Thoughts on the NHL trade deadline and best bets for Saturday, March 4th
NHL trade deadline day rarely lives up to the hype, and Friday was no exception. However, unlike most past trade deadlines, where we saw an average of 40 trades, the weeks leading up to this year’s cut-off were very eventful with 62 trades in total.
Trade boards created by hockey insiders were decimated over the past two weeks, as just about all the big names rumoured to be on the trade block were in fact dealt. The number of trades that took place could shake up the league in a big way between now and the playoffs, but since the rich have gotten richer, the most likely effect is that teams that are fighting to make the playoffs have an even tougher time against the teams that are already in.
Especially in the East.
So, who did the best? In my opinion, it's the Boston Bruins. They might not win the Stanley Cup, but they are undoubtedly the NHL's best team, and it will take a herculean effort to knock them off in the playoffs. Boston has already become the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points, and they have now added a top-tier defenseman in Dmitry Orlov and forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored 30 goals and 60-plus points just one season ago.