from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

The list of potentially limiting factors ahead of the National Hockey League’s April 12 trade deadline is not a short one. There are salary cap constraints, budgetary influences and, yes, quarantine restrictions – all of which could curtail the action.

Then there is the market itself.

As one GM asked this week: How many teams are actually buying? Turns out, the number of firm buyers seems to be down this season.

The reason could be any one of the above. It could also be the pure intra-divisional play format, which has created a clearer dichotomy of teams than the usual conference format.

Or it could be that without fans in most buildings, there is limited financial incentive for GMs to pull off a trade that might win an extra round.

In most years, an extra round of home games could mean anywhere from $4 million to $10 million in additional revenue on the bottom line. Managers aren’t facing the same pressure, and that means more teams than usual are neutral on the deadline – neither buyers nor sellers.

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