It’s the time of the year again as deadline day approaches. We’re all wondering who is heading where and for what, we’re all dissecting the trades and trying to pick a “winner”, but this year, people have their eyes on one player in particular. Rick Nash. The deadline is too much fun to focus on one player! As I type this, Nash is still a Blue Jacket, and there is reason to believe he may remain that way until the off-season, but I personally believe that the Rangers trading Wojtek Wolski to Florida for Mike Vernace & 3rd round pick in 2013 is a suspect move on its own. It looks part of something bigger.

Wolski carriers a $3,800,000 cap hit, giving the Rangers much more in terms of flexibility. Nash would signify that the Rangers are going all out this season, but with the Rangers currently sitting atop the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, you have to wonder if management would want to tinker with the chemistry this late on. You’d be getting a star player, absolutely, but it’s certainly a risk. For my money the Rangers are definitely the number one candidate in the Nash sweepstakes, and if he doesn't move to New York, I’d be surprised to see him moved anywhere until the off-season.

The LA Kings were supposedly interested in attaining Nash, but the asking price was too much for Kings GM Dean Lombardi. Lombardi instead opted to trade Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick to Columbus for Center/Winger Jeff Carter. With Lombardi’s job rumoured to be on the line, it’s a bold move by the GM that will either make him out to be a genius, or an idiot. Carter clearly didn't want to be in Columbus and is probably delighted to be back in a lineup featuring his party wing-man Mike Richards. If Carter is happy to be in LA, he’s a proven goal-scorer who will likely add plenty of offense to a team whose offensive numbers were’nt exactly stellar, but there is a small problem.

What the Kings gave up is a significant defenseman who is set to be a top-two defenseman in the future. His play at the minute has me pegging him as a 4-6 guy, but he has the upside and is young enough to be a stud on the blueline. Couple that with his offensive ability, which will help the Blue Jackets struggling special teams, and it’s a pretty big piece. The first round-pick, likely to be a mid-to-late pick will help the Jackets in their rebuild, but it’s not over there. Yes they paid high, but you have to give to get. The problem is that you may not get the Jeff Carter you paid so highly for. We've seen both sides of him before, and which side you get, we’ll have to wait and see. That said, I think this trade works for LA, and Columbus who already have James Wisniewski  on the Blueline. Johnson and Wisniewski are two guys who will be good to build around for Columbus.

The Oilers made a signing, or re-signing to be precise by giving Ales Hemsky a two-year $10,000,000 deal. It’s a little rich for the blood of this particular blogger, but it could potentially have a bigger impact on the trade market. Look at Maple Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski, currently earning $3,100,000, he’s going to be looking a significant rise when he becomes a UFA this summer. He absolutely deserves a pay rise, but now his agent will likely be using the Hemsky deal as a starting point, leaving a tough call for Leafs GM Brian Burke. Do you trade the guy due to the figure he’ll likely command, or do you hold on to him and cough up the dough. All signs currently point to ‘Grabo’ staying with the Leafs, but he’s a sleeper pick to be moved at the deadline.

The Minnesota Wild moved defenseman Marek Zidlicky to New Jersey for forwards Nick Palmieri and Stephane Veilleux, defenseman Kurtis Foster, a second round pick in 2012 and a conditional third round pick in 2013. It’s a trade that many people saw coming from Zedlicky’s end as there had been plenty of noise that he wanted out. If that’s true, this trade has its’ biggest impact in the Wild dressing room, which is something people often forget when looking at trades. It can be more than just stats. The one player on the wild roster that is going to be a good one to keep an eye on this deadline is goalie Josh Harding. Harding has been unlucky with injuries, but has battled back from his last serious injury with great gusto. I've always been a big fan of Harding but with his pending UFA status and Backstrom as their number one, he’s a piece that we could see moved.

Although this is nothing other than speculation, here’s a few things I’m going to keep an eye for on Monday -

• Phillidelphia maybe look for some goaltending stability
• Sens potentially make a small move for a role player
• Leafs look for solid veteran goalie
• Steve Ott moving to a contender, but that might be unlikely due to his contract. It wouldn't be a rental
• Sharks make a minor move just to shake things up

One thing is for sure, you can speculate all you want when it comes to deadlines, and no matter how reliable a source, how how flawless the logic of a trade, you never know what can go down on the day. We will see people moved, we will see teams over pay for players, we will see teams change, and it sure is an awful lot of fun.

Aaron Stoops is a Co-Founder, Editor and Podcaster for Pucks Across the Pond.