Life must somehow go on Friday morning as we try to deal with the horrible plane crash in Clarence. I've already heard from a friend who's dad lives next door to the house where the plane hit, and to think that a friend of mine shot at the basketball hoop in the picture that's on our web site next to a hellacious fire is very emotional. My prayers are with everyone who needs them, and here's hoping for anything remotely positive that can come out of this does. Email: nick@wgr550.com

Something happened Tuesday night that made me realize it's trade season. Although I was quite aware that it was the one-year anniversary of Richard Zednik getting his neck cut at HSBC Arena, a text message from a good friend sent me into an information-searching frenzy:

My friend's text: "zednik are you kidding me"

Call your sources, Nick! In my mind, the Sabres had traded for Zednik, and even more bizarre, it made a lot of sense for me. As I ripped through the Internet, I learned the truth: Zednik had scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in a comeback win over the Maple Leafs on his "anniversary."

It was time to start typing trade.

So, I got to thinking about players that could be coming to Buffalo, with the knowledge that Darcy Regier told Mike Schopp and The Bulldog that the Sabres would not be pulling off any "Zubrus-type" deals (1st-round pick and a prospect with NHL experience).

Here are five players that make sense to me:

1. Richard Park, New York Islanders -- Turning 33 in late May, Park is a solid penalty-killer who doubles as a threat to score on opposing power-play units' mistakes or overconfidence. He's a minus-5 with 24 points in 54 games with the Isles, who are almost certainly looking to add a useful body or two.


Park is signed through 2010 at 750k per season, and had notched eight points in 38 playoff games.

2. Marty Reasoner, Atlanta Thrashers -- While he would essentially be a rent-a-player, the 32-year old Reasoner makes a reasonable 1 million per year, and is a smart two-way player who is top-notch in the faceoff circle (52 percent this year).

Reasoner has seen action in 23 playoff games with the Blues and Oilers, and hails from Honeoye Falls.

The fake No. 3. Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars -- A four-million dollar rent-a-player? Totally up Darcy Regier's alley. He'll play right wing with a unicorn and Steve Winwood.

According to Wikipedia, Lehtinen is a huge fan of Slayer, so Toni Lydman would be jazzed to hang out, and Drew Stafford could have a metal line-mate.

The real No. 3. Radek Bonk, Nashville Predators -- Here's a rent-a-player that makes Sabre sense. Killer face-off winner who is down to block shots with his molars.


4. Samuel Pahlsson, Anaheim Ducks -- How much would you have to give up to snag an underachieving, at least points-wise, Cup-winning center who's bound for free agency in a few months? As a million-plus cap hit, perhaps the Ducks are resigned to losing Pahlsson, and perhaps the Sabres could receive a player who can counter-attack on a penalty kill with the best of them.

Pahlsson is currently recuperating from a viral infection, and is out until at least mid-February.

5. Zednik, Florida Panthers -- Call it a "blink" decision, but Zednik's always been just dangerous enough to hurt the Sabres, with 14 goals in 42 games against Buffalo. Has a history as a trade deadline success (Nine pts. in 12 games with '01 Montreal) and failure (Three pts. in 15 games with '07 Isles). How scientific is this: it just sounded right to me on Tuesday, and it still sounds about right now.

Honorable mentions:

Adam Hall, Tampa Bay Lightning -- a puzzling former prospect who looked like he was coming into his own with the Rangers a couple years back. Signed through 2011 at 600k per year.

Jeff Halpern, Tampa Bay Lightning -- paid a little too well for Buffalo at 2 million per year through 2010, I'm not sure Tampa would hand over one of the cogs in the Brad Richards deal. One of the top face-off men in the league at 57 percent.

Trent Hunter, New York Islanders -- This one's a dream, since Hunter should've been named captain of the Isles after only he, Park and Rick DiPietro bothered to show up to their first round series with the Sabres in 2006-07. He's gritty, he can score, and he's locked up through 2013 at just 2-mil. Turning 29 in July, Hunter should be a real player on a real team one day.

Email: nick@wgr550.com