking for somewhere around $5M and Grabovski's agent wants Kessel's $5.4M deal. It's worth noting two things: first off that it would [stink] to lose a good player over $500k. A 2nd rounder and a prospect isn't worth anything. It's Luca Caputi and someone worse than Tyler Biggs.

PPP goes on to speculate that Brian Burke could very well be leaking this to the media, hoping that Grabovski could accept a lower deal upon hearing the news. Grabovski is an important piece for the Leafs both this season and beyond, and Burke will likely wait until the last possible moment before trading him away.

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The Rick Nash trade talks are getting more interesting with each passing day, but that doesn't mean we're any closer to a resolution or a completed trade for the Columbus Blue Jackets captain. General manager Scott Howson continues to listen to potential suitors for Nash's services, but it's still evident that he's not going to ship off his franchise player without getting a ton of value in return.

So far, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, two teams are making strong runs at Nash. Here's what McKenzie had to say on television Thursday night regarding one of those teams.

Two strong suitors have very much emerged for Rick Nash, and that would start with the Los Angeles Kings. Here's an organization that desperately needs goal scoring from the wings and Rick Nash would provide that. They've gotta be the most interested team, the highest motivated team, they've gotta get goal scoring. They have big chips to play. Jonathan Bernier the net minder, defenseman Jack Johnson. No one will work harder to make this deal happen.

The other team making a hard push are the New York Rangers, but McKenzie reports that Michael Del Zotto is just one of the pieces Howson and the Blue Jackets would like in return. It's understandable that the Rangers might not want to move around pieces of their roster, which currently sits well ahead of the Boston Bruins for first place in the Eastern Conference standings. Howson would also ask for several prospects, including Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Tim Erixon. Glen Sather and the Rangers have the assets, but it's unknown how much they're willing to give up.

Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver, Philadelphia and St. Louis are also teams that have sniffed around, according to TSN, but it's unknown if they're as interested as the Kings and Rangers or if they have the assets and the ability to pull of a deal.

With so many teams involved, however, it's holding up other deals around the league. The Kings aren't going to move a guy like Jack Johnson without knowing what's going on with Rick Nash, and that's how you get grid lock. This was shaping up to be a quiet deadline season, but all the sudden, two trades have already been completed and it's looking like a ton of moves could come down to the wire on deadline day.

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Mike Knuble hasn't been happy with his playing time lately, and he's vented to the media about his status with the Washington Capitals. He's intimated that he'd be interested in a trade if he's not going to get the opportunity to play for Dale Hunter, but according to Caps general manager George McPhee, that won't be happening.

Via the Washington Times:

The Caps' general manager said Thursday: "We have no interest in trading" Knuble. He also expects the 39-year-old veteran to be in the lineup this weekend.

Knuble was benched by Hunter for his lack of scoring output and his poor plus-minus in recent games, but for a guy who's evolved into a defensive forward, that's exactly the kind of numbers you'd expect. Defensive players don't have strong plus-minus numbers, nor do they score. Knuble has been a valuable leader for the Capitals and he still fills an important defensive role on the team, even at age 39.

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Pavel Kubina may have skated for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final time. The team announced on Thursday morning that he's been held out of practice to "protect team interests." Kubina is apparently a spy, and hearing some brilliant Guy Boucher power play strategy is enough to topple the entire regime.

Kubina being held off the ice to protect the team's interests. Has been asked for teams he would be willing to move to.

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 16, 2012

It's rare that a team announces something like that directly, but that just goes to show the likelihood of a trade. When the team is saying publicly that they've asked a player which teams to which he'd accept a trade, you know it's almost certain that trade will happen. There's no way Kubina plays in Thursday night's game for the Lightning, and given that he's being held out of practice to "protect the team's interests," a trade has to be coming sooner rather than later.

Lightning blog Raw Charge provides a bit more context, reporting that sources have confirmed Kubina has spent time speaking with upper management in recent days. Seems like only a matter of time before a trade, now.

Kubina, a 35-year-old defenseman, has a tendency to be beaten by speedy opposing forwards, but he can still log a ton of minutes and he uses his 6'4" frame well. In a market that benefits those selling defense, it'll be interesting to see what the Lightning can get for Kubina in a trade.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Marek Zidlicky is still unhappy with his role on the Minnesota Wild, and it's looking like the two parties will split at this NHL trade deadline. Zidlicky has reportedly waived his no-trade clause to accept a deal to the New Jersey Devils, but that doesn't mean a deal is imminent. Via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

"I can tell you for sure I'm planning on talking to other teams," [Wild general manager Chuck] Fletcher said. "We haven't traded Zid, we haven't made the decision to trade Zid at this point. I have not formally asked him to do anything because at this point I honestly don't have anything to take to him, I don't have anything for him to say yes or no to."

The news that Zidlicky had waived his no-trade clause for a potential deal with the Devils was made public by his agent, so it's very possible that they're using the media as a way to force Fletcher and the Wild into a trade. Fletcher says he won't be backed into a corner, however, and that there are other teams that could potentially be interested in the services of the 35-year-old defenseman.

Fletcher hasn't publicly committed to trading Zidlicky, but he's likely posturing a bit. He almost has to trade the guy at this point, given how unhappy he is with the entire situation in Minnesota, and given how public these trade discussions have become.

The Newark, N.J. Star-Ledger reports the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers are potential options for Zidlicky as well, so it's not as if there's a limited group of suitors should Fletcher ultimately opt for that trade.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

If there's one major need for the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2012 NHL trade deadline, it's that of a goaltender. A legitimate, strong, young, NHL goaltender who can man the pipes in Columbus for at least the next five years, if not longer.

If general manager Scott Howson decides to trade Rick Nash, their star captain and the face of their franchise, should getting that goaltender in return be the priority? Jackets blog The Cannon believes it should:

The Jackets will be replacing Steve Mason. The free agent market is thin on goalies this off-season, and even if they have their eye on a player, the chance of signing them without grossly overpaying is slim. Remember the Mike Commodore and Kristian Huselius contracts?

So it makes the most sense to find a goalie by trade, and who would command a better return than Rick Nash? Of teams rumored to have interest in Nash, the Kings could offer Jonathan Bernier and the Canucks could pick their future with Roberto Luongo or Cory Schneider. Both teams also have some defensemen that would interest the Jackets and could certainly include a pick or prospect as both teams have their eyes on the Stanley Cup.

Schneider or Bernier or even Sergei Bobrovsky in Philadelphia would all be solid options for the Blue Jackets, and probably in that order too. The only question would be a) what else would Columbus demand those teams give up, and b) would Nash, who has a no-trade clause in his pocket, accept a trade to those cities?

Unanswered, as of now.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Mike Knuble has been a healthy scratch for the Washington Capitals of late -- as pointed out by Puck Daddy, coach Dale Hunter hilariously used a flawed plus-minus stat in his decision to bench the veteran -- and that's not sitting well with him. His career is starting to run down, but it's not as if he's necessarily playing bad hockey at all.

He can and should be a contributing piece on an NHL team, regardless of his scoring output or his plus-minus rating, and Knuble spoke out about the fact that he's been sitting when talking to reporters on Tuesday morning. Via CSN Washington, Knuble's comments:

"You've got to face reality. You can handle it a number of ways. You can be content and just sit there and let things happen as they may, or you can force an issue. You kind of have to decide that. We're two weeks before the trade deadline. If a player is not going to be used, or in the near future you're not in their plans, then that player probably wouldn't want to be there.

...

"It gets you thinking. We're all competitive. We want to play and we want to contribute. If it's not irritating you and you're not thinking about your options, you might as well stop playing then."

Yeah, we'll just go out on a limb here and say Knuble's career with the Washington Capitals might be on its way to a screeching halt. There are plenty of contending teams in the NHL who could use a veteran leadership presence who can still provide solid defensive play at age 39. The fact that his contract expires at the end of this season also helps, too, considering Knuble's age.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

An NHL trade deadline deal is apparently possible for Columbus Blue Jackets star Rick Nash, and as always, when a big name comes up as a potential trade piece, the New York Rangers are rumored to be in the mix. That's only more extreme this season, of course, considering the Rangers are the best team in the Eastern Conference and look poised for a deep playoff run.

Could Nash's presence help them? Certainly, but will it be worth giving up the ransom that CBJ general manager Scott Howson will demand? Here's Rangers blog Blueshirt Banter:

Nash is slated to make $7.8 million a year until 2018. That's a hefty contract, and one that would require some movements if the Rangers wanted to fit him under the cap (currently the Rangers have just over $1.5 million in cap space).

The salary can, incidentally, be shed in the trade itself, depending on what Columbus would actually want. If Brandon Dubinsky ($4.2 million) and Wojtek Wolski ($3.8 million) were involved, then the Rangers would free up $8 million in space, actually saving the team $200K in cap space.

...

Obviously Wolski and Dubinsky alone wouldn't get the deal done. Some combination of Chris Kreider, Christian Thomas, Matt Zuccarello and other picks or players would need to be involved.

Would that be a fair deal? You almost have to think that Columbus would want even more than that for Nash, who has been their franchise player for more than a decade. "Other picks" likely translates to "a high draft pick" considering Howson absolutely doesn't have to sell Nash at this deadline. He'd be silly not to take offers, but unless he's absolutely blown away by one of those offers, there's zero reason to trade him at all.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs, with CBJ-specific coverage from The Cannon. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Is Rick Nash finally on the trade block? It appears that way, if you're to believe a report from RDS late Monday evening.

2 NHL sources told me that #bluejackets Rick Nash is on the market. Nash have a no-movement clause and will controle his destiny.

— Renaud P Lavoie (@renhockey) February 14, 2012

RDS doesn't exactly have the most stellar reputation when it comes to NHL trade rumors, but Lavoie is highly respected as a reporter -- certainly more respected than the outlet for which he writes. Then again, according to the sole reporter on the Columbus Blue Jackets' beat, general manager Scott Howson says the report is false:

#CBJ GM Scott Howson, thru spokesman, declines comment on RDS report that #CBJ captain Rick Nash is on trade block.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 14, 2012

But of course Howson says it's false. He's not going to say explicitly that the star player who's been committed to Columbus for his entire career is on the verge of being shipped out of town. Nash has a no-trade clause, so any potential deal is in his hands, but it's been reported in the past that Nash would consider a trade if he was approached about the possibility. Then, there's this:

Further to RDS story on Nash last night, sources say the Blue Jackets are open to anything that will help their team longterm.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 14, 2012

Would trading Nash help the Blue Jackets long-term? That clearly depends on the return coming back in the other direction, and you'd have to assume Howson would ask a King's ransom for his star player. He'd likely get that ransom, too, from a team rich in young talent trying to make a run at a Stanley Cup this season.

Hey, even if a Rick Nash trade doesn't happen, at least this deadline talk is starting to get a bit intriguing.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs, with CBJ-specific coverage from The Cannon. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

The New York Islanders are not playoff bound, and when teams aren't playoff bound, they typically try to sell some parts at the trade deadline. Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been great for the Isles of late, and it's quite possible that his value is higher now than it will ever be.

That's leading some fans to believe that Garth Snow should get rid of the man who's quickly become his No. 1 netminder. Via an extremely detailed FanPost at Lighthouse Hockey:

But if a player would leave the team at the end of the year and the team cannot re-sign that player or that player HAS VALUE but does NOT HAVE A PLACE IN THE TEAM'S FUTURE, the team needs to trade that player to get something for that value.

Nabokov is this type of player. His contract runs to the end of the season. Moreover, he's 36. Even if he wanted to sign with the Islanders again, he's probably on his last legs and he's 6th oldest in the NHL right now. At best the Islanders could expect from him to repeat his career average (not this current performance) next year, and more likely he'll get worse. No one escapes from aging.

Nabokov is old, and as good as he's been of late for the Islanders, the playoffs are essentially out of the question and there's no guarantee that he'll keep up that strong play beyond this season. There's not even a guarantee that he'll keep it up for the rest of this season, really. The Islanders might be wise to get something in return for Nabokov at the trade deadline this year before his value inevitably plummets.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs, with Islanders-specific coverage from Lighthouse Hockey. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Cross another defenseman off the list of potential 2012 NHL trade deadline targets. The Edmonton Oilers signed Andy Sutton to a one-year contract extension on Monday morning, effectively removing him from trade consideration ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline.

His one-year extension will see him earn a base salary of $1.5 million, according to TSN, with games-played bonuses pushing that number up to a potential $1.75 million.

Sutton, 36, is a huge defenseman playing on Edmonton's bottom pairing at present. He would have been a hot commodity on the trade market if only because of his physical game, something that seems to be in demand this season for a lot of contending teams looking to bulk up on the blueline.

With each player that comes off the market, the deadline market for defensemen gets smaller. That's only going to raise the price on the few options still available out there.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs, with Oilers-specific coverage from The Copper & Blue. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Over the summer, Jeff Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second-line forward in Jakub Voracek and the No. 8 overall pick. That pick turned into Sean Couturier, who at one point had been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, and was lauded as one of the steals of that draft when selected by the Philadelphia Flyers.

It's evident to all parties that this trade did not work out for Scott Howson and the Blue Jackets, and now, the trade rumors have continued to circle around Carter's status with the club. He's unhappy in Columbus and the team isn't really doing a good job of hiding that fact, and the report is that his unhappiness coupled with his hefty contract is turning off potential buyers.

But Howson has received one offer, at least, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. Here's what he had to say during the intermission of TSN's Thursday night telecast:

Word around the National Hockey League is that Scott Howson and the Columbus Blue Jackets have received at least one trade offer, believed to be uncomfortably low, for Jeff Carter. All the usual suspects are denying, saying they're not involved, not claiming ownership, and Scott Howson, true to word, is staying beneath the radar.

Uncomfortably low. It's obvious that Howson isn't getting back what he put into this investment, but the reality is that attitude and off-ice struggles aside, Jeff Carter is still a 30-40 goal scorer in the NHL. "Uncomfortably low" is likely not going to be enough to facilitate a trade, and given that this is shaping up to be a boring trade deadline, we're kind of counting on a Carter trade to bring us some excitement.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching -- just 17 days until Feb. 26 -- but according to one general manager, things are quiet. Almost too quiet?

Brian Burke seemed frustrated by lack of trade talk right now. Conceded he might have to wait until closer to deadline: "It's very quiet."

— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 9, 2012

Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with waiting until closer to the deadline, mind you. We see that just about every year anyway, especially when there are 15-plus deals on deadline day.

Burke's point is well-taken, however. It does seem as though most teams are unsure of their status at this point, and that they can't decide whether or not they're going to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. It seems that there's a large chunk of teams that falls into that boat, and they're going to wait until the last minute to see if things shake out for them one way or another.

That's what happens when there's parity in the league, and that's why we see so many deals at the last possible second on deadline day.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Vinny Prospal might not be going anywhere at the 2012 NHL trade deadline, but that doesn't mean there aren't other rumors and news circulating around the league on this Wednesday afternoon. Let's catch up.

- When all is said and done, it doesn't make too much sense for David Poile to trade pending UFA defenseman Ryan Suter right now. Sure, you don't want to risk losing him for nothing come July, but the Preds are right in the thick of the Western Conference and Central Division races. Trading half of your dominant top defensive pairing isn't the way to win those races.

As Poile explained on Sportsnet Tuesday, he's not completely opposed to a trade, but thinks that one is unlikely.

"I don't want to shut the door (on a trade), but I can't see us being successful without Ryan (Suter) in first our quest to make the playoffs and obviously to win in the playoffs," Predators general manager David Poile told HOCKEY CENTRAL at Noon on Tuesday. "Our goal is to sign him ... As a manager you can't deal in absolutes. The landscape changes every day with your wins and losses and injuries."

Poile goes on in the interview to say he believes the Predators will be a team that spends to the salary cap next season with Suter, Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne all in the fold on expensive contracts. The Preds have never spent to the cap since it was implemented in 2005.

- It certainly seems like this is a sellers market at this point, right? There are so many teams that are still in the running for the playoffs, and it's creating a lot of demand for the few teams that are actually selling their players. Each time Carolina signs a Tim Gleason or Columbus signs a Prospal, that only exaggerates this even further. Then, when you see that teams like Nashville, if they're to trade a guy like Suter, are asking for multiple prospects, draft picks and NHL-caliber players and it slims down the buying options even further.

The NHL trade rumors are really beginning to heat up now, just 19 days before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. The line between buyers and sellers is becoming more defined, and with that, teams are determining which pieces they'd like to ship away and what they'd like to give up in order to acquire said pieces.

Here's a look at some of the news and rumors floating around the NHL on this Tuesday afternoon:

- Remember last week when we discussed the potential of a Ryan Smyth trade to the New York Rangers from the Edmonton Oilers? According to the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson, Smyth might not waive his no-trade claude to go to the Rangers, "mainly because of family reasons." He's spent the vast majority of his career in Edmonton and is getting up there in age now, so it makes sense that roots are important to Smyth.

- The San Jose Sharks are looking for a scoring forward who can play on the top two lines, according to the San Jose Mercury News. With Martin Havlat out of the lineup due to injury, the Sharks have a clear need for such a player, and the report claims that the team could be interested in Columbus forward R.J. Umberger.

- The Kings can't score goals, and it's not a secret that they're looking for scoring. This quote from general manager Dean Lombardi, via the Los Angeles Times, is just perfect: "I'm amazed at how many other general managers say, 'We can't score. I say, 'YOU can't score?' It's hard to find an upgrade right now." The Times floats the idea of a Jeff Carter-Mike Richards reunion in L.A., but notes that a guy like Tuomo Ruutu might be a better option.

- Rick Nash has always been a team player with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he's committed to that organization like no other player has. But according to Sportsnet's John Shannon, Nash is unhappy with things in Columbus and could want a trade, but that he still won't flat out ask general manager Scott Howson for a deal.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

If you're talking to Toronto Maple Leafs fans this Tuesday morning, they might not be all that disappointed in the news that their team could potentially do nothing at the 2012 NHL trade deadline. They've passed the hated Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference standings and they've bumped their playoff chances up to 90 percent as a result of Monday's win over the Edmonton Oilers.

But it's still surprising news for the Leafs and general manager Brian Burke, who have been active subjects in trade rumors for just about the entire season to date. The problem, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, is that outside forces are impacting the potential of certain trades.

James van Riemsdyk has a concussion, Jeff Carter has a huge contract, Bobby Ryan has been pulled off the market by the Anaheim Ducks, as has Ryan Malone by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burke still might prefer to make a trade, but it looks as though he might just have to move on with his team as is. As long as they keep climbing in the standings, though, nobody will really care.

For more on the Leafs, check in with Pension Plan Puppets. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the 2012 NHL trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

The Carolina Hurricanes seem like the team to watch at this 2012 NHL trade deadline, and that sort of makes sense. They're a team in transition and they're well out of the picture when it comes to the playoffs.

They were able to hold on to an important blue line piece when they signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a contract extension, but that doesn't mean they'll be trying to hold on to every asset in their control. General manager Jim Rutherford is expected to be busy over the next 20 or so days, and it could all begin with forward Tuomo Ruutu.

Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the decision to trade Ruutu will come this week, and that it'll ultimately be the player's decision whether he wants to stay in Carolina or not. Rutherford is asking for a high draft pick or a top prospect for Ruutu, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He has a cap hit of $3.8 million, and it's completely unclear whether a team would be willing to pay that price for a player that could wind up being a rental.

There are certainly teams who could use Ruutu's services, but before a deal can happen, two questions need to be answered: Will they pony up what Rutherford's asking, and does Ruutu even want to leave in the first place?

For more on the Hurricanes, check in with Canes Country. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the 2012 NHL trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.

Ryan Smyth has spent all but five of his 17 NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, but according to a report in the New York Post, there are trade rumors surrounding him, and he could waive his no-movement clause to become a member of the Rangers.

A well-placed source told The Post that Smyth, who was drafted sixth overall in 1994 by [now-Rangers GM Glen] Sather and then played the first five years under his direction while he was general manager of the Oilers, would give serious consideration to waiving his no-move clause in order to pursue a Cup on Broadway.

The Rangers made a minor move on Friday morning, sending forward Erik Christensen, who's been a scratch from John Tortorella's lineup lately, to the Minnesota Wild with a seventh round pick in exchange for AHLer Casey Wellman. It clears up about $925,000 under the cap for Sather's bunch, which would be necessary for any trade. Smyth has the remainder of this year left on his contract at a cap hit of $6.25 million.

For more on the Rangers at the NHL Trade Deadline 2012, check in with Blueshirt Banter and SB Nation New York. For more on the Oilers, check in with The Copper & Blue.

It's hard to believe how far the Tampa Bay Lightning have fallen just a season after taking the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. But here we are, 25 days before the NHL Trade Deadline 2012, and general manager Steve Yzerman still doesn't know if his team will be buyers or sellers.

Via the Tampa Bay Times, Yzerman says the next few games will have a large impact on how the team views the remainder of their season:

"Depending on how many points we get out of it and we see what else happens around the league, we'll get a better indication," he said Thursday.

The league, Yzerman said, is in a feeling-out pattern as teams wait to see which will make playoff runs (buyers) and which won't (sellers).

The Lightning are in an interesting position. They're at least a full seven points behind eighth place Toronto, should they take care of their game in hand, entering Friday's NHL action, but by virtue of their position in the Southeast Division, they're just eight points behind third place in the Eastern Conference. Florida currently holds that spot with 57 points, just ahead of Washington with 56 and Winnipeg with 54.

Tampa Bay would have to play really well down the stretch to jump up into playoff positioning, but considering they have plenty of divisional games left, Yzerman isn't crazy to be thinking about buying at the deadline.

For more on the Bolts, check in with Lightning blog Raw Charge.

Jeff Carter has been a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets for just seven months, and he's already being shopped around by his new team. Via the Columbus Dispatch:

Multiple sources confirmed to The Dispatch that Carter has been put on the trade block by the Blue Jackets, barely seven months after he was acquired from Philadelphia and deemed the No. 1 center the club has always needed.

The talented center has barely played for CBJ during the 2011-12 season thanks to injuries. He's out with a shoulder problem right now, although he's traveling with the team on the West Coast and says he hopes to play. The rumors are building, however, that Carter is not happy in Columbus and fans are even speculating that he could be exaggerating his injury.

It all falls in line with his initial attitude surrounding the trade to Columbus from Philadelphia. It was very evident, both in written reports and Carter's own actions, that he was less than happy with the trade. He's saying the right things now, but it certainly seems like the public view and the private view are different here.

For more on Jeff Carter, his injury and the rumors that surround him, check in with Blue Jackets blog The Cannon.

Marek Zidlicky is not happy with the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old defenseman complained to the media earlier in the week after coach Mike Yeo sat him as a healthy scratch, saying that he "can't be quiet," and that if Yeo doesn't want to play him, he "has to do something."

Yeo told reporters, including Mike Russo at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, that taking the issue public wasn't the way to handle it. He claimed that Zidlicky wasn't buying in to the system, and that's what's contributed to his scratching. All of this boils up into trade talk, of course. Via the Star-Tribune:

General Manager Chuck Fletcher met with Zidlicky on Tuesday "about his status on the team, but I'd prefer to keep the contents of the conversation private."

There's no doubt Fletcher will investigate trading Zidlicky. If he finds a fit, Zidlicky can then decide whether to lift a no-trade, no-move clause that runs through the June 22-23 draft.

"That's, that's the option," Zidlicky said. "That's only what I'm thinking right now because I still love hockey. That's my whole life. Every player likes hockey and nobody likes to be healthy scratch three games, four games.

Does Zidlicky have any value around the league, however? There are plenty of teams looking for defense, but are they looking for 34-year-old, $4 million defense that's underperforming with its current team?

Fans of at least two teams have brought up the Zidlicky question. Peter Raaymakers at Senators blog Silver Seven sees plenty of value, as does Dominik at Islanders blog Lighthouse Hockey. There's definitely interest, but it all comes down to what the Wild ask, of course. Do they just want to dish him off to the first bidder, or are they willing to keep a miserable guy around if the price isn't right? Here's Bryan Reynolds at Wild blog Hockey Wilderness on that subject:

Nailed down and told "give me a value," I would go with a late first round pick, or the early second rounder. THe situation has taken some of the leverage away from Fletcher, but at the same time, Zidlicky is under contract for another year, and his NMC expires after the draft. Still plenty of time to deal him after that.

Comes down to... how bad do you want to move him?

It certainly seems like the Wild want to move him. Will it happen before the deadline? 26 days of shopping left.

Zach Parise has a new contract coming between now and the summer, but it's still up in the air which team signs him to that deal. He could hit the unrestricted free agency market on July 1, or the New Jersey Devils could sign him to a new deal before then.

The big problem there is that the Devils are in financial limbo, and for a player thinking about signing a piece of paper that will anchor him down in one spot for potentially the rest of his career, these sorts of things matter. That's concerning for fans of the Devils and great news for fans of the other 29 teams in the NHL ... or perhaps not.

Parise told the Star-Ledger on Thursday that the financial woes of the Devils organization do not necessarily matter.

"I don't know too much about it," Parise said this morning. "I don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The only thing I've been told is it's not going to make a difference. That's what I'm going on. As far as what's going to happen, I really don't know really anything about what's happening."

Parise has reiterated all year that he wants to sign with the Devils -- he signed a one-year deal with them last offseason -- but contract negotiations have yet to begin. That's obviously fueling the trade deadline rumor mill, but trading Parise at the Feb. 27 deadline seems silly considering the Devils are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Then again, is securing a No. 7 or 8 seed worth losing a guy of Parise's caliber for nothing in the summer? Devils blog In Lou We Trust says they shouldn't let him go, but the real question is if Lou Lamoriello feels the same way.

It shouldn't be a shock to hear that Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter is unhappy in Columbus. When he was traded by the Philadelphia Flyers in June, he sulked at his shore house in New Jersey for several days before reporting to Ohio to meet with his new team.

He and his agent, Rick Curran, have said that the displeasure had more to do with leaving the only professional hockey home he ever knew than it had to do with the City of Columbus. But upon arrival there, a team that was supposed to rally in part around Carter has fallen apart. They are the worst team in the NHL, and there's no real hope for the future. Carter's season has been stolen away by injuries and things are just the complete opposite of fun.

It's not a secret that Carter has a bad attitude, and it's not a secret that the team would like to trade him away. But is the former hurting the latter here? Is Carter's attitude making him unattractive to potential trade partners?

Via Blue Jackets blog The Cannon:

Independent sources have confirmed that there have been inquiries about a Carter trade, but they cooled to the notion of a trade when his unhappiness/attitude with Columbus were confirmed to the interested teams. While this doesn't preclude a trade from happening, there is absolutely no way for Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson to come close to getting in return for Carter, what Philadelphia got when they traded Carter away.

He knows this, and at this point, has to be willing to take almost anything in return for clearing Carter from the team. Jeff Carter is making Adam Foote, and his notorious trade demand, look like a choir boy at Sunday Mass.

Curran says that his client has not requested a trade and that he's focused on returning to the Blue Jackets lineup, but it's getting a little hard to believe such news. Carter was a face of the franchise in Phladelphia, and the Flyers tossed him aside back in June without much of an after thought.

He has the potential to be the same with he Blue Jackets, but whispers of an attitude problem are quickly turning to screams, and whether it's fair or not, Carter's quickly gaining a less-than-favorable reputation around the league. That might determine his future more than anything else.

Zach Parise will finish the 2011-12 NHL season with the New Jersey Devils, if a Tuesday report in the New York Post is to be believed. According to reporter Mark Everson, the Devils will hang onto their budding star captain at the Feb. 27 trade deadline, although that doesn't rule out a chance that general manager Lou Lamoriello could ship him off prior to July 1, when free agency opens in the league.

Sources say inquiring general managers are getting the word Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is not dealing unrestricted free agent-to-be Zach Parise before the NHL's Feb. 27 trade deadline.

Instead, it is thought if the Devils do not want to re-sign Parise in June, they'll trade his rights to a team that wants an advance shot at negotiations before he becomes free July 1.

Everson doesn't have the best reputation as a reporter among Devils fans, a note worth keeping in mind. But hanging onto Parise does make sense. He's an unrestricted free agent come July, and his value may be higher now than it will be in June, but he's a vital piece of the Devils at present, and they're a team in playoff position.

Trade return on Parise will be high regardless of when he's traded -- whether it be next week or June 4. Lamoriello and the Devils are going to make every attempt to sign him long term before exploring that possibility, however.

For more on Zach Parise, check in with Devils blog In Lou We Trust. For more on all the news and rumors surrounding the 2012 NHL trade deadline, stick with our StoryStream.

Ryan Suter put the ball in the court of Nashville Predators general manager David Poile last week, when he told the media that he would not be signing a new contract extension by the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 27. Since making those comments, Suter backtracked a bit, claiming the media misconstrued what he intended to say.

Via NHL.com:

"I never said that [test the open market] and I don't want to right now," Suter said. "I want to focus on playing for Nashville. We've got a good team and if we can add a couple of pieces here and there I think we have a legitimate chance of going to win the Stanley Cup."

Still, by saying that he doesn't want to have his contract status decided by the deadline, Suter is making things mighty interesting when it comes to Poile's decision. The GM has to make the call -- trade him at the deadline, or hold on to the prized defenseman after the deadline in hopes that an agreement could be made by July 1?

It seems that, perhaps, Poile has already made that decision. Via the Philadelphia Daily News, covering the story from the Flyers perspective, one of the teams that is certainly interested in acquiring Suter's services:

"The consensus among us is that Nashville will be hanging onto him, even if they know the odds are not in their favor of re-signing him," one Eastern Conference GM told the Daily News on condition of anonymity. "If he does decide to trade him, [David] Poile has the market cornered. There are very few defensemen of Suter's caliber in the league and Nashville has two of them.

"You have to wonder whether the Predators can continue to trade away their top players for prospects because they can't afford to pay them."

For more on the Predators and the rumors surrounding Ryan Suter at the 2012 NHL trade deadline, check in with our blog, On the Forecheck. Stick with this StoryStream for all the latest news surrounding the 2012 deadline.