This is it! Sadly.

  The East is a tough conference again this year.  Despite Montreal's meteoric rise in play, the team has been unable to gain any grounds and sits in the final wild card spot.  The trade deadline looms and GM Rainville must decide what to do with his team.  The team is playing well and should qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.  A few extra pieces could make this team a formidable opponent.  The goaltending is solid.  The defense seems to get the job done most nights and the top nine up front find a way to score more often than not.  The argument to trade for help and try for a deep playoff push is there and it is tempting.

  The problem in Montreal is the aging veteran core.  Most of these players have seen their best years already and this is likely their last chance to win the glorious Stanley Cup with this group.  It would make sense from a long term perspective to move these players now while they are capable and affordable.  Trading players like Giroux and Trocheck would bring in a return that would help the inevitable rebuild this team faces.  There is no miracle player in the farm system.  Free agency can only take you so far. 

  Then there is the issue of all the teams above in the standings.  Making the playoffs isn't good enough.  This team has lost to the Lightning the last two post seasons and despite Montreal's solid play of late, it doesn't look like they'll be able to climb in the standings.  Ironically, the Lightning are the nearest in the standings and they aren't slowing down.  It's one thing to lose in the playoffs.  It's another thing to go all in year after year with nothing to show for it except a series win over a Panthers team with no GM.  To go all in again would be career suicide and just wouldn't make sense.

  Then there's Steve White.  Finishing ahead of Steve this year in the standings would be an amazing triumph and likely more satisfying than any sex any of us have ever had in our lives.  Although the Vegas Golden Shower Knights play in the weak and decrepit West, I still dream of finishing ahead of him in the playoff bracket and eating a bowl of Corn Flakes filled with his tears instead of milk.  So what am I to do?  Sacrifice the future like some teenage girl or be an adult who properly rebuilds but has to live a life where Steve is better.  We find out in ten days.

Happy Deadline Guys.