Mark Spector

Mark Spector is a columnist for sportsnet.ca

Ray Whitney could be one of the big winners at the trade deadline this year.

The old dollars and cents could play a role as to who's shopping and who's buying at the deadline.

The sellers are fewer this season than most, it seems, which always favours the supply side over those in demand.

So as the National Hockey League's trade deadline creeps closer, that old economic driver might just work in the favour of soon-to-be 38-year-old Carolina winger Ray Whitney, who won't waive his no-trade clause unless he gets a two-year extension from whoever wants him.

(L.A. wouldn't do it last month, but word is Boston would love Whitney. Do they need to move Michael Ryder's $4 million salary next season before it can happen? That could be tough.)

Then there is pending Columbus UFA Milan Jurcina, whose play at the Olympics may be just the push that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson needs to get something for the big Slovak this week.

Or Joe Corvo, another Hurricanes player being shopped by GM Jim Rutherford. Every year there is a puck-moving defenceman who starts a bidding war at the deadline. Perhaps this March, Corvo is that guy.

In Toronto, anyone older than about 27 -- or leftover from the pre-Brian Burke era -- is likely available. UFAs Alexei Ponikarovsky and Lee Stempniak are being shopped hard, while Tomas Kaberle is on the table -- regardless of Burke's statements that he is not going to ask the defenceman to waive his no-trade.

In Calgary, the Flames tied up former Leafs centre Matt Stajan on Monday, after signing Rene Bourque to a six-year, $20-million deal last week. With both his first- and second-round picks in the 2010 draft traded away -- and having already brought in six new faces prior to the Olympic break -- GM Darryl Sutter will be more interested in shoring up his system at the deadline than acquiring players for the big club.

Dallas, too, is expected to be very quiet.

If it is also quiet in Edmonton however, players there will get a serious read on their perceived value on the open market.

Gritty winger Steve Ott came off the market on Monday, as Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk got proactive and signed Ott to a 4-year extension at about $3 million per season. That might be good news for Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini, who has a third-line winger in Ethan Moreau who might become Plan B for other GMs.

Playing in front of 18 scouts in games at Anaheim and L.A. just before the Olympic break, Moreau had his best two games of the season (plus-3, three points).

"On his breakaway goal, he separated from the defenceman who was chasing him," said one Western scout. "I didn't know he had that kind of speed left."

The Oilers captain, defenceman Steve Staios, and forwards like Robert Nilsson, Patrick O'Sullivan, Fernando Pisani and Marc Pouliot are all being shopped. Tambellini is at the bottom of a rebuilding curve, and would take very little in exchange for most of these guys.

If those players don't move -- and unless the Oilers take a bad contract back, it is likely many won't -- that will paint a clear picture of the value of those players league-wide.

In Ottawa, things have gone so well this season that GM Bryan Murray is unlikely to mess with his chemistry. Maybe a depth defenceman, but when you get around the league, everyone wants depth on defence.

Meanwhile in Montreal, there is no question anymore that Jaroslav Halak has become the No. 1. So does that put Carey Price on the block -- especially with his biggest supporter, ex-GM Bob Gainey, now gone?

Would Philly take a leap at Price, an RFA after this season who makes just $850,000? Ray Emery's hip is still a problem, and the Flyers have just a four-point cushion on ninth place in the East. The Flyers, however, never seem to get the fact that they need better goaltending, a problem in Philly that dates back 20 years.

Price may just be another young player who needs a fresh start outside the red-hot spotlight of Montreal. The only goalie the Flyers have signed for next season is backup Brian Boucher at $925,000, so money isn't an issue.

Out West, the problem isn't who's in the playoffs. It's who is out -- namely, Dallas, Detroit and Anaheim.

Do you think the eighth-place Flames are looking over their shoulders, with three quality organizations chock full of experienced playoff players all stacked within two points of Calgary?

The Red Wings have Johan Franzen back and haven't missed the post-season in 20 years. The Stars were elated to see Marty Turco round into good enough form to be named one of the NHL's three stars of the week right before the Olympic break. With the Rangers picking up Alex Auld on waivers, it looks like the Stars won't deal Turco, and instead attempt to ride his hot play into the playoffs.

And Anaheim? All they have done is rack up the most wins in the NHL (13) since Jan. 7. They've played .667 hockey in the second half, and by the looks of it, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are ready to step into the home stretch with some gusto.

And don't forget: The Ducks goalie is Switzerland's Jonas Hiller.