The consensus in the media is that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke will not make a big splash before this year’s trade deadline.

The veteran GM told Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun during the Winter Classic announcement in Detroit that part of the problem is that the trade market is — and has been for the entire season — cold.

It’s very quiet.

Burke has always tried to avoid deadline day shopping because of his belief that prices are always too high, as he reiterated to Kevin Allen of USA Today several days ago.

Do a graphic for any year — the math doesn’t work. Fourteen to 16 teams add players. Prices are inflated, and there is one Stanley Cup parade at the end of the season. The trade deadline is a pit of quicksand.

While Burke may not go without tinkering with his roster this trade deadline, he may shy away from making bigger deals if he feels the cost is too much. As Doug MacLean noted, Burke doesn’t want to sell the farm and deplete his farm system for short-term gains.

Because the trade market is dead, Burke tells Craig Custance of ESPN he may have to wait for deadline day to make his moves.

I think people know I’m not a deadline guy, but we might have to do our stuff at the deadline because there’s [expletive]-all happening now.

So, what type of players would Burke want to add?

Aside from desperately wanting to add a top-six forward with size who can score — which, as Bob McKenzie of TSN points out, aren’t widely available — SportsNet’s Patrick Hoffman has Burke also wanting to add a two-way forward.

Philadelphi Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk.

Philadelphia Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk, a Burke trade target in mid-January, is currently still out of action with a concussion. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Maple Leafs have interest in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter, but Burke isn’t too keen on taking on his long-term contract. The Anaheim Ducks aren’t trading Bobby Ryan or Ryan Getzlaf. And the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t as keen on dealing Ryan Malone, another former Burke target.

With news that Rick Nash has handed a list of teams — with the Maple Leafs being one of them — where the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowed to trade him to, it would make sense that Burke will explore the possibility of landing the big power-forward. However, there are some challenges on that front, as we already discussed.

Bob Mitchell of the Toronto Star has an in-depth analysis of a trade for Edmonton Oilers‘ Sam Gagner, and a similar breakdown of a potential deal for Carolina Hurricanes pending unrestricted free agent forward Tuomo Ruutu.

Any of these players would come at a high cost. So, which players and assets might Burke be willing to make available?

Hoffman lists current roster players Nikolai Kulemin, Clarke MacArthur, Cody Franson, and Luke Schenn as potential trade bait, while McKenzie adds Carl Gunnarson.

Burke may also put pending unrestricted free agent forward Mikhail Grabovski in play. Word from TSN’ Darren Dreger is that the Maple Leafs have been offered “a second-round pick and a prospect” that Burke believes can upgrade to a first round draft pick.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joe Colborne.

Garrioch reported on February 4th that the Maple Leafs are also willing to part with prospects Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri (specifically for Ruutu).

While Burke may not feel the same way yet, Colborne told Koshan a couple of days ago that he would like a shot to be the type of player for the Maple Leafs that the club is looking to bring in from outside the organization.

I want to be the one the Leafs look (upon) to be their No. 1 go-to guy. It’s something I’m striving for. When I wake up every day and come to the rink, that’s the goal I have.

As for the rumors, Colborne says that he would prefer to remain in Toronto if it were up to him.

It’s old hat for me. I know Nazem (Kadri) has been in a bunch of (rumours) and we joke about it. People make it seem like we are so worried about it, but it’s really a relaxed atmosphere. I love being in Toronto and that’s where my focus is.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman and the club’s front office must first decide whether they’re buyers or sellers heading into the February 27 trade deadline before any serious discussions about moving forward Ryan Malone takes place.

Yzerman tells Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times that he does not have a deadline for deciding if they’ll load up for a push to capture a playoff spot or unload players for futures.

The trade market dictates what, if anything, we’re going to do. At this point there’s nothing that makes any sense that is the right thing to do whether it’s short or long term.

What’s making it difficult to decide is his club’s 6-0-1 run in its past seven games, Yzerman told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun earlier this week.

It’s still a bit early for that in light of the fact that our team is playing reasonably well. The timing isn’t right to look at it that way. We have to keep seeing if we can keep climbing into this. We’ll see how we do in the next few games. We’ll see how it all plays out. There’s no rush to do anything. There haven’t been any difficult decisions to make at this point because any potential [trade] opportunities really haven’t made sense for us, short-term and long-term.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not listening to offers for his players or investigating potential deals. Aside from Malone, Kevin Allen of USA Today, and Scott Burnside of ESPN believe that the likes of defenseman Pavel Kubina and forwards Adam Hall and Dominic Moore would garner interest from teams looking to add depth.

Our team is winning. My approach is that if there’s any deal that potentially can be done which makes our team better now or a better team in the future that’s worth doing, I’m prepared to do it. But at this point, nothing has made sense from my point of view.

That could change as the trade deadline nears and sellers and buyers become more clear and ready to deal. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure: Yzerman will be ready to act accordingly.

All we can do is be prepared to act one way or another.

According to the Toronto Star’s Bob Mitchell, Yzerman has attended several Toronto Maple Leafs games recently. That only adds more fuel to the rumors the Maple Leafs are interested in acquiring the truculent forward.

As numerous reports indicate, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke wants to add a top-six forward before the deadline and Malone is one of his targets.

But the Maple Leafs aren’t, and won’t be, alone in pursuing Malone, says Mitchell. The Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and the Vancouver Canucks are, or would be, interested in making a play for the American winger if he were to become available.

Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times also reported earlier in the week that the Pittsburgh Penguins had director of pro scouting Derek Clancy and pro scout Andre Savard at a recent game between the Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets. Seven other teams had scouts at the game.

The SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker panel also has the New York Rangers as a potential suitor.

Allen and David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail claim the Lightning would love to stabilize their situation between the pipes by acquiring a goaltender. Allen lists Vancouver Canucks super-backup Cory Schneider as a possibility. Cristodero reports that Kings’ goalie Jonathan Bernier has been linked in trade rumors as a return for Malone.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider.

The former Stanley Cup winner much regarded playoff performer could be an attractive option for low-budget teams, not just the big spenders. As Globe and Mail’s Erik Duhatschek noted recently, Malone has a cap hit of $4.5 million for the next three seasons, but because his contract was front-loaded, his actual salary is $3.0 million, and $2.5 million for the final two years.

However, should the Lightning decide that the best course of action is to part with him, Malone would have final say in where he ends up as he has a no-movement clause in his contract (which transforms into a limited no-trade clause at the end of next season).

For now, Malone tells Cristodero that he is just trying to get back into the lineup after missing a number of games with an upper-body injury.

It’s something you can’t control. You can’t worry about it. It’s just people talking. It’s just the way the business is, so I don’t think twice about it.

He may finally return to the ice this Saturday.

Do the Vancouver Canucks hang on to backup goaltender Cory Schneider as insurance for the playoffs? Or do they trade him before the February 27 trade deadline to bolster their top-two lines or blueline? Their decision could prove to be pivotal in whether or not the Canucks win the Stanley Cup this season.

Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province makes a case for trading Schneider because his value on the trade market is “considerably higher” than his value to the Canucks.

Aside from being considered the best backup in the NHL having accumulated a 27-9-2, a save percentage around 0.930, and a goals-against average below 2.30 over the past two years, he only earns $900K this season.

SportsNet’s Mark Spector is on the same page, saying that current Canucks starter Roberto Luongo is more than capable of leading the club to the promised land and they don’t require to have the best backup in the League and its “most valuable trade asset” riding the bench.

The Vancouver Sun’s Cam Cole speculates that if the Canucks were to ship Schneider, it would be to an Eastern Conference team. Potential trading partners may include the New Jersey Devils (to replace soon-to-be 40-year-old Marty Brodeur), Washington Capitals (where Thomas Vokoun is struggling), and Toronto Maple Leafs (where James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson have been inconsistent). However, the chances of prying away a power-forward or a top-four defenseman from any of those teams is highly unlikely.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Spector suggests the Canucks should investigate the possibility of acquiring Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Andrew Ladd of the Winnipeg Jets, Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders, or Ryan Malone and a blueliner from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a deal revolving around Schneider.

Willes lists the trades of Dallas Stars backup Mike Smith for Lightning forward Brad Richards and the Montreal Canadiens dealing Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues for first round draft pick Lars Eller as perhaps the type of players a package centered around Schneider could garner the Canucks.

Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province analyzed a rumor that originated on an Internet message board and made the rounds during the All Star break. Word was that the Canucks were preparing to send Cory Schneider, forward Mason Raymond, defenseman Keith Ballard, and perhaps a third-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for 50-goal scorer Corey Perry. Like all message board rumors, it fizzled. It never made any sense to begin with. The Canucks get the best player in the deal. The Ducks get Schneider and spare parts. Don’t think so.

Still, Ben Kuzma of The Vancouver Province speculates that the Canucks are showcasing Schneider by playing him important games like in the Stanley Cup Finals rematch against the Boston Bruins January 7 perhaps in the hope of getting a player like Corey.

However, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault says that playing the 26-year-old netminder in high-pressure games is just part of his development process. Nothing more.

For us, Cory is a real young guy who has a tremendous amount of potential and it’s important for him to play some games like this. That’s part of our reasoning.

And that could be true. Or not. There have been numerous conflicting reports.

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun source are indicating the Canucks want to hang on to Schneider because they feel feel he provides great insurance in case Luongo goes down with an injury. Having said that, LeBrun thinks that the Canucks may consider moving their backup goalie if they were presented with an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Similarly, during a recent segment of SportsNet’s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker, the panel hinted that the Canucks are leaning towards keeping the impending restricted free agent but would listen to “significant” offers.

Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun also wrote recently that the Canucks could be persuaded to move Schneider if teams are willing to part with a roster player and a prospect or high draft pick in exchange.

For his part, Schneider says he doesn’t concern himself with all the speculation of perhaps playing for another team after February 27.

I just think it’s not in your control and I don’t like worrying about things I can’t control. If I’m going to get traded, I can’t control that. It would be selfish to just think of me and not the team. Again, I could make it easy and not perform the way I want to and there wouldn’t be talk of anything. Hopefully it’s enough to make them think or help me play a few more games.

SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker panel recently analyzed the situation of three Canadian teams in the Eastern Conference heading into the February 27 trade deadline.

Here is a quick look at what they discussed (see video for more details):

The Montreal Canadiens are still undecided whether they’ll look to add to their roster or auction off some veterans. The Canadiens do have some players that playoff-bound clubs team may want, like Hal Gill and Travis Mowen.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

In Ottawa, the rebuilding Senators will have to decide if they’re a buyer or a seller. Carolina Hurricanes’ forward Tuomo Ruutu may be a target, but they won’t overspend to get him — or anyone else.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t get a goaltender. But they will try to find a number one center, or a top-six winger — Tampa Bay Lightning‘s Ryan Malone is at the top of their list, with San Jose Sharks‘ Ryan Clowe, Dallas Stars’ Brenden Morrow, and Ruutu close behind.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke tells Kevin Allen of USA Today that he will look to make additions to his team long before the February 27 trade deadline.

Whatever moves we intend to make will be in advance of the deadline because I’ve never liked the price tag at the deadline.

It’s a tactic that Burke has employed in the past — partly because he wants new players to have longer to gel with their teammates and partly due to the high number of teams chasing the same players near the deadline — and there’s no reason to believe he will try to employ again this season.

I don’t think the math ever changes. The number of teams that think they can add a piece and get there is the same every year, and the pressure on general managers remains the same.

NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen and the CBC’s Elliotte Friedman both list Burke as one many general manager who will be making calls to acquire talent before the trade deadline.

Friedman reported on the January 21st edition of the Satellite Hotstove that he has made struggling forwards Mikhail Grabovski (pending unrestricted free agent) and Nikolai Kulemin (pending restricted free agent) available.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

However, Burke denies that he has been shopping Grabovski or Kulemin.

We are not shopping [Grabovski or Kulemin]. We have been asked. But that is it.

Meanwhile, on a recent segment of SportsNet‘s Sources Say, John Shannon reported that Leafs may feel comfortable shopping blueliners Luke Schenn, Keith Aulie, and Mike Komisarek to add some much needed help at center/forward because of their belief that minor league blueliner Korbinian Holzer would be an adequate replacement.

And If the Leafs don’t end up moving any of those three, than perhaps Holzer ends up being the one used as trade bait.

As for who they may target, Steve Buffrey of the Toronto Sun urges that Burke pulls the trigger on a trade to acquire some size and scoring to bolster the club’s forward group before their poor play continues.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that Burke has held talk with the Anaheim Ducks about center Ryan Getzlaf. However, sources indicate that Getzlaf is no longer on the market. Fellow Duck forward Bobby Ryan doesn’t appear to be an option either, as the asking price for him is too high — two top prospects and a draft pick.

Anaheim Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf.

Toronto Star’s Damian Cox suggests that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone would be a good fit, because of his size (6’4″, 219 lbs) and the power-forward type of game he plays.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

Cox cites the Lightning’s poor record this season and their financial troubles as reasons why they would move Malone. He would also not cost as much as Getzlaf in terms of both money and assets to acquire.

UPDATE: Adrain Dater of the Denver Post reports that scouts from a number of teams, including Toronto, were present at Saturday’s game in Los Angeles between the Kings game and the Colorado Avalanche. The Maple Leafs don’t play either team for the rest of the season, so let the speculation begin.