from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,
Trades are going to be completed before the Feb. 29 (3 p.m. ET) deadline because contending general managers can’t resist the temptation to improve their teams before the playoffs.
But here are five reasons why we may not see as many deals this trade season:
Too many teams in contention
Several teams that were supposed to out of contention, including the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, are still in the playoff hunt. If the Devils are competing for a playoff spot, how can they move Lee Stempniak, who is tied for the team lead in points? The Hurricanes might have to keep Kris Versteeg, their highest-scoring forward.
Impending unrestricted free agents Mikkel Boedker and Boyd Gordon would seem like prime rental players if not for the fact that the Arizona Coyotes can still make the playoffs in the forgiving Pacific Division. The Coyotes need Boedker, the team’s top point producer, up front. The Vancouver Canucks may not move Dan Hamhuis, an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The point: There could be fewer players available.
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