Another NHL season is underway and like every season comes with an always-active rumor mill. 

Only three weeks into the 2009-10 NHL campaign the biggest name being bandied about is forward Alexander Frolov of the Los Angeles Kings, whose recent one-game benching for a perceived lack of commitment to his game has give rise to rumors linking him with the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens in the 

It remains to be seen if this move will spark a better effort from Frolov, a former two-time 30-plus goal-scorer who after nine NHL games this season has only one goal and seven points. 

Frolov is also an unrestricted free agent next summer and it's believed he no longer fits into the Kings future plans, which only adds more fuel to the rumor fires. 

Sure, it's possible the Kings could trade Frolov, but it'll be very surprising if they do so before the NHL's week-long Christmas trade freeze which begins December 19th.

The reason for my doubts is quite simple: since the 2005-06 season only two star players - Joe Thornton and Sergei Fedorov - were traded in the first three months of an NHL season, and both those trades occurred in November 2005.

Frolov isn't a "star" on the same level as Thornton is and Fedorov was but a winger who's scored over 30 goals in two of the past three seasons like Frolov could be considered a second tier star. Players of that caliber also aren't moved in the first three months of an NHL season in today's salary cap world. 

Sure, Frolov has value given his previous production and the fact that at 27 he's now considered in his playing prime. That's not why he'll be tough to move in the autumn.

Frolov is being paid $4 million for this season, a number which most NHL teams would have trouble swallowing at this time of year. Not only does the return have to make sense for the Kings but the salary numbers have to fit for the club acquiring him. 

If the Kings decide to put him on the trade block it'll likely happen between January 1st and the NHL's March 3rd trade deadline, excluding the two weeks in February when the league will shut down for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. 

By mid-season half of Frolov's  $4 million will have been paid out by the Kings, making the remainder more affordable for rival clubs. The closer to the trade deadline, the more of his salary is paid by the Kings, the less having to be picked up by any interested parties. 

His trade status will also be determined not just by his performance but of the Kings over the course of the season. If Frolov plays well for most of the season and the Kings are a playoff contender he won't be dealt. If he's playing poorly or the Kings are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline he'll probably be moved. 

Now of course there's always exceptions to every rule and Frolov could be dealt earlier in this season, but given the aforementioned variables I wouldn't expect Frolov, or any other notable NHL players, to be traded between now and New Year's Day.