March 3rd trade deadline looms...

One of the most exciting times of the year for any NHL fan is the trade deadline. Expectations are at an all-time high and no one really knows exactly what is going to happen...unless you are a team that sits 15th place in your respective conference.

Ah yes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, without a first round selection (for the next two seasons) sit in that very lowly position. While Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin continue to build on stellar seasons in the OHL, and Peter Chiarelli waits in the shadows in anticipation of nabbing one of these two fine prospects at the draft, Burke and Nonis (along with the rest of the managerial squad) prepare for a very pivotal trade deadline.

It's pivotal for one simple reason really - future. Yes, Maple Leaf fans have been talking about 'building for the future' since Fletcher came on board, but with Burke assembling his team in the summer time and now it falling flat on it's face due to what appears to be a lack of high-quality talent (who would have known!?) he'll need to do what's best to position this team for future success by any means necessary.

Burke has no safety-net any longer in Leaf Land. He gambled on Kessel at the start of the year in favour of his draft picks. Had he not traded his first round picks, Maple Leafs fans would be more than willing to put their feet up and wait for the entry-draft to roll around. The only reason the mobs have died down in recent weeks is because Burke landed a potential corner stone defender in Dion Phaneuf for a relatively low price -- thank god for that. But Burke can not afford to let his own ego get in the way of doing what is necessary at the deadline.

The worst thing Burke can do at this deadline is worry about where that pick will end up, and try to acquire useless veteran talent at the expense of more future. Burke has already dealt away some pending UFA's in the Phaneuf deal, but he still has a few on the roster that he can parlay into draft choices that he currently does not have.

Alexei Ponikarovksy is their main chip in play, and as mentioned by Darren Dreger about a week ago, there have been offers of a 2nd round pick and a prospect. Who the prospect is could be anyone from a future career AHL'er to a top-line talent, realistically the prospect probably falls in between those two types of players.

Behind Ponikarovsky are Lee Stempniak, Wayne Primeau and Garnet Exelby who all should be able to bring back some sort of draft selection at the deadline ranging from a 3rd round picks to 6ths. And make no mistake about it, all three of those players should be dealt as they are all replaceable.

Other UFA's such as Rickard Wallin, Mike Van Ryn, and Jonas Frogren have minimal trade value at best. Wallin hasn't been impressive in any specific category, although his play was picking up towards the Olympic break, Van Ryn is on long-term injury reserve, and Frogren has been AHL bound all season.

But after the obvious main targets who else is left that would have any market value? Tomas Kaberle is a name well known in trade circles, but his NTC is in effect until he wants to lift it. Media reports state it won't be lifted, but others believe it just may be a case of him wanting to hold off until the Olympics are done, so that it doesn't cast a shadow over him and Burke until the games are finished (Czech's were already knocked out).

Mikhail Grabovski is another name that could be on the move at deadline time if the right deal presents itself. He showed last season he can produce in a 2nd line role at the NHL level. Likely, he tops out as a 20-25 goal, 50-60pt player maybe hitting 60pts with the right team. Burke has been adamant about having Bozak develop in a second line spot, so that may spell the end of Grabovski's tenure in Toronto if they can find a willing trade partner.

All of these are viable options at the deadline, with a few potential surprises possibly thrown into the mix. If Burke can move all of the UFA's for draft selections and/or prospects then I'd say it will be a successful trade deadline for him. Regardless of what does happen, it should be a very interesting March 3rd for the entire NHL, as teams load up their respective rosters for a long playoff run.