TRADE INTRIGUE AHEAD.

Byline: MATT McHALE NHL 

It's two months before the NHL trade deadline, but it's never too early to handicap the action, especially because high-roller Colorado just lost top player Peter Forsberg for the season.

In the past, the Avs have acquired Patrick Roy, Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque and Rob Blake in midseason deals. Those moves helped them win a couple of Stanley Cup titles, including last season.

The Avs learned late last week that Forsberg, who underwent surgery last May for a ruptured spleen suffered in their playoff victory over the Kings, will be sidelined four months with tendon damage in his left foot.

The team was eager for the return of Forsberg, considered by many to be the game's greatest player. But now that he's gone, his $10 million salary is covered by insurance. That walking-around money could help them swing a center such as New Jersey's Bobby Holik, who has been in a contract dispute with the Devils.

Whether or not it happens, it should be a busy few months as teams juggle lineups and scrutinize payroll in order to prepare for the playoffs.

Unlike last year when the Avs were favored to win it all even before acquiring Blake from the Kings, there is no overwhelming choice this season.

Without Forsberg, Colorado has struggled. Youngsters Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay are having off years. Detroit is the league's runaway points leader, but there always are concerns the Red Wings' veteran players will fade down the stretch.

Big names such as Chicago's Tony Amonte and Boston's Bill Guerin, both pending unrestricted free agents, could be traded before the deadline. Former Duck Teemu Selanne also can be an unrestricted free agent. He is disenchanted in San Jose and the feeling is mutual. His salary this year is $9.5 million, which includes $1 million as part of a signing bonus. A lot of money for 14 goals on a first-place team.

The problem: The Sharks, Bruins and Blackhawks are in the midst of terrific seasons. They have to decide whether they are willing to risk keeping those players for a possible Cup run and letting them walk away for nothing next summer.

It is different than last year when the Kings pretty much knew they weren't Cup-worthy, with or without Blake. In the NHL, if a player isn't signed heading into the final year before free agency, he is going to leave. But this year, who is to say San Jose, Chicago and Boston don't have legitimate chances of winning the Stanley Cup?

The Bruins, battling Toronto for the best record in the Eastern Conference, haven't made the playoffs the past two years.

And even on the night last week when former captain Jason Allison returned to the Fleet Center, there were almost 5,000 empty seats. It turns out the notoriously frugal Bruins probably were right in not paying Allison the $24 million he was seeking. They have the best young player in the game in center Joe Thornton and at least eight quality forwards.

But Guerin is their best winger, with 25 goals in 41 games. He joined the Bruins last year as part of a midseason salary purge by the Edmonton Oilers. Despite the goodwill keeping Guerin would mean for a team that hasn't won the Cup since 1972, the Bruins' depth could justify a trade.

The Blackhawks have an even bigger problem. They haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1961.

Amonte is the only visible player on a team that draws terribly at home despite not televising games at the United Center. The Blackhawks have been quiet on the Chicago sports scene for years. The fans they have left lament all-time great Bobby Hull leaving 30 years ago for the World Hockey Association because of a contract dispute. Although history says Amonte will not re-sign with the Blackhawks, Chicago needs to keep him more than Boston needs to keep Guerin.

Selanne will be gone by the March 19 deadline. He and coach Darryl Sutter don't get along. Although Selanne will start for the World team at the Feb. 2 All-Star Game at Staples Center, he is not the reason for the Sharks' success.

Vincent Damphousse, another All-Star starter, is having a great year. When Damphousse was lost to a hand injury last season, San Jose faded. It made the playoffs but lost in the first round. This year could be different, even without Selanne.

The Avs have been aggressive in the past, primarily because they had a long list of prospects to trade. That group might be thinning, especially with the dealing the past few years. Last season, they gave away a No. 1 draft pick and No. 2 prospect Jared Aulin as part of the package for Blake.

The same is true of the Devils, who are hoping to replenish the young talent lost in past deals for Jason Arnott, Claude Lemieux and Doug Gilmour.

Included in that group: Guerin, Brian Rolston, Steve Sullivan and Brendan Morrison.

All now are NHL stars. But like the Avs, the Devils have two Stanley Cups to show for their deals.

Let the trading begin.

TV WATCH

Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars

Wednesday, 5 p.m., ESPN 

FROM THE BLUE LINE

By Matt McHale

RED HOT

Dallas center Mike Modano has nine goals in his past six games, including two in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Minnesota.

ICE COLD

Edmonton's Tommy Salo has given up four or more goals six times in the past 16 games and his goals-against average has gone from 1.90 to 2.40.

OFF THE BOARDS

Detroit's Uwe Krupp is probably out for the season after having shoulder surgery last week. Krupp signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract in 1998. He played 22 games, got hurt and then was suspended for two years after the Wings said he aggravated the injury while dog sledding. He played two games this year before getting hurt. That adds up to 24 games for $16.4 million.

NUMBERS GAME

Teams playing better and worse

BETTER

2001-02 2000-01

Team Record Pts. Record Pts. Change

N.Y.I. 21-13-5-2 49 11-24-4-2 28 +21

N.Y.R. 22-14-3-2 49 16-22-2-1 35 +14

Boston 22-12-3-4 51 14-17-6-4 38 +13

Chicago 21-12-8-0 50 16-20-3-237 +13

Detroit 28-8-3-2 61 22-13-3-3 50 +11

Montreal 17-17-5-2 41 12-23-4-2 30 +11

WORSE

2001-02 2000-01

Team Record Pts. Record Pts. Change

Atlanta 8-25-5-3 24 15-17-8-1 39 -15

Vancouver 16-21-4-036 21-12-4-4 50 -14

Buffalo 15-21-4-1 35 21-14-5-1 48 -13

St. Louis 20-12-6-3 49 28-8-4-1 61 -12

Colorado 22-15-4-0 48 26-8-7-0 59 -11

New Jersey 18-16-5-2 43 22-11-8-0 52 -9

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FROM THE BLUE LINE (see text)