Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson is working hard to unload salary rather than fire coach Scott Arniel. Howson is still trying to move centers Derick Brassard and Antoine Vermette and goalie Steve Mason for whatever the organization can get. There is significant interest in Vermette.

Calgary has struggled and the belief is that the team will have to consider trading superstar Jarome Iginla by this season's deadline.

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney insists he's not trading Kyle Turris, but if he changes his mind the Canucks and Flames are certainly interested. The Senators have some interest in Turris as well.

The Hurricanes are a team that is willing to trade a defenseman, according to a source. The idea is to give more ice time eventually to the likes of Justin Faulk or Derek Joslin, both promising young blueliners. Carolina needs to open up that ice time by moving a defenseman. It's not clear whom the Hurricanes would be willing to move, but Bryan Allen is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland would prefer to hold off on making a trade right now, he did say he hopes to be in a position to be aggressive at the trade deadline. Since the lockout, Detroit has consciously hung on to their first-round picks to replenish the talent pool within the organization. Many of those players are either contributing or on the verge of contributing. "As we sit here today ... we think we're as deep as we have been in prospects in a while," Holland said. "We're positioned to be aggressive if we want to be. We're flexible." Does that mean, for the first time in years, Detroit's first-round pick is in play? It sounds like it. "Maybe. Let's see," Holland said. "We obviously have cap space. I think it's a different time. I think it's too early. Let's see where our team play is at. We're hoping we're a playoff team. I'm hoping to be involved in something, but it's early right now."

The Flyers are not interested in making a trade, according to a league source familiar with the team's thinking. Philadelphia was thought to have interest in a Ducks defenseman, an affordable stop-gap to help tide the team over between prospect Erik Gustafsson -- who has played in each of the last 3 games -- and veteran Matt Walker. Sheldon Brookbank, 31, who makes $750,000, was thought to be one of the names on the Flyers' list. Instead, as it stands now, the team is satisfied with its current makeup and would rather ride out the injury wave than make a rash move. "They've made it clear that they are not willing to make a trade to just make a trade," the source said. "They don't have that much wiggle room under the salary cap and it's not as if they're in a tailspin. No matter, they would have no shortage of teams to deal with, as Columbus, Boston and others try to sort out their problems."