The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors have been playing just as well

With one week to go until the March 5 NHL trade deadline, our TSN Hockey Insiders discuss some of the names that have been making waves with some insight on their situations and chances of being dealt. There are certain names that our Hockey Insiders have been talking about for months, Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson. But the most intriguing names as we head towards TradeCentre are the most recent ones - Martin St. Louis and Ryan Kesler. Lets start with the latter. What are the real chances that Kesler gets dealt by the Canucks? Bob McKenzie: Well its by no means guaranteed but it is a possibility. The buzz on Kesler is increasing by the day. Now, we should get the disclaimers out of the way. The Vancouver Canucks are not aggressively shopping and trying to trade Ryan Kesler, but I do believe that theyre aggressively listening. Keep in mind though that Kesler has got a no-move, no-trade clause, so hes not going anywhere he doesnt want to go. Keep in mind also that hes technically injured right now, hes got a finger injury that might be broken, were only guessing. The Canucks say hes day-to-day so hopefully that wont come into play. But the question then becomes what would the Canucks have to get back in order to consider trading Kesler? It would obviously be a lot. What theyre going to be looking for is to pick up a young centre between the ages of 20-25 who can grow into the role that Kesler is in right now. Somebody that gives you a fighting chance at a reload if not necessarily a rebuild. So for example, would Kesler be prepared to go back to Ohio - he played at Ohio State University - for the Columbus Blue Jackets? And if he was prepared to do that, would the Blue Jackets give up a young centre like Ryan Johansen? Would the New York Rangers give up Derek Stepan, or someone along those lines? Again, someone who is between 20 and 25 who the Canucks can put in their lineup. If they can find the absolute right fit, and they would have to take some money back on Kesler because in order to make these trades, theres a lot of teams that are capped out and would have a tough time taking his salary - although when you look at his contract its an awesome contract for that guy. So yeah, its being considered. Darren Dreger: Well, theres no shortage of interest in Kesler. When hes healthy and competing with the edge that his reputation has been built on, what not to like about him? But when you talk to general managers who might be nibbling at the edges and might have interest in a player like Kesler, there is some concern. When hes healthy, he does have a history of health issues and hes not as intense and productive as hes been in recent years, so hes not entirely without risk. Martin St. Louis...when he refuses to deny that he has asked for a trade, saying there have been conversations, hes essentially saying "Ive asked for trade". Could this happen? Dreger: It absolutely could happen between now and March 5, and it could also drag into the off-season. What we know is that the Tampa Bay Lightning did reach out to the New York Rangers prior to the Olympics to gauge interest in the possibility of trading such a dynamic and an impactful player within their organization. Now, it wasnt a fit at that point, and its going to be a complicated process to make it fit again now between now and March 5. Thats because Steve Yzerman isnt going to give St. Louis away. This is going to be a difficult negotiation and the Rangers, as much as they love St. Louis and what he might bring to their team, hes also 38 years of age and thats going to be difficult to give prime assets for. McKenzie: For sure. I would kind of be shocked if St. Louis got traded by the deadline, and if he really does wants out of Tampa Bay - and the indication seems to be that he does - then its much more likely to be resolved in the off-season then right now, but I guess you never say never. The thing if I were Yzerman I would look at is, St. Louis, if he was unhappy before, hes playing really well. And the Lightning are a good team and I dont know how you get immediate true value for St. Louis right now that doesnt interrupt the Tampa Bays progress toward making the playoffs and being a contender in the East. Andrei Markov has gone from injury-prone defenceman to a mini-iron man. He hasnt missed a game now in two seasons, and that presents a contract quandary to Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. How much of a risk is he in terms of giving him term when hes 35 years old with a bunch of knee surgeries behind him? McKenzie: Well I guess the question is what is the term? I mean, lets make one thing perfectly clear - the Canadiens like Markov and want to re-sign him. Its been reported on Montreal radio that the Canadiens have offered one year at $6 million, which is a raise of salary, but only one year on the extension because hes 35 and over. My understanding is the Canadiens are not absolutely locked into "were only offering you a one-year deal, thats it, take it or leave it". But there is some flexibility on the part of the Canadiens to do a one-year, or maybe a two-year deal. Keep in mind, because youre an over-35 player, you can use games played bonuses and you can really jack up the salary based on those bonuses that you cant do with other contracts. That said, the question is how flexible is Markov? The word Im getting is that he may be looking for as much as a four-year deal, which seems really long for a guy of his age and injury history. Now is he flexible? Maybe it means four years, maybe it means three. So there is an issue with term. 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The car was later found abandoned. Balotelli wrote Saturday on Twitter: "I feel empty! No emotions .(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Raptors look to stay hot as they host the streaking Memphis Grizzlies at Air Canada Centre on Friday. Watch the Grizzlies vs. Raptors live tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Grizzlies are seventh in the Western Conference and have won four in a row and 11 of their last 14 games, including an exciting 90-88 triumph at New Orleans Wednesday in the opener of a three-game road trip. Grizzlies guard Mike Conley lifted a layup over Hornets big man Anthony Davis with 1.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner. Conleys steal earlier set up a Tony Allen basket to make it 88-88 with 1:16 to go. New Orleans then missed its next three shots and Conley lifted Memphis to victory with a clutch shot. Conley had 16 points, Marc Gasol added 15 and both Zach Randolph and Allen netted 13 points. "It was a pretty win; everybody fought," Randolph said. "We came together, stepped it up, and it was a game. It was a team win." Since the All-Star break, the Grizzlies are averaging 101.1 points. Theyre still one of the best on defense this season, allowing just 94.8 ppg -- third- best in the NBA. Memphis will close the trip Saturday in Philadelphia and has an 18-12 mark away from FedExForum. It is 35-15 against teams outside the Southwest Division and 34-6 when outshootting the opposition.dddddddddddd The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors have been playing just as well as the Grizzlies with wins in 10 of the last 13 games. They opened a three-game homestand with Wednesdays 101-87 besting of the Detroit Pistons, as DeMar DeRozan did his thing with 25 points and Amir Johnson added 20 and nine rebounds. DeRozan is averaging 23.8 points in the last 11 games. Kyle Lowry scored 19 points for Toronto, which prevailed for the third straight time at home and is 19-12 at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors, who are 15-4 in their last 19 home games, were able to snatch a win despite shooting 42 percent from the field. "We didnt shoot the ball that well, but pretty or not pretty, its a win for us, much needed," Raptors point guard Greivis Vasquez said. "Were playing good basketball. I think over the last two or three weeks we have been playing good basketball." Toronto is third in the East standings -- one game ahead of Chicago -- and three games in front of Brooklyn for Atlantic bragging rights. The Raptors will close the residency Sunday versus Phoenix and will try to sweep a season series from Memphis for the first time since 2007-08 (2-0). The Raptors posted a 103-87 win at Memphis on Nov. 13. Memphis has won four in a row north of the border. ' ' '