As the NHL trade deadline approaches, it becomes impossible not to overlook the parity in the league at this time. Other than the Los Angeles Kings, there really aren't any teams who have no chance at making the playoffs. The playoff races should be very exciting as just a handful of points separates most teams and whichever team stays healthy and gets hot down the stretch has the best chance of making the postseason.

This complicates things at the trade deadline as GMs need to determine whether to be buyers or sellers. Since most teams have a chance to make the playoffs, general managers have to be smart and realistic about their team's prospects. Some teams with a realistic hope of qualifying for the playoffs but no real chance of advancing past the first round may be better off selling, especially with this year's draft being rated as strongly as it is.

Parity is a benefit to the league because every game is meaningful for one if not both teams, even as we hit mid-February and March. There are no more games that can be considered an automatic two points anymore. Even the worst teams in the league this year are not even close to as bad as the 1974-75 Capitals, some of the old California Golden Seals or Colorado Rockies teams or the 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets who won just nine games in an 80 game schedule. You just won't see bad clubs going 20 games without a win anymore and that's a good thing. You also won't see any more dynasties. The last team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions is the Detroit Red Wings who won in 1997 and 1998. The salary cap, free agency and the fact that the league has not expanded in recent years are certainly factors as to why parity exists.

Right now, a total of 10 points separates the sixth place Philadelphia Flyers in the east from the last place Toronto Maple Leafs. That's a five game difference and Toronto has 23 games left on their schedule. In the Western Conference, there's only an eight point difference between sixth place Calgary and 14th place Chicago. Only six points separates all five teams in the Southeast Division and the last place Lightning have two games in hand on the first place Hurricanes. One brief hot streak or slump can completely change a team's playoff chances. This is good for the game as it keeps fans interested throughout the season. The powers that be in the NHL should do everything they can to keep the competitive balance that exists today.

The Hurricanes took a big hit when they lost veteran center Rod Brind'Amour for the season. The team has already been struggling with injuries to key players like Justin Williams, Matt Cullen and David Tanabe, but Brind'Amour provides clutch scoring, takes key faceoffs, kills penalties and is one of the leaders in the locker room. Some of the heart and soul have been taken away from Carolina and their chances of winning the Southeast Division and making the playoffs have been greatly reduced.

It's amazing that Richard Zednik may be leaving the hospital this weekend after having his carotid artery nearly severed in a game against the Sabres earlier this week. Zednik is very fortunate to be alive and he will resume his hockey career although probably not until next season. What is truly remarkable is that in the entire 80-plus year history of the NHL, there has been only one on-ice fatality. Given the sharpness of skate blades and the fact that players carry heavy sticks which can be used as weapons and the speed at which the game is played, the very fact that incidents like Zednik's don't happen more often is surprising. When you add the fact that for years, goalies played without masks and players without helmets, it's even more remarkable that Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars remains the only player to suffer a fatal on-ice injury. It happened back in January of 1968 in a game against the Oakland Seals.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have learned something big about Evgeni Malkin during Sidney Crosby's absence. Malkin is not just a talent, he can be a leader as well. The second year superstar has stepped up his game while Crobsy has been nursing his injured ankle and kept the team in the thick of the playoff race. Malkin has already matched his goal total from last season and has a good chance of reaching the 100-point plateau this year. Malkin has demonstrated that something extra that great players have but good ones do not: the ability to elevate their game when the situation calls for it.

The Nashville Predators have quietly kept themselves in the thick of the playoff race this season. During last summer, critics accused the Preds of having a fire sale when they were trading away some quality NHL talent. If the season ended today, Nashville would make the playoffs as they are presently seventh in the West. In fact, the Predators reached the 30-win mark in just 58 games this year, the fastest they got to that plateau in the 10-year history of the franchise. Credit must be given to coach Barry Trotz and GM David Poile who have kept the team going despite an uncertain ownership situation and even uncertainty about where the team would be playing in the near future.