Peepin' Foes: NHL Trade Deadline Edition

NHL general managers have two days a year when they get to step in to the limelight and tomorrow is one of them - the trade deadline. The final bell rings at 3 p.m. EST but since the NHL insists on using archaic faxing technology, deals will come to light all the way up until six or so. Much like the first day of free agency, GMs can make or break their franchises on deadline day. Granted, more often then not it is break (Atlanta, 2007), but it is still great fun for us hockey fans.

Where We Are: The Rangers are really close to the cap and still needing a scoring winger and help on the blueline.

Where They Are: Philadelphia is flirting with the idea of Jay Bouwmeester. New Jersey already added a solid defenseman in Havelid and still have a goaltender to trade. Pittsburgh added Chris Kunitz in what is turning into a stellar deal but is still sorely in need of help all over the ice. The Islanders are going to deal Bill Guerin, it is just a matter of to which team. The other teams we will be fighting with outside of the Atlantic - Buffalo, Carolina and Florida - could all make big moves. Buffalo needs a goaltender, Carolina needs ... well, Rod Brind'Amour to return to being Rod Brind'Amour, and Florida could use some veteran help up front (but not much else, these kids are hungry).

Who To Watch For: Buffalo and Columbus. If Buffalo gets a goalie to fill in for Miller, they will certainly up the ante in the race for the playoffs. Columbus is worth watching because they are almost certain to make a big move and that is what makes deadline day fun.

What To Watch For: If Boston makes a big move, Montreal will almost certainly follow. The Habs reaaaaallllyyy want to win this season and they need more then a revival by Alex Kovalev to get there. The B's are the Beast of the East right now and any move they make to get better would make their Original Six rivals (and the team that beat them in the playoffs last season) look worse.

What We'll (Hopefully) See: Glen Sather not doing anything stupid. Blair Betts not getting traded. Buffalo not getting their netminder. Islanders not getting any return for their veterans. Dominic Moore to end up somewhere good that isn't in the East (always liked that guy).

Also Check Out: The first place you should go is TSN since they are usually the first to report big deals, Blue Notes since Zipay is really on the ball lately with Blueshirt news, SB Nation's Deadline Center, the new crew at Barry Melrose Rocks plans to live blog and that should be good for some laughs and Puck Daddy, just cause I like those guys.