When Flames general manager Jay Feaster managed to acquire former 39-goal scorer Mike Cammalleri from the Canadiens in a deal for Rene Bourque, he put other NHL GMs on red alert.

That Cammalleri was on the trade block surprised some league executives, despite Mike’s incendiary remarks that precipitated the move. Apparently Montreal GM Pierre Gauthier didn’t inform every other team that Mike was up for grabs.

This deal earned Gauthier no small about of criticism. It also fueled speculation about what other proven NHL players might become available.

Here is a sampling of that:

• Devils winger Zach Parise is steaming toward unrestricted free agency. Since New Jersey already spent mad money on Ilya Kovalchuk, locking in another high-scoring winger might be tough. Many teams could use Parise, including the Wild.
• Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and winger Ales Hemsky are likely trade targets in Edmonton, since the Oilers are in free fall. Simultaneous injuries to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle effectively ended their season. The Red Wings could have interest in Hemsky.
• Speculation persists that Anaheim could move winger Bobby Ryan. The Ottawa Sun suggests the price for Toronto would be either Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri, along with a another prospect and a No. 1 pick.
• ESPN.com suggests forward Tuomo Ruutu and/or defenseman Tim Gleason are trade targets in Carolina, since both will be unrestricted free agents July 1.
• Jeff Carter has been a bust in Columbus. A separated shoulder will sideliine him indefinitely. But when he heals, expect teams to sniff the Blue Jackets trail to see if that team would dump the goal-scoring center and his salary.
• Unless the Predators lock in Shea Weber and/or Ryan Suter with new contracts, expect the Flyers and other teams seeking defensive help to scout Nashville games frequently.
• The Flyers could also target Luke Schenn and reunite him with his brother Brayden. Rumormongers suggested a Schenn-for-James van Riemsdyk deal could make sense . . . until van Riemsdyk suffered a concussion.
• Antero Niittymaki is the third goaltender in San Jose. He has nothing to do. So why don’t the Sharks deal him to Tampa Bay in time to save the Lightning season?
• Center Derek Roy is back on the ice for the Sabres, but for how long? Buffalo is struggling mightily and he could become a top trade chip.
• Alexander Semin is headed toward unrestricted free agency and injury plagued Mike Green will become a restricted free agent. Could they become targets by the deadline?

AROUND THE RINKS: Blues standout Alex Pietrangelo is just one of several NHL defensemen starting well in the second half of the season after posting disappointing numbers in the firs half of the season . . . It appears that bad boy Sean Avery will never learn how to behave correctly . . . Our town's Ben Bishop came up big in goal for the Rivermen as they earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory Saturday.