Today marks the NHL trade deadline, which means the playoffs are near. So, who (besides Rick Nash) could be moved today? We know it won't be Ales Hemsky, since he signed a two year extension over the weekend, and if I'm the Oilers, this is a calculated gamble. Hemsky can be a solid second line right winger who can put up 80 points in a healthy year. The problem? You guessed it, health, and he hasn't played a full season in the last three years. Names that are being floated around include Dustin Brown, and this is because of the recent Jeff Carter trade. While it is uncertain if this marks the Kings as true buyers or sellers (the Carter trade only cost them Jack Johnson and a first rounder in either 2012 or 2013), Brown's departure could almost certainly be taken as a transition of sorts to a Mike Richards team. Ottawa already made a move, adding insurance in goal in Ben Bishop. Bishop won't likely be threatening Craig Anderson for the starter's role, but this move clearly puts Alex Auld on notice and gives Robin Lehner competition for a backup role as soon as now. Vancouver put Keith Ballard on the long-term IR, clearing up $4.2 million and possibly clearing the way for a trade for Dallas center Steve Ott. It's no sure thing right now, but imagine the possibilities: a team with Ott and Maxim Lapierre on the bottom two lines. The rest of the league will hate playing Vancouver if this happens.
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