Another possible scenario about being "hot and cold" is Carolina isn't so desperate (or perhaps stupid is another word) to wait till the last minute for Meier, and they're seriously considering other options for our top 6 instead of risking being shorthanded because all of the good top 6 forwards of interest are gone by the time Meier is traded. Maybe they don't want to trade Jarvis (which San Jose is waiting for in an offer), but at the same time, they don't like the thought of waiting so close to the deadline with risking backup plans becoming unavailable. This theory is also supported by the fact we've recently heard Carolina being linked to Schmaltz; it could be pressure against San Jose's front office to take the "very good offer" that Carolina has made for Meier.
Which, by the way, it is strange that Friedman said we've made a very good offer for Meier, but somehow we're hot and cold according to Dreger? What? That doesn't make sense.
Anyway, Horvat, Tarasenko, and ROR I'm pretty sure were all players Carolina was considering, and obviously they've been traded. Kane, if the Rangers don't do gymnastics to fit his contract, I assume will probably go somewhere closer to home/New York than Carolina, so that rules him out too. I don't remember how long Henrique was supposed to be injured, but he might be a concern with the deadline so close. Do we even know for sure if Crouse is being shopped by Arizona? I'm also not sure if St. Louis is willing to trade Buchnevich, but he'd be a good alternative/back up plan like Crouse is.
*edit* Finally, if the theory of us being "hot and cold" is because we aren't willing to trade Jarvis, then why didn't Dreger also say New Jersey is "hot and cold" because I'm certain they aren't willing to trade Mercer; even more so with his incredible recent production. FWIW, I also think the media would prefer to see Meier in New Jersey over Carolina or anyone else in trade talks.