Thoughts as the trade deadline approaches

There are five days left until the NHL trade deadline for the 2006-2007 season, with all deals having to be done by 3pm on Tuesday, February 27, 2007.

So far, the only major shoe to drop was the Flyers moving F Peter Forsberg to Nashville.

Speculation is rampant over which teams will be sellers and which will be buyers. The tight playoff races in the East leave more uncertainty over which teams are which. About the only thing certain is the Philadelphia Flyers are out of it - they have 40 points with 22 games remaining, and could only secure 84 points if they won out. Their elimination number is 18 - either points failed to be gained, or points gained by the 8th place team.
Washington is in a rough spot at 5 games under .500 with 21 games left, having 56 points, but they do have a max possible of98, so at least they have a mathematical chance at that 95 points, even if improbable, as they have lost 5 straight and are 2-5-3 in their last 10. Florida is at 58, Boston 62 and the Rangers 63. At 66 in 9th and 10th are Toronto and the Islanders, with Carolina holding down the 8th spot with 67 points. The race is so tight that 4th seed right now (Pittsburgh & Ottawa) have 73 points, only 7 up on 9th, even though they have more points than the SE division leader. Pittsburgh is 7 points back of NJ for the divison lead, likely an unreachable goal, but the playoffs are in their own hands.

Over in the west, the LA Kings are 20 points out of 8th with 21 to go, Columbus 18 out with 22 to go, and Chicago and Phoenix are 17 out each with 22 to go. Very unlikely for them to make up that gap. In 11th-9th are St Louis (9 back with 21 to go) and Edmonton/Colorado (8 back each with 22 to go). Their gaps are more reasonable, but it will be tough for them.