Trade Deadline in T Minus: 1 hour and 30 Minutes

Today the trade deadline in the NHL ends at 3, so the hockey world is all a buzz in talks of last minutes trades. The most talked about player that several teams have been fishing for, is Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Rick Nash. As of 1:10 pm EST Nash is still the captain of the Blue Jackets, but rumours are circling that The Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers were considering trades. However, the Blue Jackets are not willing to give up their captain so quickly. The Blue Jackets were willing to trade Nash to the Ranger for either Del Zotto or McDough in addition to prospect Kreider. New York said no on this deal, similarly to the Maple Leafs after The Blue Jackets asked for leading defensemen Gardiner. Defensemen are few and far between in the NHL so it is no wonder that the Leafs decided to keep a solid blueliner.

While Nash might be the big story, there has been some action on the trading block today. Andrei Kostitsyn was traded to the Nashville Predators from the Montreal Canadiens for a second round pick in the next draft and a conditional pick from the previous trade for Hal Gill. Andrei will play with younger brother Sergei in Nashville who has been with the Preds since 2010.

The Red Wings, whose team winning steak is finally over thanks to the Canucks, traded defensemen Commodore to The Tampa Bay Lightening for a conditional seventh round pick in the draft. This means that the Lightening have to play Commodore for 15 games and they have to get into the playoffs. Edmonton and Minnesota have also decided on a trade today. This trade is an even switch of defensemen Gilbert (who will now go to The Wild) and Schultz (now an Oiler).

So far these are the only actual trades that have occurred today, but with players placed on waivers, the Winnipeg Jets have claimed Clitsome who was placed on waivers by The Blue Jackets. The Canadiens were active again today by picking up Staubitz placed on waivers from The Wild.

As it gets closer to the deadline of 3 Pm EST, there might be more action. Stay tuned readers.