TRADECENTRE 09: WHICH CANADIAN TEAMS ARE BUYERS AND SELLERS?

TRADECENTRE 09: WHICH CANADIAN TEAMS ARE BUYERS AND SELLERS?

Who are the buyers? Who are the sellers?

With one of the most important dates on the RSHL calendar just four weeks away, talks have started to heat up across the league.

On Saturday evening, the RSHL on TSN took an in-depth look at the Canadian teams and gave expert insight and analysis on which teams and general managers will be the busiest leading up to and during RSHL Trade Deadline Day.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs' desire for an impact forward was a simmering pot, it could become a full boil if the team is to maintain its hold on home ice advantage for the start of the playoffs.

For now, head coach Jacques Martin was sighting Toronto's resilience in its 8-2 record while assistant captain Peter Forsberg was out with an forearm injury. But that was before they lost forward Glen Murray.

To replace his experience up the middle, the price might have taken a big leap because general manager Derek Hird is not just bargaining from a position of weakness but perhaps a position of desperation if the team is unable to weather the storm over the next four weeks.

"Toronto are buyers," TSN's Bob McKenzie says "and the priority can be described as one-dimensional, they're looking for a forward who can be on the power play to replace Joffrey Lupul or Chuck Kobasew. Guys they haven't been able to replace."

In Montreal it should come as no surprise that the Leafs will once again be sellers this winter. The club is currently $20 million under the salary cap and president and general manager Steve Vardy is looking to create even more space by landing draft picks and prospects.

"The Canadiens have a lot of cap room and they've got a lot of money to spend," says McKenzie. "What they're telling other teams in the RSHL is; if you have a player under contract and you want him off your books give him to us but, give us a draft pick along with that."

Some of that potential trade bait on the Canadien's current roster are Jozef Stumpel, Patrice Brisebois, Bret Hedican, Darren McCarty and Antero Niittymaki. McCarty is currently sidelined for the next four weeks with a broken right hand but is expected to be back in time for deadline day.

"Briseboisis is a player who wants to play for Montreal and Steve Vardy does not want to trade him," said McKenzie "but some of the best offers that will come across Vardy's desk will be for a puck-moving defenceman who can quarterback a power play. Brisebois fits the bill. He's likely to yield a good return return and as a result, the Canadiens will have to listen and see what the possibilities are.''

As the Winnipeg Jets are likely to miss the playoffs, Joe DesMarais will be more of a seller at the deadline, while at the same time trying to improve his club for next season.

"The Jets are going to be a selling team," TSN's Darren Dreger said "but how hard are they going to sell and what are they looking for? DesMarais said he's still looking for that skilled offensive defenseman and he's also looking for a long term goaltender."

The general manager has been trying to acquire a top-six forward and puck-moving defenseman since joining the franchise and he will continue to try and fill those voids. Winnipeg doesn't have a first round pick which it can dangle to sweeten a deal.

"DesMarais says that aside from Mike Richards, basically everyone is available," Dreger said. "But he may have to do most of the shopping when the free agency signing period begins in the summer."

Some player's expecting to draw big attention are unrestricted free agents Ed Jovanovski and Manny Legace.

"Jovanovski is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, but he's in negotiations to stay in Winnipeg," Dreger said. "The rumours of Matt Cullen are possible but DesMarais says it’s highly unlikely."

Despite their struggles in 2009, the Ottawa Senators still have to consider themselves to be a buyer and they'll have well over $4 million of their salary cap space when you factor out Bates and Linden to get that done.

The Senators' most pressing need is a puck-moving defenseman, somebody who can anchor the power play. The Senators may also be in need for a top-six forward but much of that will depend on the performance of Andrew Brunette and the injured Brenden Morrow between now and the trade deadline.

Some players that may be on the move from Ottawa are defenseman Karel Rachunek , in light of his recent comments about a lack of ice time on short handed specialty teams, and Ales Hemsky . Hemsky is one of the club's longest serving players but there a lot of teams that may be willing to overpay for his services.

"The Senators are buyers right now, although buyer with an asterisk," McKenzie said. "If they happened to fall out of the playoff race, then they would be selling people like defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky."

In the west, the Edmonton Oilers are buyers heading into this year's trade deadline and considering their needs, general manager Sebastiano Loconte will have to be creative. A strong goal scoring left winger and/or a first or second line centre man are acquisitions that could turn the Oilers into bona fide Stanley Cup contenders.

"The Oilers have some money and cap space but they like their depth, so they're looking for perhaps a little bit more experience on the blue line," Dreger said. "But that isn't a necessity."

Loconte may also consider solidifying his backup goaltender position after trading Mike Smith to New Jersey.

If Loconte does do something to try and improve his team, it will likely happen sooner rather than later as he likes to avoid the hoopla and heightened pressure of trade deadline day.

In Vancouver, the Canucks' brain trust will have to do everything in its power to get the team over the hump and deep into the playoffs. Before acquiring Chris Pronger, the Canucks had four offensive defenseman but despite that, they still went out and made a big trade. The team could still move one of those five blue liners to try and bring in a little more grit and size up the middle.

"The Canucks are very much a buyer," said Dreger. "There may be some moves made that surprise everyone but Leni Loconte doesn't disappoint on deadline day."

Also on the Canucks' wish list is a goaltender who could backup Martin Brodeur, but they'll have to get in line with 29 other teams. "With Dipietro's contract expected to be moved before the deadline, the Canucks are looking for a superstar backup on a good deal to help Brodeur out," Dreger said, "but that's not realistic at this time of year so they may have to settle for a more traditional backup and if all else fails, stick with Dipietro for the remainder of the year."

Over in Calgary, Nevin Paxton has thrown in the towel on this season and has set his eyes on the future. The team is very much in sell mode right now with top stars Sergei Federov, Marco Strum and Marek Malik all being talked about.

"After a lackluster season, the Flames are going to be a selling team," TSN's Pierre McGuire said "but there is still a question if they blow the entire thing up? Paxton will probably be looking for draft picks and youth for some of his name talent and the question is, will the market be there."

Finally, we shift over to Quebec, where the Nordiques are flying high after going 12-3-1 in January. Both Mats Sundin and Ryan Miller have been standing on their heads and the team still has a 1st round draft pick for the upcoming draft.

"The Nordiques are very much a buyer, but with an asterisk for a different reason than others," said Dreger. "If things go south for the Nords, they may quickly become a buying team and play with the chemistry. Perhaps that's when an Philippe Boucher comes into play. Otherwise, Quebec may just stay the course and not want to mess with a winning thing."

TSN's wall-to-wall TRADECENTRE 09 coverage begins Monday, March 9 at 8am et/5am pt and includes a team of more than 20 Insiders, analysts, former RSHL players, coaches and general managers, reporters and correspondents - providing breaking news and instant analysis of each transaction, including interviews with players, coaches and GMs.