After two years of baseless speculation, the Florida Panthers finally traded away team captain Olli Jokinen, but not to the teams he was often linked to in trade rumors.

Instead of landing in Calgary, Minnesota or Vancouver Jokinen was shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard and the second round pick (49th overall).

Panthers GM Jacques Martin wanted to bolster his defense corps and Boynton and Ballard should help in that regard, but this move also significantly depletes the Panthers offensive production. Panthers fans probably won’t be happy about this return.

Boynton was once a highly touted blueliner with the Boston Bruins but injury and contract squabble diminished his status, so much so that it was rumored throughout last season the Coyotes tried unsuccessfully to move him.

Ballard however has far more potential, a 25-year-old blueliner who can play a physical style but also contribute offensively. His offensive production has steadily dropped in his first three seasons but his defensive game has improved.  

If that 49th overall pick should blossom into a star player down the road this deal could work more in the Panthers favor. Having bolstered his defense (possibly in hopes of enticing RFA Jay Bouwmeester into re-signing a long-term deal), Martin will be hard pressed to replace the gaping hole at center.

Coyotes fans have to be thrilled about this move, as they’d now got a bona fide first line center for winger Shane Doan’s line, giving the Coyotes considerably more offensive punch than they’ve had in recent years.

Losing Ballard and Boynton bites into their defensive depth, but with Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris and Zbynek Michalek  already on their blueline and young Keith Yandle making the team at mid-season it might not hurt them too badly.

The chance to increase the offensive firepower was obviously too good to pass up, and they’ll have Jokinen on the payroll for the next seasons, which could give him the opportunity on a more promising team to finally play on a post-season team.

In the short term, rank this deal a winner for the Coyotes.

With the NHL’s trade deadline fast approaching here’s my take on some players thought to be possible trade bait and who might be on the move by February 26th:

Mats Sundin: As long as the Toronto Maple Leafs have a shot at a playoff berth, he won’t waive his “no-trade” clause.

Marian Hossa: The Atlanta Thrashers are trying to re-sign him leading to speculation that if he’s not re-signed by the deadline he’ll be shopped. If the Thrashers are still in the playoff chase I suspect GM Don Waddell won’t move him, but if not, he could indeed hit the trade block.   

Alex Tanguay: His name’s popped up this past week due to media concerns about the Calgary Flames off-season cap issues, but he’s denied seeking a trade or being asked to waive his NTC. I suspect Flames GM Darryl Sutter could retain him for the upcoming playoffs and perhaps consider shopping him in the off-season.

Olli Jokinen: Ever notice that it’s Canadian-based media outlets that often report the Florida Panthers captain could be traded? Ever notice that to date they’ve yet to be right?

Rob Blake: He says he hasn’t agreed to waive his NTC or asked to waive it, but the possibility exists that this LA Kings blueliner could be playing elsewhere by February 26th.

Jaromir Jagr: If the NY Rangers were to shop him I have my doubts there’d be many takers given his low production this season and his reputation for moodiness.

Patrick Marleau: A fixture in the rumor mill since last April, his below-average stats and the expensive ($12.6 million) two year contract (with a no-trade clause) beginning next season should keep him in the Shark tank.

Dan Boyle and Vaclav Prospal: Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster suggested that if the club fails to make a playoff push he could be forced into making some cost-cutting moves, leading to speculation impending UFAs Boyle and Prospal could be part of those moves.

Brian Campbell: He’s postponed his contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres until the off-season. That’s led to trade speculation that Sabres GM Darcy Regier rejected, claiming he hopes to re-sign Campbell. I believe him.  

Maxim Afinogenov and Dmitri Kalinin: The former has struggled offensively this season and the latter’s eligible for UFA status this summer. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Sabres trying to move either guy by the deadline.

J.P. Dumont: The Nashville Predators might not have enough money available this summer to re-sign him and if they’re out of the playoff race in a month’s time could consider shopping Dumont.

Michael Ryder: The Montreal Canadiens aren’t expected to re-sign him after this season and could try to move him in the coming weeks. His sub-par production this season however could hurt his trade value.

Nikolai Khabibulin: I wouldn’t doubt Chicago Blackhawks management would love to dump the remaining year and $6.75 million on his contract, but that and his poor performance this season won’t make him enticing to anyone at this year’s deadline.  

Yanic Perreault: The Chicago Blackhawks could try to peddle this faceoff specialist to a Stanley Cup contender.

#### Tarnstrom: He’s been considered the odd man out on the Edmonton Oilers blueline, and with some teams seeking a veteran puck-moving defenceman Tarnstrom could attract some attention leading up to the deadline.

Keith Carney: This blueline veteran was a frequent scratch in the first half of this season, and he could end up shopped by the Minnesota Wild in the coming weeks.

Christian Backman: Plenty of speculation the St. Louis Blues could shop a defenceman for depth elsewhere in the roster, and Backman’s name has been floated as part of those rumors.

Bear in mind, folks, that this is only a quick observation of who might or might not be dealt. There are likely to be players that no one suspected as trade bait who could be traded by February 26th, and that most of the above-mentioned players could end up staying with their respective teams.

Feel free to chip in with names you think might be on the move by the deadline. It'll be interesting to review this list and your takes after February 26th.

- Seems Rory Fitzpatrick's been catching some heat in the media over the fans write-in campaign to push him into the All-Star game. 

Yes, the campaign makes a mockery of the All-Star game, but considering how the All-Star game has been a joke for years, this campaign fits right in.

So some fans have found a way to exploit the inept voting system devised by the league to stuff the ballot box for an unknown for a laugh. The system's been ripe for exploitation, and the only surprise to me is that it's taken this long.

Oh, and Fitzpatrick doesn't deserve to be run down because of this. He didn't seek it and has handled the unnecessary publicity well.

The way I see it, if he gets voted in, it's up to him to decide if he wants to go or not. I don't care either way because I stopped caring about the farce that is the NHL All-Star game a long, long time ago.

- Darcy Tucker to Edmonton? Nope, they need a puckmoving defenseman. To Montreal? Uh-uh, not with the Leafs clinging to a playoff berth. Trades between the Leafs and Habs are scarce as hens teeth and almost never occur during the season.

My guess is the Leafs won't trade Tucker during the season. They'll try to re-sign him but if he proves too rich for their blood could try to peddle him by the June draft weekend.

- I wouldn't be surprised if teams are inquiring into the availability of Florida's Olli Jokinen, but they're not gonna land him, especially if the Panthers are still in the hunt for post-season berth by the deadline. I also wouldn't be surprised to discover he's got a no-trade clause that'll kick in at some point in his contract.

- The Anaheim Ducks are facing real adversity for the first time this season, losing goalies J-S Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov, forward Todd Marchant and defenseman Francois Beauchemin to injury.

This'll be a true test for a Ducks team that has pretty much owned the Western Conference since the season began. Fortunately Bryzgalov is expected back soon whilst "Giggy" is listed as day-to-day, but for now it's up to Michael Wall to get 'er done until one of these guys return to action.

- How dumb is the NHL's playoff seeding system? So dumb that the New Jersey Devils with 43 points get third overall in the conference because they lead their division ahead of the Montreal Canadiens, who have 49 points.

And to prove I'm not biased, the same problem exists in the Western Conference, where the struggling Vancouver Canucks with their 39 points get the third overall seeding ahead of more deserving teams with better records like Detroit, Dallas and San Jose.

I don't care where a team places in a division, if their record isn't good enough for third overall, they bloody well shouldn't be there ahead of more deserving teams. In some cases, it's rewarding ineptness.