The NHL will take a two-week break after Valentine's Day for the Olympics, allowing the superstars to slug it out for their respective countries in Vancouver and giving the wannabes an opportunity to ice their bumps and bruises after putting their sticks back in their holsters.

For general managers, however, the 15-day retreat could, and should, be used to take an

honest look at their rosters and start planning for the stretch run of the regular season. The

NHL resumes play March 2, two days after the gold medal game and — whaddya know? —

the eve of the league's trade deadline.

The NHL has implemented a freeze on trades from Feb. 12-28. Several teams are looking for a

playoff push or players who can put them over the top for the Stanley Cup. Others are looking

to dump salaries.

Why wait until the final hours to get the annual swap meet rolling when it can begin two

weeks in advance, when GMs still have their sanity?

Take a look at the standings going into the weekend, and the Eastern Conference remains wide

open. The difference between the sixth-place Thrashers and 13th-place Islanders was two

points. If things hold reasonably steady, eight teams will be jockeying for the final three

spots. For some (see: Atlanta, Tampa Bay), it means ignoring the perception that they're

giving up on the season and facing reality.

It's not as dicey in the West, where nine points separated eighth place from 14th, so look

for more players to be traded from the bottom of that conference before good rentals become

available in the East. What happens in the next two weeks leading into the break will largely

determine what happens after the two-week hiatus for the Olympics.

The Sabres are among many teams awaiting tough decisions. They would make a move if it didn't

mean giving up a young player that they expect in the NHL next season. The key is finding the

right player, such as a defenseman who can quarterback the power play or some muscle up front,

for the right price and pulling the trigger.

All but nine teams were within about $2 million of the $56.7 million salary cap, which makes

trades even trickier. Who holds, who folds and who unloads?

Here's a look at teams expected to make good players available:

Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk is the coveted rental, and contract talks with the

Thrashers are going nowhere. They're not likely to go deep into the postseason, if they get

there, and he's likely a goner. They should trade him before losing him for nothing. Boston,

Montreal and Ottawa all need help. Los Angeles or Chicago could offer more in return. His

one-way style (see: offense) makes him a round hole in square-pegged Buffalo.

Anaheim: The Ducks were only five points out, but they're several players away

from contention. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer would be ideal for the Sabres, but a deal for

him is too hard to fathom. Philadelphia could make a pitch for him, reuniting him with Chris

Pronger, if the Flyers handed over Braydon Coburn or another good young player and a high

draft pick.

Edmonton: Pick a player, any player. Defensemen Sheldon Souray and Tom Gilbert

have been mentioned in trade rumors for weeks. Neither is a rental, a problem. New Jersey

could use Souray's slapper and aggression. Patrick O'Sullivan could be had for a song. Wait,

this was supposed to be about good players.

Carolina: The Hurricanes have played better lately, but they trailed by 12

points and have too many teams to leapfrog to think about the playoffs. Ray Whitney, a

soon-to-be UFA, is having a good year (16 goals, 41 points) and won a Cup. Pittsburgh? Maybe.

Rod Brind'Amour has another year left on his contract and looks old. Still, he's intriguing.

He could help many teams, especially in the faceoff circle, with a fresh start.

Columbus: Raffi Torres expects to be traded, and it probably wouldn't take much

to get him and his 16 goals going into the weekend. Fredrik Modin had just three points in 19

games after missing the first two months of the season. However, he's a big body (6-foot-4,

218 pounds). The former 30-goal scorer had a no-trade clause but could give a team a lift if

placed in the right situation. He and Torres are headed for UFA.

Tampa Bay: The Lightning is still in the playoff hunt, but its financial

problems and expected sale suggest the team will get younger and cheaper. Vincent Lecavalier

has a no-trade clause and intends to stay, despite annual trade rumors. UFA Alex Tanguay has

about $900,000 left on his deal and could be unloaded. Martin St. Louis leads them in scoring

and is signed through next year. Teams will be kicking the tires about him.

Holmgren on hot seat

If the inconsistent Flyers wind up tanking down the stretch and missing the playoffs, it is

all but certain that GM Paul Holmgren will be given the heave-ho. The Flyers were in a crowded

group looking to reach the postseason in the Eastern Conference.

Holmgren is starting to get his share of the blame for building a team that has looked much

too comfortable this season. He doesn't have many options, either, because so many players

have no-trade clauses in their contracts. He also can't blame the coach after already

replacing John Stevens with Peter Laviolette.

The recent slumpers, in terms of goals, include Scott Hartnell (two goals in 25 games), Simon

Gagne (one goal, minus-9 in 13 games), Daniel Briere (one goal in 10 games) and captain Mike

Richards (one goal, minus-2 in nine games).

All told, they had five goals and 27 points over a combined 57 games. They are making $23

million this season combined, and all four have no-trade clauses.

Messier helps helmet

Former NHL great Mark Messier is working with his sister's company with the idea they can

produce stronger, safer helmets to protect against concussions.

The M11 (Messier and his jersey number) helmet is designed to better distribute impact than

those currently on the market and claims to have "the protection of two helmets in the space

of one." Price: $120.

Messier worked on the project with Cascade Sports, where his sister, Mary-Kay Messier, is vice

president for business development and general manager for hockey.

Cascade, known for lacrosse helmets, began working on hockey helmets two years ago. Messier

came aboard and helped from a practical standpoint with the design to make it lighter without

losing durability.

Wild defenseman Brent Burns was one of seven NHL players wearing the M11, and 20 others are

testing the helmet in practice. Burns had a season-ending concussion last year and missed

another 29 games this year before making the switch.

"It's super comfortable," Burns said. "It feels way better than any other helmet. For

comfort, nobody can touch it. Every helmet designer says that their helmet is the top-testing

one. I don't know who's testing them, but when you see and feel this helmet, the insides are

the best."

Pens stash players

The Penguins are doing everything they can to keep a comfortable cushion against the salary

cap, even if it means stashing young players in AHL practices across the state and summoning

them for games.

Wingers Chris Conner and Nick Johnson and defenseman Ben Lovejoy have been working out with

AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and suiting up for the Pens. Conner practiced with the Baby Pens on

Monday and landed on a line with Sidney Crosby that night after driving to Madison Square

Garden.

The speedy rookie opened the scoring and netted the winner against the Rangers.

"First shift and a goal," Crosby said. "I would take that."

Said Conner: "I was just trying to get open."

Grier defends Marleau

Sabres winger Mike Grier is among the many who thought ex-teammate Patrick Marleau was given a

raw deal when he was stripped of his captaincy.

Marleau became a target for fans who believed his leadership style contributed to the Sharks'

inability to advance past the second round the last four seasons.

The 12-year veteran, who played 925 games for the Sharks going into the weekend, began

wearing the "C" after the lockout. Coach Todd McLellan handed the captaincy to veteran

defenseman Rob Blake this year.

"He's been [there] the longest," Grier said. "He's had the captaincy and the responsibility.

We fell short, and there was obviously something wrong with the team, chemistry-wise or

whatnot, that we couldn't get over the hump. Unfortunately, he took the bulk of the blame, but

there was enough of it to go around for everyone."

Quotable

Senators winger Daniel Alfredsson, 37, on whether this would be his last Olympics: "Last one

as a player, anyway, unless I become an Italian citizen."

Around the boards

The Blue Jackets have said repeatedly this season that Ken Hitchcock's job is safe,

but he's inching down the plank. The latest was a 4-1 defeat to the Kings. Columbus was

outshooting L.A., 11-2, in the first 10 minutes, promptly folded after giving up the first

goal and was booed off the ice. "We deserved it," winger R.J. Umberger said.

Once they hammer out the final details, the Lightning will be sold to Boston-based

financial whiz Jeff Vinik. The 50-year-old owns a slice of the Red Sox and was the choice of

Commissioner Gary Bettman. No word yet on the price, but it's expected to be less than the

$170 million estimates that have been reported.

The Canucks started out the season at 10-10 before going 22-8-2 over their next 32

games. The big test for them will come over the next month. Their game Saturday in Toronto was

the first of 14 straight games on the road — eight games before the Olympic break and

six games afterward.

Red Wings veteran and proud Canadian Kris Draper wore a Team USA sweater during

practice last week after losing a bet to teammate and proud American Brett Lebda on the world

junior championships. The Wings were howling. "A bet's a bet, and Drapes was a good sport,"

Lebda said. "He paid up."

Flames GM Darryl Sutter, upon hearing that "everyone" in Calgary had an opinion about

their nine-game losing streak: "Could you tighten that up a little bit? It doesn't really

matter what "everyone in the city' thinks. I can't imagine you've talked to 1.2 million

people."