The NHL trade deadline is winding towards the 3pm red line and a number of teams are still looking to make deals, including the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres, who have two of the top names on the market in Roberto Luongo and Jason Pominville.
According to reports, Luongo is the hottest name out there after work came down that Miikka Kiprusoff will not be traded and that he will retire after the season with the Calgary Flames. The Maple Leafs were mentioned in rumors for both players, but now things will focus on Luongo as the trade deadline nears. The Canucks feel good enough with Cory Schneider, even though Luongo has played excellent all season.
The next big name includes Sabres forward Jason Pominville, who now is the top offensive option after the Rangers snagged Ryane Clowe from the San Jose Sharks. Clowe has yet to score a goal this season but he was considered to be one of the biggest trade options due to his gritty style of play and strong team leadership. Pominville will make $5.3 million next season and the Sabres are having a rough year, meaning he could be on the way out.
Pominville has a partial no trade clause and it includes eight teams that are excluded from any deal. The forward has 23 points this season and he could be a solid addition to a team like the Rangers, Flyers, Red Wings or Wild. Islanders defenseman Mark Streit could also me moved, as the team is likely to not reach an extension with him and will lose him as a free agent.
Clowe came over the Rangers for draft picks and he will provide some gritty play for the team, something they have not had all year. The team is stuck in the eighth playoff spot and the trade likely means that Marian Gaborik isn't going anywhere this year. He had to waive his no trade clause to get moved and he was deciding between the Rangers and the Canucks, two teams that faced off in the 1994 Stanley Cup finals with New York winning.
The Rangers are the worst scoring team in the league with 2.26 per game and despite not scoring yet this season, Clowe can be a big help. He is on the final year of a four-year, $14.5 million contract and the team could decide to keep him past next season.