The latest from ESPN.com, Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, and CBC.ca.

ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun reports the following: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia certainly fit the bill as potential destinations for veteran scoring winger Ray Whitney but the earliest the Penguins could afford Whitney's cap hit is the March 3rd deadline. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette coached Whitney in Carolina and knows what he can do. LeBrun however suggests Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford might not move Whitney if he can't get the deal he wants, as the winger already invoked his movement clause to block a trade to the LA Kings...If the Panthers fall out of the playoff race defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Jordan Leopold - both pending UFAs - could be available, while the club is shopping forwards Rostislav Olesz and Kamil Kreps. They won't however move goalie Tomas Vokoun but could revisit that situation in June...the Red Wings cleared salary on Saturday for returning forward Johan Franzen by trading Ville Leino but could still have to move more salary when Andreas Lilja is ready to return to action...A source claims the Colorado Avalanche are shopping Marek Svatos, who might be a nice consolation prize for the teams which lose out on the bidding for Whitney...

SPECTOR'S NOTE: It all comes down to cap space for the Penguins and Flyers. If there's no wiggle room there's no way they could take on Whitney...The Panthers certainly are on the bubble and this week could determine their trade status by the deadline...It's possible the Wings could try to demote Brad May to free up cap space for Lilja but one shouldn't rule out another little cost-cutting deal...The injury-plagued Svatos' stats have been in decline so he wouldn't be much of a consolation prize.

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons reports the following: The Maple Leafs have tried unsuccessfully to trade defenseman Jeff Finger. It's possible he could be demoted or bought out...Alexei Ponikarovsky would be a nice rental player for Washington, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Buffalo or one of six other teams looking to do some damage in the post-season.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: Demotion or buyout appear to be real options for the Leafs with Finger, with the former perhaps a better option than having a four-year buyout averaging over $1.66 million per season eating up valuable cap space, especially with Darcy Tucker's $1 million per season buyout still counting against their cap for some time...It's not a question of if Ponikarovsky is dealt but when (before the Olympic break or after?) and where.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the following: The Boston Bruins might be on the verge of trading all-star goaltender Tim Thomas, who has struggled this season. Two league executives confirm Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has spoken to teams seeking goaltending help. Thomas has a "no-trade" clause but his affordable $5 million per season contract would make him attractive on the trade market. The Blackhawks are likely to add a goaltender but would have to bury Cristobal Huet's salary in the minors to take on Thomas. The Stars, Blue Jackets and Blues could be in the market but Garrioch believes the asking price would be a top six forward, a top four blueliner and a backup goalie...Penguins GM Ray Shero will hold contract talks with Sergei Gonchar's agent next week in Vancouver...the Blue Jackets are shopping forward Raffi Torres...The Blackhawks would love to add Montreal goalie Jaroslav Spacek but Carey Price could be the one who gets shopped...Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is working the phones in hopes of moving Ray Whitney before the Olympic break. The Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Senators, Flames and Canucks are expected to make offers...

SPECTOR'S NOTE: If we take Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman at his word he appears to be sticking by his current goalie tandem of Huet and Antti Niemi. As for Thomas, if he doesn't want to go there's nothing the Bruins could do about it, and how do we know Chiarelli's supposed trade talk wasn't about moving Rask for a scorer? The Stars and Blue Jackets could use some future goaltending help, but I disagree with Garrioch's claim the Blues didn't get the goaltending they expected this season. I think it's far too early to suggest the Bruins are shopping or considering shopping Thomas...The Blue Jackets might not shop Torres until after the Olympic break (see below)...the Canadiens won't move Halak while they're still very much in the playoff chase and I still don't see them moving Price at this point...Whitney's movement clause is obviously making things difficult as he's using it as leverage to try and land a new contract with those teams interested in his services.

CBC.CA: Elliotte Friedman reports Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson has not asked forward Fredrik Modin to waive his "no-trade" clause and intends to keep Modin and Raffi Torres until at least past the Olympic break unless he gets an unbelievable offer. Howson will not trade R.J. Umberger although there's been offers for him...Don't expect any significant early changes from Tampa Bay Lightning's new owner Jeffrey Vinik as he's likely to allow GM Brian Lawton time to see what he can do...Ottawa Senators head coach Cory Clouston coached Avalanche forward Marek Svatos in Junior hockey and suggested that might be a fit...Pierre LeBrun meanwhile reported there's no truth to a rumor of the Detroit Red Wings have interest in Toronto's Alexei Ponikarovsky as GM Ken Holland has no room to take on additional salary and might have to make another salary dumping deal to make room for returning defenseman Andreas Lilja.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: Howson will probably get better value for Modin and Torres at the trade deadline. I don't blame Howson for having no desire to trade Umberger...the Senators have limited cap space so a Svatos acquisition could be difficult to make, plus management is loathe to risk upsetting team chemistry right now.

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