Trade deadline looms for NHL

The trade deadline is today, and it looks like Toronto and Colorado are fighting to get the most players before midnight tonight.

The Colorado Avalanche has picked up San Jose Sharks defenseman Bryan Marchment, who is one of the toughest and ugliest players in the league. Suspended more times than Robert Downey Jr.'s license, Marchment is a fierce playoff performer now playing for a team that at times has been said to have too much skill and not enough brawn. Marchment should get along well with Colorado coach Tony Granato, who was the ultimate tough guy himself.

Who's next from San Jose to go? Supposedly, San Jose already agreed to trade Vincent Damphousse to the Avs, but the trade was hung up on the restricted free agent's salary when Colorado balked at his price.

Also going in the San Jose fire sale is Sharks power forward Owen Nolan, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs over the weekend. Nolan scored two goals in his first game for the Leafs against the Vancouver Canucks, already making the Ontario native a fan favorite.

After that, well -- anyone. San Jose forward Teemu Selanne has a player's option on his contract for next year. However, if he signals that he is not interested in playing anymore for the Sharks, they will be forced to trade him, rather than lose him for nothing after the season. Selanne has said that he would like to stay in San Jose, but not if the team keeps trading away all its veteran players.

Toronto, missing the Bryan Marchment trade, went after Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley as its second choice. And the Leafs and Avs are still looking for more. It's rumored that the Leafs are talking to the Edmonton Oilers about defenseman Janne Niinimaa and the Avs's name has been attached to nearly every good player in the league.

But do not forget about the other playoff contenders. As the deadline approaches, the flurry of trades is rising. The Western Conference leading Dallas Stars have picked up Buffalo Sabres forward Stu Barnes, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Lyle Odelein, and are believed to be getting the Montreal Canadiens' Doug Gilmour.

Dallas is making sure that it has all its bases covered before the playoffs with these trades. With Barnes, the team has insurance in case Bill Guerin doesn't come back. Odelein will add to the team's blueline depth, and Doug Gilmour, despite his age, is the kind of clutch playoff performer and leader that any team could use.

In the meantime, the Eastern Conference leaders are trying hard to not get left behind. Despite the team's recent bankruptcy, the Ottawa Senators traded for rugged winger Rob Ray from the Sabres, considered by many Buffalo fans to be the heart and soul of the team.

Buffalo is also looking to offload the rest of its roster. Center Chris Gratton is rumored to have already been traded, and defenseman Alex Zhitnik is next in line.

All of these trades show that teams like Toronto, Colorado and Dallas are serious about making runs at the Stanley Cup this year. None of the names traded so far are of the superstar variety, but with the grind of the NHL playoffs, depth on the roster can count for a lot more.

Notably absent from most of the bigger trade rumors are the Philadelphia Flyers, the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues. That the Flyers and the Blues not getting in on the action is definitely strange, as none has the kind of roster right now that would be able to take the team to the Finals. As for the Devils, they may be looking to trade young forward Scott Gomez, but look for them to go with what they got, and to be very difficult to beat.



Sign of the week that you need to get better accountants

Washington Capitals winger Jaromir Jagr was charged over $3 million in back taxes by the IRS last week, right when his team sits only two points up on the Tampa Bay Lightning for the South East division's lead. Washington fans are crossing their fingers that this won't distract the superstar forward, since winning the division would allow the Capitals to be seeded third in the conference instead of seventh or eighth.