NHL Trade Deadline: Who's on the Move?

The NHL trade deadline is right around the corner, and the rumors are already flying.

Who's on the block? What team is going to make that blockbuster move by February 26th?

A number of big-time players are out there for the taking. Peter Forsberg, who is playing in Sweden, has recently narrowed his decision down to a few destinations, that he would play for this year.

Philadelphia, Vancouver, Ottawa and Colorado.

If this was 2002, I'd be jumping all over this.

But, it's not. It's 2008, and Forsberg's best years are behind him. What you get now is still a very talented player, with tons of playoff experience, but an older body and nagging injuries.

I'll pass.

Next on the block:

L.A. Kings forward Mike Cammelleri, along with virtually everyone else on that horrendous squad. Mike scored 80 points last year.  Not too shabby. He's looking for the $6 million range per season. Even the $3+ million he's getting now is a bit steep for this guy. 

Again, I'll pass.

The biggest name out there right now, hands-down, is Atlanta Thrashers winger Marian Hossa. A player of this caliber won't be traded overnight.  It will be hours, if not minutes, before the the deadline.

It's all up to the decision of Thrashers' GM Don Waddell whether or not to sign Hossa for

big money, long-term. The eighth spot in the Eastern conference is going to be a neck-and-neck battle until the last game.

Yet, I don't foresee Atlanta being in the mix a month from now. 

Chances are, the two parties won't come to terms, and Hossa will be a vital player for another playoff contending team.

Obviously, teams are already lining up for Hossa. Not only can he make or break a team in terms of the playoffs, but he's the kind of player that can catapult a team to the Stanley Cup.

The best place for Hossa to go, and a team who desperately needs a goal scorer, is the Boston Bruins.

The Boston fans have waited for what seems like an eternity for a legitimate, Stanley Cup contending team.

Since Peter Chiarelli took over the GM position in May of 2006, he made his presence known in Boston by signing Center Mark Savard and Defenseman Zdeno Chara.

A one-and-done head coach Dave Lewis was later succeeded by Claude Julien.

The Bruins are hovering in and around that all-important eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and could certainly use the skills of Hossa to ensure a playoff berth.

With Glen Murray on the IR, and Patrice Bergeron most likely done for the season, it's the perfect time to make this deal. Hossa would be reunited with his former Thrashers teammate and linemate, Marc Savard, instanly making that line one of the NHL's best.

I think the Bruins need to do whatever it takes to make this trade happen, even if it's parting ways with young talents such as Phil Kessell.

Along with the suprisingly stellar goaltending by All-Star Tim Thomas, this is one of the better Bruins teams we have seen in a number of years, since the days of Joe Thornton.

Making this deal may even recompense the loss of Big Joe on that hauntingly eerie day in back in 2005.