NHL Rumors: Quiet Trading Period Should Start Heating Up as Deadline Approaches

Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe the NHL rumors are going to start flying fast and furious pretty soon.

While there are always rumors out there to be found—trust me, I know—there hasn't been much in the way of huge stars rumored to be on the move or earth-shattering trades in the works.

Even the player who has been the subject of many of those rumors, Ryan O'Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche, was eventually retained by the team in a rather anticlimactic manner after the Calgary Flames made the head-scratching move to sign him to an offer sheet.

But as Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun writes, the trade market should be heating up soon:

"

The talk has increased in the last few days as the schedule hits the halfway point and teams are starting to get desperate to make moves. Sources say the Rangers, Flames and Philadelphia Flyers are among those making phone calls. "Teams are thinking they've got to do something now if they're going to stand a chance," said a league executive Friday ... The Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Senators are among several teams looking for a defenceman before the April 3 deadline.

"

Well, we already know the Flames are looking to make some moves. Why they would sign O'Reilly to a pretty reasonable offer sheet that the Avs would obviously match is beyond me—especially when the two teams are tied in the standings—but at least they got us started.

The Flyers probably should make a move or two. The team is currently sitting on the fringes of the playoff picture and is rife with young talent that hasn't quite put it all together this year. Adding a solid veteran could provide the team with a spark it will need to earn a playoff berth.

According to Garrioch, the Penguins have been making eyes at Jarome Iginla, which is just frightening. As if that offense needs even more firepower...

It's not surprising that the Ottawa Senators might want help in defense after Erik Karlsson was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, nor is it surprising to hear the New York Rangers are making calls.

Aren't they always making calls?

We all knew that the trade market was going to develop rather tentatively, with teams still uncertain of their chemistry early in the lockout-shortened season and wary of adding too much salary to the cap before this summer.

But it looks like things are about to heat up. Get excited, people!