Posted by Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun
(Editor's note: As we count down to the trade deadline, our experts will debate the possibilities and shed some reality on those rumors. Check out our Faceoff: Trade Deadline Edition all this week and next heading into March 4.)
[Update, 12:45 p.m. ET: This blog was posted before the Penguins traded defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Ducks for Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi. You can read more on the trade here.]
Scott Burnside: Good day, my friend. Well, in a week, it will all be over and we'll be picking through the trade-deadline deals and assessing winners and losers. These next few days will be trying for a number of GMs who are feeling even more pressure to get things done. Who's at the top of your pressure-cooker list?
I think there is still a lot of heat on Ray Shero in Pittsburgh to pull off another deadline-day stunner to match his acquisition of Marian Hossa a year ago. You keep hearing forward Jordan Staal and defenseman Ryan Whitney as possible lures to bringing in the much-coveted scoring winger for Sidney Crosby. The Pens are in 10th place but just two points out of a playoff spot after squeezing out a 1-0 victory over the Islanders on Wednesday. Who else?
Pierre LeBrun: Well, first off, I think you're bang-on with Pittsburgh. I think Shero is definitely trying to do something right now. I was told last night he was working extremely hard at getting a winger to Pittsburgh. But Penguins fans can forget Ilya Kovalchuk. For the last time, the Thrashers are not moving him this season. They may move him in the offseason if he doesn't want to sign an extension, I guess, but not right now. Besides, Atlanta has only about $25 million committed in salaries next season. And they'll need to get to the minimum payroll floor of around $40 million. That's the same reason defenseman Ron Hainsey is not moving, either, contrary to some reports. But back to the original question -- who else is on the hot seat. How about Darryl Sutter in Calgary?
Burnside: The Flames are an interesting team. I think they're one of a small group that could challenge powerhouses Detroit and San Jose, but injuries to defenseman Mark Giordano and forward Rene Bourque have put some pressure on Sutter to add depth at both positions. Jarome Iginla, Todd Bertuzzi (who has been surprisingly good for the Flames) and Miikka Kiprusoff aren't getting any younger, so the window will close pretty quickly on the Flames' Cup hopes. So, look for Sutter to be more active in the coming days. How about Scott Howson in Columbus?
LeBrun: Howson has added Jason Williams and Chris Gratton up front, but, yes, another body on the blue line would certainly help. Like many nontraditional hockey markets right now, however, I'm not sure there's that much of a green light to add a lot of salary there in Columbus because of the economic concerns in real life. On the other hand, there's been tremendous pressure on Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock from last summer to finally get this team in the playoffs. My sense is Howson has one more trade in him as he tries to get his club over the hump.
But in Phoenix, I think it's getting close to that time when you realize it's time to recoup some asset value because you're not going to make the playoffs. Derek Morris is the obvious guy to move because he's an unrestricted free agent July 1, but I keep hearing rumblings as well about No. 1 center Olli Jokinen, who has another year left on his deal.
Burnside: We would be remiss in talking pressure if we didn't mention Bob Gainey in Montreal. Never a dull moment there. Gainey did a nice job in bringing in veteran Mathieu Schneider, who is already helping the power play, but is there a top-line forward in Gainey's sights as he tries to get his team back on track? He's got lots of talented young assets to move if he wants. I know you disagree with my hypothesis, but given Carey Price's regression in recent weeks, is Jaroslav Halak/Price the kind of goaltending tandem you want going into the playoffs … again? Or will Gainey look to add some veteran help between the pipes for a run at an Eastern Conference that is still pretty wide open?
LeBrun: Montreal is indeed an intriguing club heading into the deadline. After the Schneider deal, Gainey said he had cap room for one more deal. And unlike most other GMs in the league right now, he's got no long-term cap issues since half his team is slated for unrestricted free agency. In other words, he would be less afraid to pick up a player with term left on his deal. But one guy I believe would be a great playoff pickup and who doesn't have a contract past this season is Ian Laperriere. He's the kind of gritty, character guy the Habs need so much right now. And if Laperriere doesn't sign an extension with the Avs over the next few days, he'll likely be available come Wednesday. Stay tuned. Until tomorrow, my friend!
For more on the trade deadline, check out NHL Rumor Central. 
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