Social Media is bursting at the seams with emotions of all kinds ahead of this Friday’s 3:00 pm EST NHL trade deadline. For fans of teams that need one or two more pieces to make a legitimate Stanley Cup run, it is a time of great angst, causing some of the most heated debates of the season. For journalists covering the league, it is an exciting time that is also fraught with temptation to prognosticate and reputational danger for being very wrong. Like the political silly season, for the next 5 days, everyone in the NHL universe is some combination of General Manager, Coach, fan, or “Insider.”
The result is a cacophony. Rumors, mock trades, “I heard’s”, “she said’s” and a few actual trades create an environment ripe for angst. For teams on the come, it is cautious optimism. For teams on the playoff bubble, it is a yin and yang between this year and next year. Regardless of where your team sits in the standings, however, there is sure to be drama and possibility. Amidst the chaos, NHL GMs ply their trade in relative obscurity, likely laughing at the most outrageous amateur trade proposals while they try to figure out how to make their hockey team better, whether for this season or next.
It can all be a bit overwhelming for fans. Rivalries on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) are like dry kindling, waiting for the match of a trade rumor or, worse, the gasoline of an insult about team order in the standings. In the end, this year’s deadline is likely to look a lot like the others, with some moves that seemed pre-ordained and others that came seemingly out of the blue. The irony is that there will only be one winner; whoever hoists the Stanley Cup. While the noise will continue largely unabated, the results won’t truly be in until June.
The only thing for fans to do is enjoy the ride…and get that mock trade ready. Maybe you are ready to be the league’s next General Manager. Now is your chance to prove it.
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