Mark Spector

Mark Spector is a columnist for sportsnet.ca

NHL trade deadline day won't be any less frantic than usual coming off the Olympic break.

Talked to a GM this morning who said that, with two weeks prior to the trade deadline and no movement in the standings due to the Olympics, every NHL team will have a clearer picture than usual of whether they should be a buyer or a seller.

"So does that mean we'll see more trades right before the Olympic break?" I asked.

"No," he said. "We'll do the same as we always so. It'll go down to the final hours on March 3."

Nice.

Hail Mary's

Good for St. Mary's University for giving Mike Danton a place to play hockey.

If our universities are places where young minds are sculpted, then why not enlighten people on giving a second chance to a mixed-up hockey player who never had proper guidance at any time in his life.

And although this might sound hopeful, Danton would be better off if he pulled a degree out of his time in Halifax, rather than another opportunity to play pro hockey somewhere. Even though we suspect he'll bolt as soon as the first AHL offer comes along.

Boring Business

Have to admit it: though many of my colleagues work tirelessly in trying to unearth new details of the latest ownership gyrations in Tampa, I could ... not ... care ... less.

The Canadian hockey media spends an inordinate amount of time on franchises like Nashville, Phoenix and Tampa Bay -- teams that the average Canadian has little or no interest in. And I am guilty of it too.

I know I should care more about the latest Oren Koules-Len Barrie cash shortfall in Tampa, but I just don't.

The more important question is, do you?

Maple Leaves

So Jamal Mayers and Garnet Exelby want out of Toronto. In other news, the NHL would like to get rid of head shots and bad southern markets.

Mayers has one goal, five points, and through 42 games averages 8:47 of ice time per game. All this for the low, low price of $1.4 million.

Exelby, another brilliant Leafs acquisition, makes $1.725 this season. A bargain for three assists, no goals, and a part-time seat in the press box at the ACC.

The problem with Mayers and Exelby taking their trade requests public is if either of these players doesn't move by the March 3 deadline we'll know that Burke couldn't even get a sixth-round draft pick for them.

Have fun in the UFA market after that one, boys.

Prairie Oysters

CBC always does fine work on Hockey Day in Canada. We will be interested to see, however, how they segue into that late game between Edmonton and Calgary this Saturday, two teams riding a combined 21-game losing streak.

The upbeat and positive Hockey Day will run head long into Canada's Train Wreck province, where the Flames are unspeakably close to missing the post-season altogether.

"We keep saying coulda, woulda, but we're going to stick with it," promised Calgary captain Jarome Iginla after a pair of shootout losses on the road this week.

The Flames were supposed to be talking about winning the Northwest Division at this time of year, not ninth place.

And the Oilers? We're not sure the players in that dressing room care where they finish, at this point.

Edmonton had just 12 players on the ice for a game-day skate before losing to 13th-place St. Louis (who had played in Vancouver the night before) by a score of 2-1 on Thursday night at home. Two young Oilers -- J.F. Jacques and Marc Pouliot -- both skipped the morning skate, then combined for one shot on net in the game.

We're not saying there are players on that team who have quit, with still 30 games to play. We are saying though that the Oilers' efforts closely resemble other teams' we have seen who have quit. Must just be a coincidence.

The Oilers now have one win in their past 20 games. That is a quarter of a season. One win.

What a disaster in Edmonton.

Hall Call

Chris Pronger wouldn't stay in Edmonton. Sheldon Souray wants out of Edmonton. And the list of free agents who have said "No" to Edmonton would fill this column.

How long until we see the press release from Taylor Hall's agent warning the Oilers not to bother choosing him?

Political Hay

Now that Member of Parliament, former Habs goalie and Leafs GM Ken Dryden and federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have spoken out on head shots, are we any more engaged on the subject than before?

I mean, seriously. Two politicos who spend zero time around the game, sent to Ottawa for the purpose of representing their ridings, jumping on a hot horse just to get their names in the newspapers.

Well, it worked with this columnist. Your names are in my column -- in close proximity to the words "political opportunists" and "bull**** artists."

Guess you win.