Staple: Snow, Sather should take note of roster-freeze deadline deals

It was a nice trial run Friday for the real trade deadline, which is March 3. Friday's Olympic roster freeze deadline produced trade deadline-type dealing into the final minutes and set up the parameters for some of the deals that could come when the rosters are unfrozen Feb. 28.

The going rate for a mid-range deadline rental seems to be a second-round pick, which should be of note to both Islanders general manager Garth Snow and Rangers GM/president Glen Sather.

Snow has defenseman Andy Sutton, goaltender Martin Biron and center Richard Park available; Sather has forwards Vinny Prospal and Olli Jokinen. All five are unrestricted free agents at season's end, and thus the most attractive to elite teams looking to plug holes.

Plenty of eyebrows went up around the league when Canadiens interim GM Pierre Gauthier gave up a second-round pick in the 2011 draft to the Panthers for former Ranger Dominic Moore, who figures to be no more than a fourth-line/penalty-kill specialist for Montreal.

But a league source said the 2011 draft isn't forecast as a very deep one. Even so, it's a steep price to pay for Moore, who didn't sign with Florida until after the regular season began.

This coming June's draft is considered a good one, so the Hurricanes have gotten the jump on everyone. They picked up two second-rounders this past week, sending defenseman Niclas Wallin to the Sharks and center Matt Cullen to the Senators. Carolina GM Jim Rutherford also is looking to send Ray Whitney somewhere before March 3 and possibly get a first-round pick in return.

Only one GM managed to get a first-rounder near the 2009 deadline, and that was Snow. He sent Chris Campoli and Mike Comrie, both of whom clashed with coach Scott Gordon, to the Senators for Dean McAmmond and a first-round pick. Snow turned that pick and a few others he'd stockpiled into Calvin de Haan, whom the Islanders hope will recover from shoulder surgery and have a shot at making the team next season, though more likely in 2011-12.

The Rangers might not want to subtract Jokinen just yet - he scored in overtime Friday to give the Rangers a rare win in Pittsburgh - but if they are serious about planning for the future, Sather needs to listen to any offers for his veterans.

The Hurricanes likely will have a top-five first-round pick, plus these extra second-rounders. It's easier to make a deal in June to move up to No. 1, or pick up a restricted free agent on the trading block, with those extra picks - something for Sather and Snow to think about during these next couple of idle weeks.