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.)
Scott Burnside: Well, partner, it's getting down to crunch time for NHL GMs. The Pens picked up Chris Kunitz to play on one of their top two lines, Ryan Whitney is in Anaheim and the Chris Pronger discussion will be hot and heavy between now and the March 4 trade deadline.
But what about the dark horses, the small pieces that may have a big impact between now and June? Remember, Tampa made one lonely move before they won the Cup in 2004, adding Darryl Sydor. Brian Burke added Brad May before the Ducks won in 2007. I think we should keep our eye on a guy like Jeff Halpern. The Lightning may move the underappreciated center, who has some pretty good offensive upside. He'd look pretty good in a Blackhawks jersey. GM Dale Tallon would like to add some help down the middle and Halpern could be one of those players that flies under the radar but could be a difference-maker.
Pierre LeBrun: Good point, pal. The lesser trades often make a difference come playoff time. The Hawks, indeed, have scouted Halpern, but I'm wondering if they think $2 million next season on the last year of his deal is too much. Time will tell.
I think the Hawks have several players on their radar for their purchase of a center, including Dominic Moore and Nik Antropov in Toronto. Moore has been a surprise this season in my town, getting his first bit of regular work in the NHL and responding with a consistent work ethic. He's your prototypical third-line center and has a great attitude. The Leafs have been talking contract with him this week, but if he doesn't sign, he's a goner. Another player I think that's underrated is defenseman Niclas Havelid in Atlanta (did you see his breakaway pass to Rich Peverley last night?). He'll likely be moved because he's UFA come July 1 and I think he'd be a good pickup for a playoff-bound team.
Burnside: I agree Havelid has underappreciated skills. People forget he was part of Sweden's gold-medal effort at the 2006 Torino Olympics and would fit in pretty much anywhere. How about New Jersey? Or Detroit? GM Ken Holland's quiet acquisition of Brad Stuart last season was a big factor in the Wings' Cup win. You keep mentioning Ian Laperriere in Colorado, so maybe he doesn't qualify as being under the radar, but he's another useful forward that can do a lot of things and can bring an element of sand to the proceedings.
Another guy that likely will be on the move is Steven Reinprecht in Phoenix. You forget he won a Cup with Colorado in 2001 after coming in the Rob Blake deal. He hasn't played in a playoff game since 2003, but he's got some offensive skills that could be attractive to a team looking to build in some insurance up front.
LeBrun: Then you've got the two potential UFAs in Ottawa. GM Bryan Murray still hopes to re-sign both Chris Neil and Filip Kuba, but if he doesn't, he'll try to peddle them. Kuba has a no-trade clause, but I don't see why he'd block a move to a playoff-bound team. Neil, like Laperriere, is an intriguing option for a really good team. He can protect his teammates, but also has some skill. He a real good third-liner. I wonder about a team like Detroit, where Holland, I believe, is trying to find his Dallas Drake impersonator for the playoffs; while Neil is in a bigger weight class than Drake, the grit factor is still there.
Burnside: And, of course, you've got your two graybeards in Tampa Bay, Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts, both of whom are north of 40 but may have some value for a team that thinks it's got a shot. Recchi has 39 points and has been logging a lot of time on the Lightning's power play (not sure if that's good or bad). Roberts didn't like it much last spring when he was a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh during the playoffs, so any team looking to add his experience and grit would have to make sure he'd be comfortable in a limited role. But having players who've been around the block and own a Cup ring or two is never a bad thing.
LeBrun: With Rene Bourque out in Calgary, it didn't take long for rumors to link Roberts back to where it all began. That would seem like an obvious fit and a good story. There's definitely a market for Recchi.
And, finally, there are some parts left on Long Island. Bill Guerin, despite his no-trade clause, would not stand in the way of a deal. But the more intriguing name that popped up in the past few days is that of rugged blueliner Brendan Witt, who has two more years left on his deal at $3.5 million and $2.5 million. The guy's a warrior and has playoff hockey written all over him (he does face a possible NHL suspension for delivering an elbow to the face of Toronto's Niklas Hagman on Thursday night).
Well, my friend, see you at the ESPN headquarters in Bristol on Monday. Can't wait!
For more on the trade deadline, check out NHL Rumor Central. 
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