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Mitts is relapsing hard tonight.

Good take. Granato confirmed as much in his statements earlier today, at least the one I read. If this guy is itching to "play an aggressive game" and Granato can whisper it out of him, then this trade actually accomplishes something a lot of people have been asking for. A stay-at-home D man with an edge who hits. If that's what we're getting, totally worth it.

I am relieved in that it puts to rest the ridiculous fantasies of some fans to bring this guy here.

This message from the FO has been consistent all season.

This is it right here. He'd be doing something linear and traditional, something a certain segment of the fanbase can understand. All the things that have been done to this roster thus far have put the team ahead of schedule, thereby inviting the aforementioned certain segment of the fanbase to discharge their demons.

If we're using second-round picks to flesh out a deal then the cost in an actual player is too high or the return is too low to make the deal worthwhile IMHO.

I agree with your position on all of this but can't resist pointing out that there is no upgrade for any of the above worth the total cost of the transaction. None. Included in that total cost is the disruption to the room for the rest of the season and teh sacrifice of picks for this coming draft.

I wouldn't be. If the right piece isn't available then the right piece isn't available. I don't see them as being in a "DO SOMETHING!" position - we have meaningful hockey going into March. This will be the most exciting March in over a decade. We have enough depth to hopefully keep things going when two of our top players are out. We have more talent in the pipeline with a weakness on D men. Personally, I am not doubting this roster's talent, potential and ability to grow - we've been watching that develop all season. What we need is a solution in goal and our best solution there seems to be to wait. We need to learn more effective team-defense - a trade ain't solving that. From the outside it seems like our coach needs to learn how to deploy a little more strategery which, again, no trade will fix. The TeAm PsYCho needs some experience and perhaps a little more muscle mass - trade? No. We need a new d-man to develop - why trade picks on rounds 1 and 2 of this draft?

I like that play from UPL.

Yay, the Team Psycho!

Almost. He's getting some quality help.

I keep saying it, except for the other talent-heavy teams, the only way to play us is dirty.

Have to give props to Vinnie for an excellent game. Our roster has legit depth.

Jost with a hit. The NHL Network feed is awful.

The only thing saving Washington is that they're a veteran team applying all of the veteran things a veteran team can.

Loving Quinn and Cozens stepping up today.

No way. KO can not at all keep up with the other two. He would stifle that line.

Depends on the injury and how long Tuch is expected to be out, but this could be the excuse many have been waiting for that justifies a big trade deal. I think the circumstances would grant total buy-in from the room if Tuch is out long-term.

This doesn't address the concerns raised in my post at all.

It's 2023. Think about what you're suggesting.

Any trade rumour or consideration needs to be weighed against what the reality of the player coming in and the player going out does to the room. This is an essential factor and I would bet dollars to donuts its weight is equal to the skill/talent of the trade target(s). The Sabres organization learned this lesson the hard way and there is no chance KA ignores it. So, let's say we are looking at a defenseman. Who on our roster, if they are moved, is least likely to cause the room to get upset? I know that eventually they will have to face the reality of the business but is a trade the correct move right now? IMHO, they might be better off trading a non-NHL roster player and/or assets to add someone rather than a NHL-roster player.

You can see Tuch limping off here, but I almost think Dahlin limps a little, too. Hard to tell since it cuts off as soon as you see him.

Mitts was making hits tonight.