Fletcher will be a busy boy as Philadelphia’s new GM

Trade talk is finally heating up around the NHL.

No, it won’t really hit a feverish pitch until a couple of weeks before the Feb. 25 trade deadline, but a check with a couple of league executives by Postmedia Thursday indicated there has been more activity on the phone lines in recent weeks.

With the contenders starting to separate themselves from the pretenders and the holiday roster freeze set for midnight Dec. 19, NHL general managers are starting to focus more on making deals with time ticking away on the regular season.

While newly-appointed Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher is expected to be active once he has time to get a full look at the organization, he might not be the only active league executive.

The indications are general managers in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Vancouver and New Jersey have also been working the phones with their teams in a difficult position to make the playoffs and lots of racetrack left.

“There’s no question the amount of activity has picked up lately,” a league executive said. “It’s not a deadline, but there will be some teams that are thinking if we’re going to do something then let’s just get it done before the roster freeze.”

The Senators haven’t determined what route they’re going to take before the deadline with the club in a rebuild, and there are a lot of factors that will go a long way in determining the next move.

General manager Pierre Dorion spent the past couple of days huddled with members of the club’s pro scouting staff in Ottawa. Yes, these meetings were planned, but not many wouldn’t have picked the Senators to be in the playoff picture.

Yes, Dorion will have decisions to make and he has been active working the phones, but the focus is on trying to get veteran forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone under contract before they become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

GOOD CHANCE FOR NORRIS

Acquired in the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, prospect Josh Norris from the University of Michigan was invited to play for Team USA at the world junior championships in Victoria.

He had three assists in seven games last year at the tourney and will get a chance to be the club’s second-line centre behind top prospect Jack Hughes.

“(Norris) should be able to make a huge impact,” said TSN director of scouting Craig Button. “He’s a returning player and he can do so many different things in the game. He can be on the power play, he can kill penalties and he’s a really good two-way centre.

“He can be so good 5-on-5, a playmaker and shooter. Josh has always had the abilities, but he’s getting stronger, and as he’s getting stronger he can do more. You’re seeing a player gain confidence. I expect he’ll be a really significant player.”

The 19-year-old Norris has 9-817 point totals in 15 games with the Wolverines.

A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT

Bobby Ryan likes the look of this group of Ottawa Senators.

Sitting four points out of a playoff spot heading into Thursday’s visit by the Montreal Canadiens to the Canadian Tire Centre to complete a home-andhome series, the veteran winger has been impressed with what the club has accomplished.

Speaking before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury after a collision with Montreal’s Brett Kulak late in the first period, Ryan said the emergence of young players has helped push this group to have success.

“There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Sens’ fan going forward. That much is evident with these guys,” Ryan said.