VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Blue Jackets dressing room has been a little quieter since goaltender Pascal Leclaire had ankle surgery in early January. Nobody can remember the last time Billie Jean blared.

"And Chimmer's been out awhile, too, right?" Leclaire said, referring to another amplified Blue Jacket, left winger Jason Chimera.

Leclaire is expected to cast aside his crutches this week and could return by the middle of April.

"My ankle feels already 10 times better than it did when I was playing," Leclaire said.

But whose dressing room will he be in?

As Wednesday's NHL trade deadline nears, sources have told The Dispatch that the Blue Jackets have had trade talks with a handful of clubs regarding Leclaire.

The most interested team appears to be Ottawa, which desperately needs a goaltender.

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson scouted the Senators on Saturday night when they played Toronto, reportedly to watch winger Antoine Vermette.

Howson would not discuss any potential trade publicly. Toronto, Atlanta and Colorado are said to be looking for a goaltender, too.

Leclaire, who was second in the NHL with nine shutouts last season, is still viewed by many as a franchise-caliber goaltender. But the Blue Jackets see rookie Steve Mason as their goaltender of the future.

In order to facilitate any trade, the Blue Jackets almost certainly would have to provide the other club with Leclaire's medical reports. A deal could be contingent on Leclaire passing a physical.

Leclaire said he has not been asked to submit to a physical.

"My name popped up in junior (hockey) all the time, so I'm kind of used to it," he said of the rumors. "I don't think anybody wants to get traded, but it's part of the game.

"I like Columbus. I don't want to get traded, but it's out of my control."

Regner's star rising

Defenseman Brent Regner, a fifth-round draft pick (No. 137 overall) in last summer's draft, is having an explosive season for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.

Regner is tied for third in the league among defensemen with 60 points (13 goals, 47 assists). He also has a plus-61 rating.

"The kid is strong as a farmer," Giants coach Don Hay said. "We play him lots of minutes, in every situation."

Regner, a right shot, is 5 feet 11, 180 pounds. He plays on the Giants' top power-play and penalty-kill units, and his time under Hay should serve him well. Hay and Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock are longtime friends.

"I've heard they're a lot alike," Regner said.

"When I was at training camp (in September), we did a lot of the same drills. They just had different names."

Slap shots

Defenseman Kris Russell has a sore groin but was able to play last night against the Canucks. Scouts from Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit and Toronto were on hand to watch the Blue Jackets.

aportzline@dispatch.com