Just when you finally started remembering that Chris Pronger no longer plays for St. Louis and Teemu Selanne is back with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, names on jerseys will be changing once again.

The final day for trade transactions is March 9, which is 15days sooner than in season's past due to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Some teams have already made their blockbuster trades. The New York Rangers wasted no time in acquiring Petr Sykora on January 8. The Nashville Predators acquired Detroit center Mike Sillinger on Jan. 29. The Carolina Hurricanes added Doug Weight to their roster on February 4.

However, as always, most teams will make their transactions at the last minute, and therefore keep fans and ESPN’s SportsCenter abuzz with the latest deals on March 9. The Colorado Avalanche is one such team. As Avalanche fans know, expecting general manager Pierre Lacroix to make some trades is about as predictable as the Pope being Catholic.

Without question, Lacroix is already on the hunt for a defenseman. Season-ending injuries to Steve Konowalchuk and Ossi Vaananen make this a necessity. Though Rob Blake and John-Michael Liles have played consistently all season, the Avs’ defense has not been the same since Konowalchuk injured his wrist in November. One more experienced defenseman might be the key to solidifying a group whose chemistry has been imbalanced.

Whether Lacroix opts for a rent-a-player or seeks a long-term prospect is a big, fat question mark. He’s used both strategies in the past and could make either choice this time around. With no one in particular standing out as an Av's pick, anything can happen. The only guarantee is that something will happen.

A foggy area of trade debate lies in the Avs’ goaltending. Rumors have flared, receded and run rampant once again on whether David Aebischer’s job is up for grabs. Will he or won’t he be replaced by an older, more experienced goaltender?

Of the prospects available, Robert Luongo is the likeliest candidate. Luongo has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to stay with the Florida Panthers, and a handful of teams are seeking an upgrade in net. The question is, will the Avs make a bid?

Probably not, at least for now. At the start of the season, Aebi’s play was inconsistent, which started a round of musical chairs, goaltender style, for Colorado in November. Peter Budaj, who made a stellar debut in his first NHL game against Dallas, started several games from October through December. Vitaly Kolesnik was recalled from the Avs’ AHL affiliate in Lowell and played for the Avs in December. Ultimately, Aebischer proved that he deserved the starting position when he set a new Avalanche record for most wins in the month of January, 9-2-1. He has been consistent since.

As good as Aebischer is though, he still has not proven himself as a goaltender capable of playing for the Stanley Cup. For a team that was a Western Conference favorite in 2004, a second-round exit was very disappointing. What happens in the postseason this year might decide whether Aebischer leaves or stays. If the Avs have a successful playoff run, he will stay without question. If the Avs fall early, support from coaching staff and fans alike might waver yet again. The offseason is when the Avalanche might make a goaltender change, but not now. Not only is this not the right time, but the Avs can’t afford it.

Salary cap boundaries pose a new challenge this year. For most teams, they will also pose a migraine. With little or no room in teams’ caps for negotiating salaries, expect a number of equal man-for-man trades. Players with similar levels of skill, and therefore salary, will be exchanged for upgrades in specific positions. The urgency of needing changes now will override the option of draft picks, but only for teams expecting post-season contention.

The Avalanche won’t be making a long list of trades this year. In fact, expect only one transaction for a defenseman. The rest, for the time being, is unnecessary and too much of a headache thanks to the salary cap. Lacroix will keep it simple.

*****

Here is a breakdown of what is on other teams’ shopping lists and a few predictions on what might happen.

Detroit Red Wings: Though the team swears that Manny Legace is their starting goaltender, a number of veteran netminders are up for grabs. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Detroit took one.

Edmonton Oilers: Also in the market for a goaltender. Expect something big.

New York Rangers: They already acquired a forward, but now they need a defenseman. Available prospects include Derek Morris, Arizona; Brad Lukowich, N.Y. Islanders; and Eric Weinrich, St. Louis.

Ottawa Senators: Dominic Hasek’s injury in the Olympics leaves the Sens desperate for a goaltender. Expect them to make a bid for Jean-Sebastien Giguere or Robert Luango -- someone who will be solid in the playoffs.

Vancouver Canucks: Definitely in the market for a defenseman due to injuries.

Up for Grabs (not previously mentioned): Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis; Jay McKee, Buffalo; Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver; Manny Fernandez, Minnesota; Matthew Barnaby, Chicago; Miroslav Satan, N.Y. Islanders; Mark Recchi and John LeClair, Pittsburgh.