RALEIGH, N.C. — Pierre Dorion was working the phones Friday.

With the trade deadline set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, discussions have recently heated up. Time is of the essence.

The Senators GM has made it clear his priority is to acquire a forward before the deadline, that is if he can get one for the right price.

That means not giving up a boatload of assets for a player with term or an expiring contract.

While there was plenty of speculation out of Denver that the Senators were trying to finalize a deal for Colorado Avalanche centre Matt Duchene, indications are the enormous asking price hasn’t changed and, unless it does, the two sides aren’t even talking in the same stratosphere.

The Senators have no interest in giving up defenceman Cody Ceci as part of any trade and, the belief is, if the Avs are going to move Duchene to Ottawa that’s exactly what they want in return (along with either prospect Thomas Chabot or Colin White, plus another piece).

Perhaps, the Avs are just trying to stir up the marketplace.

Reality is, Dorion has held talks with most teams looking to move forwards but the list isn't long.

League executives told Postmedia Friday the Senators are among five or six teams that have held talks with the Arizona Coyotes about unrestricted free-agent centre Martin Hanzal.

A league executive told Postmedia that Arizona GM John Chayka is “asking (for) the moon” in exchange for Hanzal, who has 10 goals and 25 points.

That’s why the Senators' best bet to add depth might be a rental.

Dorion has talked to pretty much every team over the last couple of weeks, so you would have to think he’s sniffed around on the likes of rental forwards Thomas Vanek of Detroit, Dallas’ Jiri Hudler and Winnipeg’s Drew Stafford.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com