Mar 3, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Blues 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun was told by 2 scouts that Jaroslav Halak was on the trading block but when Simmons asked St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong about it he said “He’s not going anywhere”.

Hockey Central reported that Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi has been getting trade calls for Jonathan Bernier and this is what he had to say about them:

“I don’t know how much I can listen to them for how well he’s playing…. He’s been a critical part for us.”

Kevin Kurz of CSN reported that Ryane Clowe of the San Jose Sharks had this to say about the trade rumors:

“I hear it, like everyone else,” Clowe said. “I don’t pay too much attention to it. I‘m in the same position as Boyler, I really like it here. I understand things happen, but I would obviously like to stay here, too, and see this through. I haven’t had the year I’ve wanted, but that’s not affecting me, the trade rumors.”

Kurz thinks Clowe could be targeted by the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Starting with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are struggling lately to collect points and maintain their playoff spot.  They’re winless in five games and as Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star says, the club could be pressured into a deal soon to avoid another late season meltdown.

Zwolinski lists three things that the Leafs need to do in order to start winning again and make the postseason dance.  His second point asks whether it’s time to trade and mentions Mike Ribeiro as a potential target for the Leafs.

The Maple Leafs are said to be looking to add a centreman and a top-four defenseman, much like every other team out there.  Ribeiro, a veteran of 13 years in the NHL is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and would bring a cap hit of $5 million if the Leafs were to trade for him.

The 33-year old has 9 goals and 19 assists in 24 games for the Washington Capitals and hasn’t been in the playoffs since since 2008 when he played for the Dallas Stars.

From Calgary where the Jarome Iginla rumors continue to swirl has Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun asking five questions that face the Flames.  The biggest one obviously centers around their captain.

Much speculation has been made about who is interested in Iginla and where he might go.  Sportak says that as the Flames head out on the road where they’ve lost six straight games, another loss or two this week could make it easier to approach Iginla about waiving his no-trade clause.

Sportak also mentions Jay Bouwmeester and Miikka Kiprusoff as potential trade targets if the Flames fall further behind in the western conference. As of now, the Flames aren’t prepared to make any sudden moves and will focus on this road trip that could make or break their season and implicate if Iginla remains in Calgary.

Staying on the Iginla train, one potential suitor has been the Boston Bruins.  Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe thinks that the Bruins will target Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators instead of Iginla.

The Bruins are said to be looking for a second or third line winger or center especially with Chris Kelly out long-term with a broken leg.

Out west where the defending champions are playing like legitimate threats to repeat, the Kings may not be willing to part ways with their most valuable trade asset.

Eric Duhatschek of the The Globe and Mail believes the Kings may not part ways with backup netminder Jonathan Bernier given how hot and cold Jonathan Quick has been so far this year.

As previously written today, we’ve heard that the Los Angeles Kings are engaged in trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres, courtesy of the Fourth Period.  While no names were mentioned, TFP also reports that Kings’ GM, Dean Lombardi has been given the go ahead from management to spend up to the league’s salary cap.

The Kings are the latest team to have said to be interested in Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames while Robyn Regehr could satisfy their blue line needs.  Drew Stafford of the Sabres could also be on Lombardi’s radar given the Kings desire to add a second or third line center.  Both Iginla and Regehr have no-trade clauses and word out of Calgary is that their captain has yet to ask for a trade.

Oilers defenseman, Ladislav Smid is also mentioned as a potential target for the Kings to help shore up their back end as they get set to make a run to repeat as cup champions.

Kings goalie, Jonathan Bernier has also been the topic of trade rumors and with the netminder set to become a restricted free agent this summer, it’s widely expected that the Kings will move him.  Lombardi hasn’t indicated if it’ll be by the April 3rd deadline or if he’ll wait until after the season when more clubs could get involved in the bidding and essentially driving the price up.

Staying in Buffalo, Nick Kypreos from Sportsnet says that the Sabres may look at dealing veteran goalie Ryan Miller.  With question marks surrounding the netminder position in both New Jersey and Carolina, GM Darcy Regeir may get a decent return for a playoff experienced backstop.

Kypreso also hears that Buffalo will try and trade forward Ville Leino once he returns from injury and is back in game shape.

Meanwhile, with the Philadelphia Flyers sputtering out of a playoff spot, Danny Briere will be a highly sought after commodity at the deadline.  Randy Miller via Twitter thinks that the rival Boston Bruins would be the perfect team for Briere.  Given the Bruins have identified a gritty third line player as their needs, I’m not sure Briere is their guy.

Sam Carchidi, beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer via Twitter says that Jay Bouwmeester of the Flames would be the perfect puck-moving defenseman that the team needs.

Bob Stauffer, an Edmonton Oilers radio host says that Bouwmeester would be perfect in Edmonton via Twitter.  In the next breath though he highly doubts the Flames would deal within the division and not mention with their arch rival.

Finally, from the Islanders camp, B.D Gallof via Twitter warns fans that they shouldn’t expect the Isles to become buyers at this years deadline, despite the club hanging around the playoff picture.  Rather Gallof says the time to upgrade for the Islanders will be this summer.

On the other side of the coin, Gallof says the team won’t have a fire sale like many fans have thought might happen.  Defenseman Mark Streit‘s name continues to circulate the rumor mill and Gallof states that if he and GM, Garth Snow can’t get close to terms for an extension, that he could be dealt by April 3rd.