I think any team that wants to make an impact trade-deadline deal has to be realistic in understanding the team chemistry and its strengths and weaknesses and how it stacks up in hockey's upper echelon when it's setting the team goals.
Last year, Nashville and Atlanta didn't have a hope of going far into the playoffs, but made huge trades that affected their long-term futures anyway. Nashville had to compete against the powerful Western Conference (it ended up matched with a very good San Jose team in the first round) and then would have had to beat Detroit and Anaheim had they got by the Sharks anyway. Atlanta had too many other holes and were never going to beat Buffalo, Ottawa or New Jersey, let alone the Rangers, who ended up sweeping them in round one.
If a team is mature, near the top of their conference and has few weaknesses, but has a legitimate shot at the Cup, then why not go for it? There are no dynasties in hockey anymore, so if you've got a legit chance, go for it - who knows what the future holds. So long as you don't completely mortgage the future to win right now, there's nothing wrong with making a bold move. In fact, franchises like Detroit or Ottawa owes it to their players and fans to make a run at Lord Stanley's Cup.
San Jose is the type of team that should try this approach. The Sharks need to try and bring in a top-2 defenceman and a top-6 forward. The West is there to be had and they have a very good team that just needs a player or two to put them over the top.
Last year, Nashville and Atlanta didn't have a hope of going far into the playoffs, but made huge trades that affected their long-term futures anyway. Nashville had to compete against the powerful Western Conference (it ended up matched with a very good San Jose team in the first round) and then would have had to beat Detroit and Anaheim had they got by the Sharks anyway. Atlanta had too many other holes and were never going to beat Buffalo, Ottawa or New Jersey, let alone the Rangers, who ended up sweeping them in round one.
If a team is mature, near the top of their conference and has few weaknesses, but has a legitimate shot at the Cup, then why not go for it? There are no dynasties in hockey anymore, so if you've got a legit chance, go for it - who knows what the future holds. So long as you don't completely mortgage the future to win right now, there's nothing wrong with making a bold move. In fact, franchises like Detroit or Ottawa owes it to their players and fans to make a run at Lord Stanley's Cup.
San Jose is the type of team that should try this approach. The Sharks need to try and bring in a top-2 defenceman and a top-6 forward. The West is there to be had and they have a very good team that just needs a player or two to put them over the top.
