Taking stock before the March trade deadline arrives

January has officially become "event month" in the hockey world, with the NHL Winter Classic, World Junior Championship and NHL All-Star Game all part of the landscape that keeps interest high at a time when mid-season blues used to creep into the mix.

But the good times are coming to a close as we swiftly move headlong into the Trade Deadline phase, where trade speculation runs rampant for the next four weeks or so.

With that in mind, let's take stock in teams' positions and what they might be apt to do.

For instance, in the ridiculously competitive Northwest Division, Vancouver made the big move in signing Mats Sundin. Edmonton weighed in with a minor deal in replacing back-up goalie Mathieu Garon with another back-up goalie Dany Sabourin, and also acquiring a potentially solid winger in Ryan Stone

The Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames all have remained quiet thus far. The Flames reticence is understandable in that they have an eight-point bulge atop the division. Last season, eight points separated all five teams when the final tally was in after 82 games. The Avs can be given a pass for not tinkering along the way because they've surprised many by hanging in through the first half -- especially when the losses of Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny to injury are factored in.

The Wild, though, are intriguing in that they are having a hard time scoring, yet sit at an impasse with their own 40-goal man, the injured Marian Gaborik. Is a deal possible? When will he be healthy? Is he marketable? If so, what should the Wild expect to net in return?

All of these questions have swirled around the team since the start of the season, but its inability to answer them and select a course of action has hindered the Wild's first half. They're still in the playoff mix, but they are at the bottom of the division. Given that, the Wild will certainly be active after the All-Star break, while the Canucks have made their biggest -- and best -- play with Sundin. Vancouver has to hope Sundin, along with the return of goaltender Roberto Luongo, will be enough.

Looking at the Eastern Conference's most competitive division, the Atlantic, there are moves to be made. The Rangers have hit a flat spot and just don't seem to have enough oomph on offense. The Philadelphia Flyers need to clear cap space to return Daniel Briere to the lineup, meaning a couple of regulars will be on the move. Both the Flyers and Rangers have a history of activity, so expect boldness by each club, factoring cap considerations as part of the process.

The New Jersey Devils have been marvelous in the absence of goaltender Martin Brodeur, and the recent signing of Brendan Shanahan to bolster the powerplay is indicative of the Devils. It is low risk and represents a modest cap hit. If Shanahan contributes, fantastic. If not, the impact is negligible.

Moving on, the Devils like their makeup and won't alter it greatly. The same for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They made the minor move with the Oilers and have plenty of players to offer up in the Ryan Stone category. With that as the backdrop, figure the Pens to put a package together to attract a rental veteran winger to play with Sidney Crosby, similar to the Marian Hossa deal last year.