Eric Duhatschek, HHOF választó, év hokiúságírója, stb.

Q: GMs always talk about the risk-reward ratio in making a trading-deadline deal? Did any of them nail it just right?

A: There were 25 trades involving 45 players and the one I liked the best was hardly discussed by any of the networks or bloggers — Detroit’s acquisition of Brad Stuart from the Los Angeles Kings for a second- and fourth-round pick.

Q: Really? Why that one?

A: Because Detroit’s recent struggles notwithstanding, they are the best team in the league. The Red Wings aren’t winning now because four of their top defencemen are all injured. Can you imagine how many organizations would stay competitive, with that amount of defensive talent on the sidelines? Maybe only Vancouver. The Red Wings essentially ran out of players in last year’s semi-finals against the Ducks; the injuries to Mathieu Schneider and Niklas Kronwall were both critical; and even at that, it took a lucky goal by Scott Niedermayer to turn the series around.

Melrose, Pierre McGuire = seggfejek.