Trade Market Beginning To Shape Up

With the halfway point of the season come and gone, the Eastern and Western Conference playoff picture is beginning to take shape. With that said, rumors are starting to build regarding which teams are looking for help and those that are willing to sell. The trade deadline isn't until the end of Februrary, and there will certainly be more teams falling into their respective places within their conferences. However, lets take a "right now" look at the buyers/sellers and who is currently available.

• Teams ready to sell:

Toronto Maple Leafs - This team has gone into shambles after a horrible West Coast swing. Rumors have been flying rampant all season regarding the trading of players (see more below) as well as shaking up the front office. Fully expect this team to make some moves by trading away talent for future help.

Buffalo Sabres - What a difference a year can make and the loss of two key free agents. Even though they are close to the 8th playoff spot, they are clearly a team who just doesn't have enough to get it done. Expect them to hold out hope but in the end sell some players at the deadline.

Los Angeles Kings - Overall, a young team mixed with a couple of veterans that just isn't talented enough to manage any success. Young, inexperienced goaltending has also hurt the squad. They are sellers now and will be at the deadline.

Tampa Bay Lightning - Without any help between the pipes, this team is lost. The big question that looms large is if any of the "Big Three" will get traded. Between Martin St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, and Brad Richards, someone will probably go. It doesn't take a rocket scientists to think that the team would most likely keep Lecavalier as their untouchable.

• Players On The Block

Mats Sundin - A quality veteran player that has been rumored to be traded for quite some time now. Sundin has proven for a long time now that he can put the puck in the net and is a solid #1 or #2 center. This guy is going to get traded, it's just a matter of where. Detroit has been mentioned as one suitor.

Rob Blake - Solid veteran blueliner with tons of experience, especially during playoff time. Blake's days as a #1 defenseman have passed, but would still provide any contender with plenty of experience and help.

Mathieu Schneider - Rumor has it the Bruins have not given up on their search for more defense, but is Schneider really the answer? At 38 years old and a large contract, he would command a significant portion of the B's cap space. Also, Chiarelli would have to give up a lot in return. Rumor has is Phil Kessel's name has been thrown out there (for God's sake, DO NOT trade this guy).

Marion Hossa - I don't expect this guy to be going anywhere as long as the Thrashers are in the thick of an 8th playoff spot bid. This guy is too talented for Atlanta to let him go.

This is just a short list of what is currently out there as possible moves for the Bruins to make. Obviously this will get much larger once the deadline gets closer and teams look to write off their season and look to the future. The Bruins will certainly make more moves to improve this club. In my opinion, they still need the scoring forward, however, they must not sacrifice Phil Kessel for this. He is going to be a contributor to this team and his move to the 1st line shows this. It looks like Kessel is finally starting to understand that being a productive player means playing both ways. To give up on him now would be a huge mistake on Chiarelli's part.