The month approaching the trade deadline may be the most pressure-packed time of the season for NHL GMs. Parity and the frequency of three-point games combine to bunch the majority of the teams together in the standings. In spite of this, fans and media insist all 31 teams must fall into one of two categories – those teams that can win the Stanley Cup this season (buyers) and those teams that have no chance (sellers). If a team is considered to be a contender, it is expected to go all out to add that final piece of the puzzle that will put it over the top. For the most part, the best players made available prior to the trading deadline are those who will be UFAs at the end of the season (rental players). This approach involves high risks for the GMs of buyer teams. There is a long list of ...
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About the Author
Tom Thompson
Tom Thompson spent 31 years in the NHL as a scout, Director of Scouting and Assistant General Manager. He was responsible for running 14 Entry Drafts for the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild and also worked for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers.