With 2 hours, 30 minutes left before the 2 p.m. CT trade deadline, there has been one minor trade today in the NHL. As I wrote in today's Insider, there was a good chance today would be a bit of a dud around the league after guys like Ryane Clowe, Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy were traded yesterday and so many deals had been executed in the days leading up -- Jarome Iginla, Doug Murray, Jay Bouwmeester, etc.

The Wild tried hard for Clowe and felt it made a quality offer, but in the end, Clowe decided to go east. That was even with some gentle persuading I hear from former Sharks teammates on the Wild.

The Wild is making calls and I do hear it is one of many teams that has been talking to Buffalo the past few days about captain Jason Pominville. I know the Wild has scouted Buffalo recently, too.

The 30-year-old right wing was asked to submit a list of eight teams the other day that he would not accept a trade to. Minnesota was not on that list, I am told.

Pominville has one more year left on a five-year, $26.5 million deal. That’s a $5.3 million cap hit with $5.5 million in real salary next year.

The 2001 second-round pick has played full 82-game seasons in five of his six full years. He has scored 185 goals and 456 points in 578 games. He’s a two-time 30-goal scorer who has also topped 20 goals four other times.

He has scored 10 goals and 25 points in 37 games this year.

I am not sure what it would take to reel in a fish like that, but as I wrote in today's Insider, just the fact that the Wild showed such interest in Clowe makes you realize that GM Chuck Fletcher is willing to pay a price if he feels the player would provide a significant upgrade.

The Sabres have also been shopping Drew Stafford as well.

We will see if anything happens with Buffalo and the Wild or anywhere else soon enough. The Sharks skate in one hour, the Wild in two -- 30 minutes before the deadline -- so stayed tuned to www.twitter.com/russostrib for any news.

Regardless, NHL trades should start trickling in soon. They always do.

Just in: reported veteran defenseman Scott Hannan will head back to San Jose from Nashville.