As the Trade Deadline Day approaches, the big sports stations in Canada have planned all-day events to break down all of the deals. However this year in the NHL, GM's have already made several significant trades. February has been especially busy. Here are the top ten trades that have happened so far...and some bold predictions.

First off, let's define the different kinds of trades that happen:

 With that, here are the top 10 Trades of February:

To Ottawa: Craig Anderson
To Colorado: Brian Elliot

Type of Trade: Change of Scenery

Breakdown: A swap of starting goaltenders. Both teams probably decided that neither Anderson nor Elliot was going to be their starters next year, so they decided to give the other a tryout for next year. Anderson has played well for the Senators while Elliot struggled in his only start for the Avalanche.

Prediction: It would be dangerous for the Senators do put all their eggs in Anderson's basket, but if they can sign him for cheap, he may be what they need in their rebuilding process. Unless Elliot stands on his head in Colorado, give the slight edge to Ottawa.

To Anaheim: Francois Beauchemin
To Toronto: Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner, and Conditional 4th Round Pick.

Type of Trade: Salary Dump

Breakdown: While Brian Burke gives his own spin to the Toronto media, this trade is to clear up space on the Leafs payroll. Salary dumps usually happen when teams go into rebuild mode and they are often with a team that is pursuing a Cup. Beauchemin was having a rough season in Toronto, and while Anaheim's D now has a little more depth, it's unlikely they will go deep in the playoffs.

Prediction: The Leafs get a prospect in Gardiner, while opening up their payroll to add pieces in the summer. Give Toronto the edge purely based on being able to pawn off Beauchemin. Lupul is just a throw in and won't be a factor if the Leafs ever become relevant.

To Chicago: Michael Frolik and Alexander Salak
To Florida: Jack Skille, Hugh Jessiman, and David Pacan

Type of Trade: Change of Scenery

Breakdown: This one is intriguing because it involves the Blackhawks who are desperately trying to make the playoffs.

Prediction: Frolik's had a good look in Florida but never developed the way the Panthers liked. Skille was one of the young guns that Chicago hoped would step up, but never did. The edge goes to Florida for getting the extra player.

To New York Rangers: Wojtek Wolski
To Phoenix: Michal Rozsival

Type of Trade: Salary Dump

Breakdown: At first glance it looked like Wojtek Wolski was going to be in his second "change of scenery" trade in two years. Last year the Avalanche traded him to the Coyotes for Peter Mueller. This year he goes to the Rangers, but the key here is Rozsival's salary. The Rangers are primed to make some other splashes before the trade deadline, but whatever they do, they wouldn't have been able to do it without this trade.

Prediction: Rangers win this one in a walk. They've been trying to get rid of Rozsival's salary for a few years, and Wolski is a just a bonus in addition to whatever they're able to do before the deadline.

To Nashville: Mike Fisher
To Ottawa: 1st Round Pick and Conditional 2nd or 3rd Round Pick

Type of Trade: Desperation

Breakdown: Ottawa started it's dismantling with this trade while Nashville seem to make these desperation trades every few years (ie: Peter Forsberg). It's a desperate trade because Fisher will be turning 31 this year, so it's is all about what happens in the playoffs for the Predators. Nashville has had some struggles with attendance this year, and there's talk that they might not be able to sign Shea Weber next year. So Nashville really needed to make this trade in hopes that they get out of the first round for the first time in their existence.

Prediction: The condition for the extra pick is likely based on how well the Predators do in the playoffs. This means that unless Nashville make it deep; they've paid a steep price. But hey, if more fans in Nashville come out to see Carrie Underwood's husband, maybe it is worth it for the Predators.

To Boston: Rich Peverely and Boris Valabik
To Atlanta: Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart

Type of Trade: Salary Dump

Description: This is like the Rozsival trade; a set up for other moves. Boston gets rid of Wheeler and Stuart's salary and picks up a couple of spare parts.

Prediction: Boston wins here because they shed salary and get a decent player in Peverely. This trade however will be judged by the next trade they made on the very same day, which was:

To Boston: Tomas Kaberle
To Toronto: Joe Colborne (plus 1st Round pick and conditional 2nd round pick)

Type of Trade: The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Description: Tomas Kaberle seemed like he was traded to Boston a million times over the last couple of seasons, so most people had to blink a few times to actually make sure that it had happened. Boston shed some salary in an earlier trade, so they could get the power play quarter back they hope is the final piece. The price of Colborne and the draft picks may not seem that much if Boston can hoist the Cup for the first time since 1972.

Prediction: The draft picks will probably be late rounders so they're devalued a bit, but it's all about how far Boston can go in the playoffs that will determine the winner of this trade. Right now though, the tandem of Kaberle and Chara on the power play points looks pretty threatening.

To Dallas: Alex Goligoski
To Pittsburgh: James Neal and Matt Niskanen

Type of Trade: Salary Dump

Description: This also looked like a "change of scenery" trade, with two quality young players trading teams, but with Pittsburgh getting the extra player; it becomes clear that Dallas is trying to make a hockey trade while shedding salary at the same time. This is all due to their ownership issues, which is unfortunate, because Dallas was having a promising year. When Dallas picked up Jamie Langenbrunner in early January, it looked like Dallas was going to make a push to try and win the Pacific Division. However with this trade, they're in survival mode, just trying to get value and shed salary on a season in which it looks like they're going to miss the playoffs.

Prediction: Pittsburgh wins this trade outright by simply getting one more quality young player, and a good young forward that can fill in for some of their injuries. Brad Richards may be next on the way out of Big D.

To Philadelphia: Kris Versteeg
To Toronto: 1st Round Pick and 3rd Round Pick

Type of Trade: The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Description: A bit of a surprise in that the Leafs who are trying to build a young team, trade away one of the young stars they acquired in the off-season. The Flyers get a guy they can plug into their third line, where he thrived in last year's playoffs.

Prediction: Along with the Kaberle deal, this trade really depends on what the Flyers do in the playoffs. If Boston and Philadelphia meet in the Eastern Conference, it'll be hard to say if Toronto can win either trade, but they'll clearly be losing one of them.

To St. Louis: Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk (plus conditional 1st round pick)
To Colorado: Eric Johnson and Jay McClement (plus conditional 2nd round pick)

Type of Trade: Change of Scenery

Description: This is the grand daddy of all the trades so far because it involves so many good young players and high picks. Chris Stewart broke out with 28 goals in his rookie year, and Kevin Shattenkirk was looking impressive in his first season this year. Stewart has battled injuries and is going through the dreaded sophomore slump that's been a factor in the Avalanche's collapse this year. Eric Johnson was the #1 overall pick in 2006, and has had some decent numbers for a young defenseman, who normally take longer to develop than forwards. A much larger impact of the trade is how the rest of the Avalanche will respond to two of their young teammates being traded away. Paul Statsny's dad, Peter, an NHL Hall of Fame legend, openly criticized the Avalanche management after this trade, so you can only imagine what Paul is thinking.

Prediction: History shows that many good young players go through sophomore slumps, but then come back as they mature in their 3rd and 4th years. Chris Stewart could be the next premier power forward in the NHL, while Eric Johnson has some serious defensive liabilities, so not even taking Shattenkirk into account, the Blues will win this trade.

Originally posted at http://www.betfair.net/blog/hockey/nhl/the-top-10-trades-of-february-250211.html