It’s either one of the most exciting days of the year for hockey fans or an on-ice version of Much Ado About Nothing. NHL trade deadline day (or Deadline Day if you earn your cheque in network promotions) has the potential to be a “make or break” mile marker for teams in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. It’s also an opportunity for rebuilding teams like the Edmonton Oilers to cash in on attractive assets and stock the cupboards for future seasons.

Fan interest has skyrocketed in recent years. So much so that Canadian networks commit the entire day (with all hands on deck) to addressing rumours and analyzing moves…or a lack thereof. We welcomed two of Edmonton’s most “in the know” broadcasters to Monday’s BT. Click on the video link below to hear what Sportsnet’s Gene Principe and 630CHED’s Dan Tencer had to offer up first thing in the morning.

It wouldn’t be fair for me to ask those two to make a prediction without making a couple of my own. On the record, I believe…

- Brad Richards will not be moved out of Dallas. His concussion is too much of an asterisk, the biggest suitors (LA included) could stand in the way of the Stars making the playoffs and it sends the wrong message to fans in Texas who may not be patient enough to stick around if they sense a foundation-rattling implosion of the team’s current roster.

- Evgeni Nabokov will be moved from the New York Islanders. GM Garth Snow, though fully within the rules, made a negative league-wide impression when he scooped the veteran goalie from the Detroit Red Wings as he passed through re-entry waivers earlier this year. Nabokov refused to report to the league’s biggest joke and has been suspended ever since. The question is, would a veteran GM like the Wings’ Ken Holland actually pay what a clown like Snow might ask for in return? If the Isles’ asking price isn’t out of this world, the former All Star could suit up for a contender by week’s end.

- The Calgary Flames will find a way to add secondary scoring before day’s end. GM Jay Feaster set the table by placing slumping sniper Nik Hagman on waivers earlier this month. This will be an interesting team to watch, as the Flames don’t have a lot of assets to ship out in exchange and realistically could miss playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. My money says Feaster goes for it, riding the momentum his team has shown for the past 25 games.

Tune into BT Tuesday morning at 7:10 for a full deadline day recap and an updated look at the BT hockey pool standings. Until then, best of luck in your plans to be productive between hitting “refresh” on www.sportsnet.ca!

rpj.

Famed artist Jack Frost

Road trip!    Nicole takes us to a gorgeous getaway about 25km south west of Camrose - Village of New Norway!    “The pictures were taken at my Aunt and Uncle’s acreage.   All I remember is that it was very cold, and the snow was up to my knees when I went outside.   I could barely walk and my fingers were so frozen that I could barely take the pictures, but I knew a great photo opportunity when I saw it.   Every year we get snowed in at least twice.   I guess you could say that everyone here really looks forward to spring every year!”    So do we Nicole, so do we!!

DID YOU KNOW?    Here’s your history lesson for the day:  In 1892 a family:  Ole M. Olstad hopped off the CPR at Wetaskiwin, looked around and loved what they saw.    They travelled a few miles south, and filed homesteads for themselves, relatives & friends.    For a while the area was known as the “Olstead District”.    But around 1895 as other Norwegian families settled in the area, the name changed to New Norway.    By 1903 the community had a school, general store, and a blacksmith shop.    Visit those fine folks in person or on their website!    http://www.villageofnewnorway.ca/ 

SHOW US YOUR HOMETOWN PRIDE … THEN UPLOAD THAT PROUD PIC ON OUR WEBSITE.    FRESH AIR PHOTOS AIR EVERY MORNING AT 7:10 ON BT AND LIVE FOREVER ON THIS BLOG.    OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY!

I’ve been counting down to the Oscars for weeks. And although critics are slamming hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway, it’s still the biggest night of the year in film. (I probably would have still watched if Heidi Montag (from “The Hills” fame) hosted.)

Getting to the winners, early on “The Fighter” proved to be a worthy contender. Melissa Leo took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Christian Bale won for Best Supporting Actor. (Both were phenomenal in “The Fighter”. Definitely lost the BT Oscar pool for going with my heart and picking this flick for the big award.)

Natalie Portman turned her performance in “Black Swan” into Oscar gold in the “Best Actress” category.

But in the end, it was “The King’s Speech” that reigned supreme taking home four awards including a “Best Actor” award for Colin Firth.

The film was later crowned the night’s top honor: Best Picture.

Among the night’s other big winners, “Inception” took home four Oscars.

Although the much-talked about Facebook-flick “The Social Network” was nominated for eight awards- it missed out on the big, but took home three including “Adapted Screenplay”.

Forget the best movies of 2010. The night before the Oscars were handed out, the winners (ahem, losers) of the Razzies were named.

The biggest “winner” was M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender”. IT was awarded “Worst Picture”, “Worst Screenplay”, and “Worst Supporting Actor”. 

It also took top honours in a new category “Worst Eye-gouging Misuse of 3D”.

The four stars of “Sex and the City 2″ were jointly awarded “Worst Actress”. The film was also named “Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel”. Ouch.

Moving on, Ashton Kutcher was awarded “Worst Actor” for his performances in both “Killers” and “Valentine’s Day”.

Production has been shut down on “Two and a Half Men” for the rest of the season.

CBS says the decision was made based on Charlie Sheen’s recent statements, conduct, and condition.

The news came the same day Sheen lashed out at the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre, on a syndicated radio show.

He called him a “clown” and a “charlatan” and Sheen said it was he who turned Lorre’s “tin can” of a show into “pure gold”. 

If you have time to kill, listen to the whole interview here: http://www.tmz.com/2011/02/24/charlie-sheen-two-and-a-half-men-chuck-lorre-argument-radio-talk-show-tirade-turd-thomas-jefferson/

Update: In a text message from the Bahamas where he is vacationing, the 45-year-old actor described CBS and Warner Bros. decision to immediately stop production of Two and a Half Men for the rest of the season as “crazy” and “sad”.

The Hollywood superstar revealed he was in serious negotiations to star in his own half-hour show, titled Sheen’s Corner — a deal that would reportedly land him a whopping $5 million an episode. (That’s $3 million MORE than what he makes per episode on “Two and a Half Men”.

Ahhhh Jasper

Aimee’s moment of ZEN while at Jasper National Park, specifically Pyramid Lake.    Sounds like she took her fishing rod:  ”Taken on Pyramid Lake.  We fished all day.   Not a nibble, but lots of breathtaking scenery!”    That’s Pure Pyramid Perfection Aimee, thanks!

DID YOU KNOW?    Wayyyy back in 1859 a man named James Hector named this mountain ”Pyramid” because coming from the east – that’s what it looks like.    But not so much from this angle.    If you are game, it is a relatively easy scramble on the eastern slopes.    From the Pyramid Lake parking lot, follow a steep fire road and huff and puff your way to a spectacular view.

WE DON’T ASK MUCH, ONLY THAT YOU KNOCK OUR SOCKS OFF WITH YOUR FRESH AIR PHOTO.    SO PULL UP YOUR OWN SOCKS, GET OUT THERE AND SHOOT!

Friday morning on BT during SAY WHAT, we featured the story of Paul Yarrow.    He is a British man who loves being on television, and in some weird way, has become a folk hero.    Click on the links and see what I mean!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_ZyFHPPB4g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CEKt9qIZRc