NHL Trade Rumors: High Prices for Star Players Will Result in Few Major Deals

The NHL trade deadline has been quieter than normal this season because few teams are completely out of the playoff race in both the Eastern and Western Conference.

However, because there is so much parity in the league right now, teams will not want to part with their best trade assets unless they receive an offer too good to not consider.

These high prices will likely lead to few star players being dealt before Monday's trade deadline, which will make one of the most exciting days of the hockey season pretty boring.

The Boston Bruins are one team looking to make a more or two before the deadline, and in a radio interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub on Wednesday, general manager Peter Chiarelli talked about the enormous prices for players.

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"We were fortunate to get a couple of players that had addition years on their contracts and fit into our two-way system. I can’t tell you those deals are out there. I would hope to add some depth and I can’t dismiss the bigger deals, but the prices for rental players are through the roof right. We paid a good amount last year to get some payers in – I’m not saying we won’t this year — but they’re through the roof.”

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With prices so high right now, teams will be very reluctant to part with high draft picks and elite prospects for veteran players and rentals.

Last year, the Bruins gave up a first round pick and elite prospect Joe Colborne in a package for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle, which in the end was a poor move.

General managers who have a history of a move or two that didn't work out at the deadline will probably not be willing to make another bold trade this season, especially when the prices are so high.

With teams such as Columbus Blue Jackets, who have one of the few real stars available in Rick Nash, asking teams to part with something like an NHL player, two top prospects and a first round draft pick, it's easy to see why no major trades have been made yet.

Since Nash and Blue Jackets teammate Jeff Carer still having many more years left on their current contracts, don't expect the prices to acquire these players to go down anytime soon. It's not like Columbus has to trade these players right now.

With nine of the 14 teams in both conference that currently aren't in the top eight only six points or less away from a playoff berth, expect very few stars to be dealt because the prices are high and becoming sellers can really irritate fans, especially when the playoffs are attainable.

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