Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren admitted on Thursday that he liked his team, but that he wouldn't be surprised if the team made a trade before Wednesday's deadline. "But I wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't," he added. "I like our team." Holmgren admitted that the team isn't any closer to acquiring defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who is being shopped by the Panthers.

Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier is happy that trade rumors involving his name should begin to dissipate soon. "I don't know why it keeps coming up -- maybe the media a little bit in Montreal and Toronto. The last one had a little bit more legs than the others, but obviously now it's over," Lecavalier said. Lightning general manager Brian Lawton stated Monday that he would never trade the captain.

The Panthers could qualify for the postseason for the first time in eight seasons, but general manager Jacques Martin is mulling over some sizable moves. Martin will likely be responding to calls about defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. "I think we have people that evaluate our team on a daily basis," Martin said. "The last couple years we've tried to build a team that would put this franchise in the playoffs moving forward. When you get into a trading deadline, you probably look to improve your club for the stretch drive if you can." Bouwmeester is considered one of the best defenseman in the league, and has appeared in 319 consecutive games. "It all depends on what we can acquire in return and I think if it's a package where we feel we improve our hockey club, I think the rest of our organization and the players would recognize that," Martin said. "For now, we'll go forward with Jay in our lineup if we can't get something that helps us now. If we do get something that we feel is more beneficial for our hockey team, then we'd be willing to change the chemistry. "I think we're in the process of evaluating what's available for Jay and come March 4, a decision will be made whether we move forward with him on our team or if I feel that I can get something that makes us a better club. I think the priority for us right now is to move forward to improve our club, to make the playoffs this year, and I don't want to disturb that."

The Maple Leafs haven't decided if they want to deal defenseman Tomas Kaberle yet, but he has agreed to waive his no-trade clause if any one of ten teams are involved. According to two sources with direct knowledge of the list, the Bruins are among the ten teams. "Kaberle is not going anywhere, unless someone blows me away," Toronto general manager Brian Burke said Saturday.

Defenseman Ville Koistinen returned to the ice on Wednesday, but he still wants to be traded by the Predators sooner rather than later. The blueliner had been a healthy scratch for the previous eight games. "On a couple of occasions, we've come pretty close (to making a trade), but it just hasn't happened," general manager David Poile said. "As we told his agent, we're not against moving him. But, he has to play to the level to show he's worthy to do that."

Brian Burke, Ron Wilson and the Maple Leafs are ready to makeover their roster. "Where we are going in the future is an entirely different story," Wilson said as the trade deadline inches closer. "We've got to get younger, we've got to get quicker, we've got to get meaner and in a lot of cases, we've got to get more skilled. "There's going to be a lot of changes, it's as simple as that. This shouldn't be a revelation to anybody right now."