The NHL Trade Deadline is on Monday and teams are making decisions on whether to buy or sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates.

Ryder In Play? 

As Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record tweeted on Tuesday, winger Michael Ryder's agent has spoken with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello about his situation, but they haven't asked for a trade. "We said whatever is best for both sides," said Ryder. "(Lamoriello) knows I want to play and it's his decision of what he wants to do."

A Lower Price? 

According to Craig Custance of ESPN.com, the asking price for Sabres forward Chris Stewart in one negotiation was, "a B+ prospect and no picks." Custance added that the Sabres haven't talked to anyone about defenceman Nikita Zadorov, who was suspended by the team again for disciplinary reasons.

Star Trek 

In his mailbag segment for the The Dallas Morning News, Mike Heika wrote Tuesday that veteran winger Erik Cole should get the Stars something decent if he's available and the team is likely willing to listen to offers on players like Cole, Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Garbutt.

Heika adds that if the Stars trade for a top-pairing defenceman, he guesses one of their younger defenceman like Jamie Oleksiak would go the other way. 

Shark Bait?

As Curtis Pashelka and Mark Purday of The San Jose Mercury News wrote Tuesday, the Sharks are reportedly offering up forwards Tyler Kennedy, James Sheppard, Tye McGinn and Andrew Desjardins and defenceman Scott Hannan, while goaltender Antti Niemi - who becomes a UFA at season's end, may get the biggest return. 

Could Sharks Have Room/Assets For Kessel? 

In his online mailbag feature, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area suggests that the San Jose Sharks are among a few teams that could make room for Phil Kessel's salary and that the polarizing Leafs winger is still young enough to fit into GM Doug Wilson's plan. 

Kurz doesn't think the Sharks would trade a first-round pick or young players for a rental, but Kessel is a player with plenty of term and the team would have to give up an up and comer like Tomas Hertl, Matt Nieto, Micro Mueller and/or Nikolay Goldobin (as well as draft picks) if the interest is there. 

Kurz also notes that Kessel played with Joe Pavelski in the Winter Olympics and the two players had some good chemistry. 

Blue Notes 

St. Louis defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk is "weeks" away from returning to the Blues' lineup and Jeremy Rutherford of The St. Louis Post Dispatch thinks the team could add a defenceman by Mar. 2 - with potential names including Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek and Marek Zidlicky.