Montreal — The Toronto Maple Leafs lockerroom was opened to the media following Saturday's morning skate and a group of at least three-dozen journalists crammed into the room.

"Here comes the herd," announced one of the Leafs who stepped aside to let the group by.

But the herd's main attraction was gone. Toronto captain Mats Sundin, the center of trade rumors, had escaped long before the media arrived.

As the media milled around, Toronto Sun columnist Mike Zeisberger spotted something, then sprinted out of the room.

On instinct the group rushed out with him, where Zeisberger led them to Sundin in street clothes, making his exit.

"I would have led the lemmings off a cliff if I could have," Zeisberger joked later about the followers he had to share the interview with.

It's such a stark contrast to what the Atlanta Thrashers are used to. One NHL coach called the intensity surrounding the Leafs, the New York Yankees media on steroids. And Montreal is just as intense, only in French.

Those are the conditions Thrashers GM Don Waddell and Marian Hossa are dealing with as the clock ticks toward Tuesday's 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline. It just so happened that the schedule maker put the Thrashers in the world's two biggest hockey media markets in the days leading up to the trade deadline, which has become a Canadian holiday.

Once Sundin left Saturday morning, the attention turned to Hossa, who is the other big prize on the trade market. With the crowding reporters creeping ever closer in on Hossa's stall, Hossa patiently answered questions about his future.

"Don't worry about my personal space," shouted a sarcastic Bobby Holik as he tried to shed equipment after practice despite the crowd of media around his stall next to Hossa.

Hossa's neighbor on the other side, Brad Larsen, has learned to stay on the ice a few extra minutes during practices on the road to give time for the Hossa craziness to die down.

But in Toronto, that extra time wasn't enough. He entered the room, with his stall blocked by reporters.

"I'm always beside Hoss on the road. There's always media around but never for my stall," Larsen joked. "I knew today was going to be bad, I'm guessing Montreal will be worse."

Following the loss to Toronto, the Thrashers flew to Montreal where Hossa rumors have been circulating for weeks of a deal between the Canadiens and Thrashers.

The Thrashers practice in Montreal today and then get to face the Montreal media again the morning of the trade deadline following Tuesday's morning skate.

Hossa said he stays focused on hockey by avoiding newspapers and the television, but he couldn't escape the Montreal rumors.

He got a laugh when it was reported that he had special gloves ordered in Canadiens colors and shipped to Montreal last week in anticipation of a trade.

"I don't know who ordered those gloves. It made me laugh," Hossa said. "Somebody told me they saw me in a Montreal airport already, that was another good one."

And while Hossa is the big catch, Waddell acknowledged there's been increased interest in all of the Thrashers potential free agents, including veterans Bobby Holik, Mark Recchi and Johan Hedberg. Right now, he's exploring all options.

Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik, who didn't play in Toronto, is also being shopped.

"We knew coming into these media markets that it would be much busier than normal," Waddell said. "It's just something you have to be prepared for, I don't run from it."