The clock is ticking.
GMs of playoff contenders are looking for that final piece of the puzzle, while playoff-pretender GMs are trying to dump salaries and get prospects and draft picks in return.
There have already been some deals, including the Peter Forsberg blockbuster on Thursday, but there should be more to come ... many more.
You can expect the GMs' phone lines to be burning up as the NHL trade deadline, now Feb. 27, has been moved up.
The 30 GMs will gather for their winter meetings tomorrow in Naples, Fla., with trade talk no doubt on the menu.
Here's a look around the league as Sun Media takes a stab at who might be on the move:
ANAHEIM DUCKS
STATUS: Buyer.
NEEDS: They'd like to deal for an upgrade on D Sean O'Donnell. Small possibility they could make a move in net.
POSSIBILITIES: Chicago D Jassen Cullimore could be a potential acquisition.
ATLANTA THRASHERS
STATUS: Buyer.
NEEDS: Dealt for C Eric Belanger (Columbus via Nashville), so GM Don Waddell may have already made his move.
POSSIBILITIES: They may have been involved in the Forsberg sweepstakes.
BOSTON BRUINS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: GM Peter Chiarelli would take a goalie in a second to step ahead of Tim Thomas and Hannu Toivonen.
POSSIBILITIES: The Bruins will move C Brad Boyes for the right offer, while LW Marco Sturm will be a UFA.
BUFFALO SABRES
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: The Sabres are expecting to get C Tim Connolly back from his post-concussion issues, but that is complicated by a stress fracture in his leg.
POSSIBILITIES: Will listen to offers for G Martin Biron, C Derek Roy and LW Ales Kotalik.
CALGARY FLAMES
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: They dealt for D Brad Stuart and C Wayne Primeau, but many believe GM Darryl Sutter has one move left to make.
POSSIBILITIES The Flames might be looking to pry LW Martin Gelinas out of Florida.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: The Hurricanes would like to make a move. GM Jim Rutherford wants to add veteran leadership in the run for the playoffs.
POSSIBILITIES: St. Louis LW Keith Tkachuk and Philly LW Geoff Sanderson are on the list.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
STATUS: Seller.
NEEDS: Everything. GM Dale Tallon needs to find support for LW Martin Havlat. Ideally, he'd like to bring in a centre.
POSSIBILITIES: The club will try to move RW Martin Lapointe, C Bryan Smolinski and Cullimore.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
STATUS: Buyer and seller.
NEEDS: They'd like to find somebody stupid enough to take G Jose Theodore, but that likely won't happen. A forward would help.
POSSIBILITIES: Veteran D Ken Klee could be moved.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: There isn't enough room to list what the Jackets need. They could use goalies, defencemen and forwards.
POSSIBILITIES: RW Anson Carter, D Bryan Berard and LW Frederik Modin could all be moved.
DALLAS STARS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: The Stars made a big move to get Phoenix LW Ladislav Nagy last week. There was some thinking they might bring Bill Guerin back.
POSSIBILITIES: May take a run at Florida RW Todd Bertuzzi and Tkachuk.
DETROIT RED WINGS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: Would like to add a big centre or winger. They are about $2 million US under the cap and would also take fourth-line help.
POSSIBILITIES: Watch for them to go after Bertuzzi, Guerin or Tkachuk.
EDMONTON OILERS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: GM Kevin Lowe doesn't want to give up on his team, but he's getting to the point he could start moving bodies.
POSSIBILITIES: The names of LW Raffi Torres and RW Joffrey Lupul are being whispered around the league.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: Panthers GM/coach Jacques Martin will have a lot of teams wanting to help him.
POSSIBILITIES: RW Gary Roberts, Bertuzzi and Gelinas could all be dealt.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
STATUS: Seller
POSSIBILITIES: Could move D Aaron Miller. Signed C Derek Amstrong, so he won't be dealt.
MINNESOTA WILD
STATUS: Buyer.
NEEDS: What they really have to find is a faceoff man. There are still whispers they might deal G Manny Fernandez.
POSSIBILITIES: Will call the Coyotes about C Yanic Perreault. He'll be hard to wrestle away.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: Everything, but have been focused on a No. 2 centre. Have to find someone to take offensive pressure off Saku Koivu.
POSSIBILITIES: Plenty of talk about Smolinski. Will try to deal RW Sergei Samsonov.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: Already have done plenty. GM David Poile picked up D Vitali Vishnevski from the Thrashers and Forsberg from the Flyers.
POSSIBILITIES: RW Scott Hartnell is an upcoming UFA and contract talks have gone nowhere.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
STATUS: Buyer
POSSIBILITIES: Will have to waive players to make any moves without subtracting.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: Want to add depth. They are having a good year, but the reality is they likely won't be around in the post-season.
POSSIBILITIES: LW Jason Blake will likely be moved and he's going to be an attractive option for a contender.
NEW YORK RANGERS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: They can't afford to sell in this neighbourhood. The club gets pressure to chase everybody. A winger would help.
POSSIBILITIES: Will take a run at Tkachuk and Guerin. D Darius Kasparaitis could be moved.
OTTAWA SENATORS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: GM John Muckler wants to add a veteran, but doesn't have a lot of cash to play with. Summer decisions have been costly.
POSSIBILITIES: This club wants Roberts who, as a Maple Leaf, killed them in the Battle of Ontario.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: The Flyers need help everywhere.
POSSIBILITIES Sanderson and LW Kyle Calder could get change-of-address cards.
PHOENIX COYOTES
STATUS: Seller
POSSIBILITIES: Captain Shane Doan would have been an attractive commodity, but he was signed earlier this week.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
STATUS: Buyer.
NEEDS: Would like to bring in protection for Sidney Crosby and wouldn't mind a defensive defenceman as well.
POSSIBILITIES: Might call Montreal to see if they can get D Craig Rivet.
SAN JOSE SHARKS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: A defenceman to help the power play.
POSSIBILITIES: Have been persistently trying to get Phoenix D Nick Boynton in a three-way deal.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: President John Davidson has been pleased with the club's coaching change to Andy Murray. Now they have to get help.
POSSIBILITIES: Tkachuk, Guerin, LW Martin Rucinsky and D Eric Brewer could all be gone.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS:The Bolts would like to add a puck-moving defenceman. Doubtful they will make a move for Chicago G Nikolai Khabibulin.
POSSIBILITIES: Will likely try to pick up Berard from the Jackets and move C Vaclav Prospal.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: The Leafs wouldn't mind adding another veteran winger who can play alongside C Mats Sundin and help the club make the post-season.
POSSIBILITIES: Sturm is a possibility for Toronto, which could move D Brendan Bell.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
STATUS: Buyer
NEEDS: Would have loved to add Forsberg to centre Markus Naslund. Have been looking for help there all year.
POSSIBILITIES: Would move C Brendan Morrison. They might end up with Smolinski.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
STATUS: Seller
NEEDS: Not a lot that anybody wants, other than the stars the Capitals are building around. They could use some veteran help, but that will be something they get in July.
POSSIBILITIES: They've held talks with LW Richard Zednik, but he could be moved.
