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Monday, March 10
 
Trade deadline: Sooner rather than later

The Hockey News

Do you think the NHL trade deadline should be earlier, the same or later than March 11?
Earlier 15 (50 percent)
The same 15 (50 percent)
Later 0
Anaheim: Anonymous - The same
"It's really tough to say. I think it's an individual situation with the players and the teams. Some teams have very little chance of making playoffs after the All-Star Game, and some teams still have a chance to make playoffs just before the trading deadline. It's really hard to judge. I think it depends on the year and teams involved, and possible trades. I think so (keep it the way it is). I haven't given it that much thought, but I think it's pretty much all right the way it is. Management is probably more concerned about those questions than the players."

Atlanta: Richard Smehlik - The same
"I think it should be just like it is. By this time you kind of know certain teams are fighting for the playoffs, certain teams are going to the playoffs and some are out of the playoffs. If you get traded, you still have time to play a couple of games before the playoffs start."

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Boston: Hal Gill - Earlier
"There's a lot involved, but I'd say it should be earlier. Twelve games or so isn't much time for a guy coming in to get on the same page as the guys who've been with a team all year."

Buffalo: Anonymous - Earlier
"It can't come soon enough."

Calgary: Bob Boughner - Earlier
"It should have been a month ago. That puts everybody more on an even playing field. By having it that late in the year, it allows certain teams to rent a player. Maybe that's not fair to teams who can't do that because of their financial situation. Guys have lives too. It has a lot to do with your family and your kids and their schooling. It's something that should be at the beginning or middle of February at the latest. Everybody put their team together. It means management has to work harder. I think you have to make decisions earlier in the season. Being late, it makes everybody wait until the last couple of weeks to see if they're seven points out or if they're two points out. It makes a big difference."

Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour - Earlier
"What happens is the teams with the most money make the best deal right at the end. I don't think it's fair the way they do it. It should be a lot earlier. All other sports seem to have it before this."

Chicago: Anonymous - Earlier

Colorado: Joe Sakic - The same
"To be honest, I don't really care. But I think it's probably fine the way it is."

Columbus: Anonymous - The same
"I think it's fine where it is. You don't want it too late in the season, because then what's the point. If you make it too early, teams don't know exactly where they're going to be at the stretch drive. Where it is right now is great. It gets people talking about our sport, and we can use that right now."

Dallas: Manny Malhotra - The same

Detroit: Luc Robitaille - The same

Edmonton: Anonymous - The same

Florida: Olli Jokinen - The same

Los Angeles: Aaron Miller - The same
"For me it doesn't really matter. If it happens, you get on a plane and go. But I know my family would like it sooner. My father calls every day to ask if I was traded."

Minnesota: Anonymous - Earlier

Montreal: Patrick Traverse - The same

Nashville: Bill Houlder - Earlier
"I personally would like to bring it back to maybe even before the All-Star break. That would put pressure on everyone to decide are they going to the playoffs or not ... Of course, for us, we would have decided this year that we were out of it, and look at us now."

New Jersey: Turner Stevenson - The same
"It should be the same. I think the deadline in our sport is one of the later ones, but if you have it early, teams are going to give up more often. If you get off to a real bad start, you might throw in the towel. I think it's worked fine so far, so let's leave it how it is."

N.Y. Islanders: Garth Snow - Earlier
"I think it definitely should be earlier so teams can begin preparing for the playoffs without the distractions of rumors and to give guys that are traded at least a little more time to get acclimated to their new teams."

N.Y. Rangers: Petr Nedved - The same

Ottawa: Anonymous - The same

Philadelphia: Marty Murray - Earlier
"Earlier. A couple weeks before to give your team time to gel and give the players time to get to know each other better."

Phoenix: Todd Simpson - The same
"Leave it where it is. It's a complicated issue and there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration if you move it or up. I don't think anybody wants to move it back."

Pittsburgh: Jamie Pushor - Earlier
"I think some of the lopsided trades that some of the top teams make at the deadline, where they stock up on big players, I think that takes away a little bit from the regular season and the team concept of building toward the playoffs."

St. Louis: Tyson Nash - Earlier
"Earlier. I think a little more time with the team you're being traded to would help. You get in there, get to know the guys and really get a feel for the chemistry of the team. The more time you spend with that team the better you're going to be able to help the team and the better they know you. I think if its moved up, the feeling of if you're about to be traded just moves up to. Instead of wondering about March 11, you'd be wondering about the new date. It's always in your mind. That wouldn't change. But more time with the new team would good."

San Jose: Adam Graves - Earlier

Toronto: Jyrki Lumme - Earlier
"I'd like to see it moved up to around the All-Star break."

Tampa bay: Anonymous - Earlier

Vancouver: Anonymous - Earlier
"Earlier. I think there wouldn't be as many rentals this way."

Washington: Anonymous - The same

The Hockey News Material from The Hockey News.
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NHL TRADE DEADLINE SHOW
ESPNEWS, Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET:

Ray Ferraro, E.J. Hradek, John Buccigross and Pat Boyle break the news and break down the trades.

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