Brad Marsh: When Is It Time to Trade? Why Not Now?
- Brad Marsh
Need a goalie to stop the puck more consistently, go get one now! Need a tough defenseman to clear out the front of the net -- I think this is still allowed, right? -- go find one that fits your team. If you need a forward that can score, pick up the phone and call the other GMs.
Hey Brad, happy (U.S.) Thanksgiving.
Oh, only if it was only that easy.
You're right when you say the NHL are run (on the whole) by smart people, and because of such, if a team has a tough, crease clearing d-man, or a scoring forward, or a capable backup (relatively inexpensive) goalie, they're not too inclined to give them up quite easily.
That is, of course, unless the player has some warts of his own - a problem in the locker room or diminishing skills due to age or injury, etc. And then there's always the bad contract. These are things issues your team should never want to pick up despite what your desperate circumstances are.
However, there are times when two teams can make a move that fits both their needs and stay within their respective cap restraints. But nowadays, that seems to be the exception. The Flyers and the Oilers may be a good example. The Oil are in need of a solid d-man, the Flyers, a scorer. Both have something each other needs. Maybe something could be worked out there.
Lastly, these smart GM's you speak of watch the standings also, so the needy team is dealing from weakness already, too often resulting in overpayment on their part. Any wanting Gm worth his salt (not on the hot seat) would always want to avoid this unless it's a move that puts the team in serious contention.
Sometimes it's best to keep a close eye on the waiver wire for an inexpensive pickup to fill a hole. This is similarly to what the Flyers did when their D starting dropping like flies - they picked up Schultz and Del Zotto (and to a lesser extent, Colaiacovo), who found enough of their game to become positive contributors.
