DEADLINE DEALINGS

Very simple; in my world you have two choices at deadline time if you are a bubble team that is dealing with long term injuries to significant players. (Remember, I live in a fantasy world)

(A) You decide to pull back and focus on being the best you can be next season when the injured are fully recouped and for seasons to come. This would involve trading an impact player or two to contenders for top prospects, picks and (because of budgets) a player or two off that team’s current roster. (I think Churchill said, “It’s also victory to know when to retreat.”)

(B) You try to prop up the group that is healthy and scrapping to stay in the hunt. Do this by targeting a need, or needs, and fill it/them but without creating a hole in the lineup somewhere else, or mortgaging the future. (This is also known as pulling a bunny out of your bum)

The thing you probably want to avoid if at all possible is doing nothing – end up finishing 9th or 10th or 11th, and thus: not exposing your young players to playoff hockey, not rewarding your owner with playoff profits, and not picking high at the summer’s entry draft.