It is beyond the scope of this article to revisit all these rumours. But what we can do is review the factors that will determine the nature and frequency of trading over the next few days. What do general managers have to think about before they can pull the trigger on a trade?

Is Darren going anywhere?

No takers for Alex

Budgets: Money is also a factor in determining which teams can or cannot help themselves. Some teams -- Detroit and Dallas, for example -- appear to have a bottomless well of money and can make deals with little need to consider the bottom line. On the other hand, playoff-worthy teams like Calgary and Ottawa lack the resources to make significant acquisitions. Indeed, Calgary was forced to trade Theoren Fleury because it could not afford to sign him. Montreal was forced to trade Mark Recchi and will likely deal Vincent Damphousse for the same reason. Both these teams were still in the playoff hunt at the time they made those deals. Ottawa, second in the league overall, might be prepared to "rent" a player for the playoff run, but they cannot make any long term financial commitments. Keep in mind, however, that sometimes desperation will force a team to forsake fiscal prudence and common sense. Watch the Flyers in this regard.

Wendel is going somewhere, but likely not Toronto

Restricted ("Group Two") free agents are less likely to be traded. Teams who have players becoming Group Two free agents have the opportunity to match any salary offer for these players. If they do not match, they receive draft picks in return. The risk of losing such a player for "nothing" is not present in the same way that it is for an unrestricted free agent. Rumours seem to have focussed on one Group Two free agent in particular -- Boris Mironov of Edmonton -- because it appears that Glen Sather is intent upon dealing him for some help. But Sather's willingness to deal Mironov has less to do with his status as a Group Two free agent than it does with Edmonton's surplus on defence.

He's not coming to Toronto, either

Teams with a deficit at one position are also more likely to make a trade. Philadelphia badly needs help on defence, and have a surplus on offence. Any deal that the Flyers make will almost certainly involve giving up a forward -- possibly Mikael Renberg -- for a defenceman. Detroit also wants to shore up its defence, and may deal Darren McCarty to do so.

Winning and Losing: The "Scotty Bowman" rule -- never trade after a loss -- has no application when the trade deadline is imminent. A rule of thumb is that teams which are on a losing streak as the trade deadline approaches are more likely to make a trade than teams which are on a winning streak. These teams can no longer wait for the right time. Philadelphia and Phoenix have been mired in such streaks, and they appear to be prime candidates to do something. Dallas, Ottawa and Colorado, on the other hand, appear set in their ways, and will likely do little more than tinker with their rosters.

Time: That leads us to our final point: time is of the essence. General managers like Toronto's Michael Smith can no longer wait patiently until the best deal comes along. The trade deadline imposes an artificial sense of urgency on teams so they can get their houses in order for the playoffs. This is why hockey fans have always been hopeful that the day of the trade deadline will bring lots of activity and excitement. In recent years, this has not been the case. Here is hoping that things will be different this year.