The NHL trade deadline isn’t until March 5 at 3 p.m. EST, but the heat could be turned up on general manager’s to start dealing in the next month.

With the Olympic break set for Feb. 8 a roster freeze goes into effect until the end of the Sochi Games on Feb. 23. Even when the league does resume play on Feb. 26 there will only be a seven-day window to the deadline.

“The roster freeze will act as a deadline, especially for those teams that want to save a little bit of money,” said a league executive.

“There’s a chance to get deals done in the next few weeks that will get money off the books.”

That means if teams like Buffalo, Calgary and Edmonton want to start unloading contracts then they had better get to work. The concern for some teams has to be injuries.

“You have to worry about the fact if some of these guys go to the Olympics and get hurt they won’t have any trade value at the deadline,” said the executive. “You might be better off to move these guys now and then not have to concerns yourself.”

THIS ‘N’ THAT

The search for a GM in Buffalo is down to the short strokes. President Pat LaFontaine is expected to name his choice soon and Boston assistant Jim Benning is the frontrunner. It’s believed Phoenix assistant Brad Treliving was in the mix with the Sabres but the betting money is on Benning to get the job. Some wonder if LaFontaine will just take the job himself and hire qualified people around him to help provide expertise ... Speaking of GM searches, the one in Calgary may be about to officially begin with president Brian Burke getting ready to conduct interviews. You have to think Toronto’s assistant GMs Dave Poulin and Claude Loiselle will get a sniff for the Calgary job while Vancouver assistant Laurence Gilman will likely be interviewed. The belief is former Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk doesn’t have any interest.

OFF THE GLASS

After losing defenceman Dennis Seidenberg for the balance of the season with a knee injury, the Bruins have insisted they will try to fill from within. If that doesn’t happen, they could kick tires looking for a blueliner to help them fill the minutes. The Bruins could certainly look at Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi. He has been shopped around because New York Rangers GM Glen Sather is concerned he won’t be able to re-sign Girardi, who is a UFA on July 1 ... Though many expect Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller to get moved that may not be the case. A UFA in the off-season, the new GM is expected to try to sign him and the Sabres may not be able to get what they want in return if they do move him. The asking price for Miller is three prospects and a No. 1 pick in return if they are going to make a deal. The only option for Miller is St. Louis and they may not be willing to deal.

AT THE BUZZER

Montreal GM Marc Bergevin has been shopping for forward depth for the playoffs. One player he may have looked at is Calgary left wing Curtis Glencross, who has two years left at $2.55 million per-season. You have to think at some point the Flames are going to revisit Glencross and see if he’s willing to accept a deal. The Habs are looking to move centre Daniel Briere because he hasn’t been playing well under coach Michel Therrien and was scratched Thursday in Dallas. Briere won’t go just anywhere ... The Coyotes will be looking for forward depth. The guy they may have targeted: Sabres winger Matt Moulson.

RUMOURS DU JOUR

As this space has insisted, Carolina GM Jim Rutherford started the ball rolling on trades by dealing defenceman Tim Gleason to the Maple Leafs on New Year’s Day in exchange for fellow blueliner John-Michael Liles. The trade doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but the thinking amongst league executives is that Gleason hasn’t played well all year and needed a change of scenery. The belief is the Hurricanes won’t stop there. I’ve been told by a couple of teams that Rutherford is willing to trade anybody with the exception of centre Eric Staal and his brother Jordan Staal. Teams will certainly call about left wing Jeff Skinner, but he is one of the NHL’s top scorers and isn’t going anywhere. It’s more likely left winger Jiri Tlusty, right winger Tuomo Ruttu and defenceman Ron Hainsey will be moved before the March deadline ... Confirm or deny: The day before acquiring right wing Kevin Westgarth from the Hurricanes, Burke ripped the Flames for not being tough enough to play against? ... The Avs will have a decision to make on centre Paul Statsny before the deadline in March. Colorado GM Joe Sakic wants to keep Statsny but if the Avalanche get a No. 1 pick and a player thrown at them at the deadline then don’t be surprised if the Avs move him. He is the youngest UFA centre available on the market this summer which means he could have plenty of suitors.

Have a nice Sunday and Happy New Year.

Twitter: @sungarrioch