If Panthers general manager Jacques Martin isn't able to sign Jay Bouwmeester to a contract extension soon, the defenseman could be placed on the block prior to the March 4 trade deadline. Florida would most likely be asking for a young roster player, a prospect, and a first-round pick in return.

There is belief in the NHL that if the Ducks begin to fall out of playoff contention, they'll deal veteran defenseman Chris Pronger. With Toronto rebuilding, it makes sense that former Anaheim executive Brian Burke could make a play for Pronger.

Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier addressed trade rumors involving him going to Montreal once again on Friday night from the site of this weekend's All-Star Game. "Management told me nothing is happening -- and if there was, they would come to me," Lecavalier said. "If it did happen, that I was going to be sent to Montreal, I can say that I grew up here (in Ile Bizard) and have always loved the Montreal Canadiens. It's a great organization, and I have a lot of family and friends here. I think a lot of Montreal players would tell you it's a dream place to play."

The Lightning and Vincent Lecavalier are denying trade rumors involving the center going to the Canadiens for a package of players and draft picks. "I am from there. My family is from there," Lecavalier told Montreal's La Presse. "My friends as well. I grew up with the Canadiens. I understand there are a lot of rumors presently. But they are rumors. I have heard them throughout my career. I like playing in Tampa, I am a loyal person." Lightning General Manager Brian Lawton also dismissed the reports. "To suggest we're engaging in conversations to trade him or we're shopping him to all teams in the National Hockey League is completely inaccurate," Lawton told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's false, egregious and it's abusive toward the player. I can tell you if a player of that stature were ever going to be traded, I would go meet with him, face to face, and discuss the situation. That has never happened."

Penguins general manager Ray Shero realizes that the team is stuck in a slump, but he doesn't plan to swing any major trades. Center Sidney Crosby needs a winger more capable of capitalizing on his playmaking, and the offense needs an overall boost. "I would not want to make a trade right now that I wouldn't have made the first 20 games. To do something because we're losing some games isn't what I'm looking at," Shero said Sunday.