Around the Boards: More Ilya, Caps in 2011 Winter Classic? Trade Chips in Washington and Colorado
  • Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News: Richardson thinks that if the Thrashers are still in the playoff hunt, and have not re-signed Ilya Kovalchuk, they probably won’t trade him at the trade deadline. They could deal him after the season, and before the July 1st, similar to how the Panthers handled Jay Bouwmeester.
  • Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post: The Capitals have a good chance of being one of the participants in the 2011 Winter Classic. One possibility could have them playing the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. A match-up with the Penguins in Pittsburgh is another.
  • Corey Masisak of the Washingon Times: The Washington Capitals have a goaltending trading chip in prospect, Michal Neuvirth, that could bring in a piece or two at the trade deadline.
  • Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: The Avalanche have more than enough healthy Dmen, and have some decisions on who to sit, and may be who they could trade. One of  Ryan Wilson, John Michael Liles, and Brett Clark could be watching the Avs games from the press box. They’d probably like to move Liles out of town, but his contract might be a problem.