"Leafs General Manager Brian Burke calls himself a January guy, one who works weeks in advance and steers clear of the foolishness that often comes with the NHL trade deadline. We're nearing mid-February, with two weeks from the annual swap meet, and all has been quiet in Toronto.

The most persistent rumor had Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn going to Philadelphia in a package deal for James van Riemsdyk. The Flyers, without concussed veteran Chris Pronger, are combing the NHL for defensemen and have had Schenn on their short list. JVR is the kind of big, sturdy forward often coveted by Burke.

Makes sense, right?

It's also very unlikely.

The trick is working within the confines of the salary cap and free agency. It's not like the good old days in which teams would make in-season hockey trades without fretting over long-term contracts and cap hits. GMs these days examine short- and long-term value while trying to keep their teams competitive, and themselves employed, for the right price.

One reason Philadelphia isn't willing to unload van Riemsdyk, 22, is because it can't get maximum value for him in return. He's has been sidelined with a concussion since Jan. 12. He's signed through 2016-17 and has a reasonable cap hit of $4.25 million given his size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), skill and potential.

Burke, when it's added up, believes Schenn is worth keeping for now. He's also not going to rent a player unless the price is minimal. The Leafs are probably too many moves away to contend for the Cup this season. Don't be surprised, at this stage, if Burke doesn't make any trades before the Feb. 27 deadline.

Only a handful of teams are a player or two from winning it all, but only one will participate in a Stanley Cup parade. Boston last season worked weeks before the deadline, picking up forwards Chris Kelly and Rich Peverly and defenseman Tomas Kaberle, and watched on Deadline Day."