The NHL's Feb. 29 Trade Deadline is approaching 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.'

Rental Agreement

The focus for the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline is selling off some rental players.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com thinks Montreal would listen to many ideas but their main focus is mostly to get whatever they can for pending unrestricted free agents Dale Weise, Tom Gilbert and Tomas Fleischmann (for example).

A few teams, according to sources, have shown interest in defenceman Alexei Emelin, who has two more years on his contract at a $4.1 million cap hit.

Forward Paul Byron, who has generated interest from other teams, is also a pending UFA.

Let's Get Physical

The New York Rangers won’t be diminishing their back end in order to replenish.

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Rangers' biggest need remains that they need a physical top-six winger who will bring a presence to the down-low, grinding game and to the power play.

And Eric Staal is that player.

Staal has a no-move clause, but there would seem more than just a chance Eric would waive it in order to join younger brother Marc.

The Long And Short Of It

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill is not afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal. But he also knows that building the youth of the team can bring dividends that last for years.

"We are open to a hockey trade that can help our team, and we are certainly going to be aware of the players available," Nill said. "But I think you have to be very careful about trading long-term assets for short-term solutions."

The focus of any team seeking to trade with the Stars will be young defencemen and young forwards, writes Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News.

If Nill can find a legitimate young superstar like Tyler Seguin or a proven 30-year-old like Jason Spezza, he would be open to discussing moving his highly valued kids.