Those fears the NHL might not even play this season are long in the past.
Suddenly, the shortened season is just about over.
Yes, the regular season ends already on April 27, but not before there's a trade deadline thrown in that could dramatically shift the fate of playoff contenders in only weeks. While the league scrapped the Winter Classic and All-Star game because of the lockout, it kept the trade deadline. This year's is April 3, giving new players only three weeks with their new teams. It might not be enough time to see if a player can push a potential contender over the edge. And he may even mess up chemistry and lines and spoil a playoff run.
Most teams have only played about 30 games, usually not enough time in an 82-game regular season to decide which players are worth shopping and keeping. But the labor strife that wiped out the first three months of the season has made any of those so-called magic numbers obsolete.
It could be that teams just decide to press on with what they have and stand pat.
The NHL's 30 general managers met Wednesday in Toronto for their league meetings. The GMs were set to discuss everything from possible rule changes to Olympics involvement to concussions and improved player safety. With so many executives in one place, it's only natural they'll talk trade.
Who's buying?
Who's selling?
Who knows?
And teams may not know until the deadline nears. Take a
In the West, only Colorado seems like a long shot to make the playoffs. Take a look at last season when the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup as a No. 8 seed. It's no wonder so many teams think that if they can just hang tight, then sneak in, they'll get hot at the right time. Of course, having that one extra piece, maybe a playoff-tested veteran, can be the difference between an early exit and a June -- late June -- celebration.
So who's in the market? Who's looking to make a deal? Let's take a look:
1. Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames. Iginla is the No. 1 big name in trade rumors and is having a solid season (20 points) as Calgary's captain. Even at 35, Iginla isn't much of a risk. He's in the final season of a $35 million, five-year deal and can walk as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
2. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres. First, coach Lindy Ruff was shown the door after 16 seasons. Could Miller, their Olympic goalie, be next to go?
With 26 points, the Sabres aren't totally out of the playoff race, but they don't exactly look like a threat to make a run should they get there.
The 32-year-old Miller is signed through next season, making him a cap-friendly acquisition for a team in need of a goalie. A team like Toronto could use a goalie like Miller as it tries to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2004. Dumping Ruff and Miller could show the Sabres are serious about starting fresh in 2013-14.
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