Thank divisional play through the first two rounds of the playoffs for a little extra spice at the NHL trade deadline. As much as hockey executives like to say they worry only about making their own team better, several of the big moves executed Monday turned out to be important responses to division rivals.
The arms races heated up in the East, Central, West and North right down to the wire, and because of this season's format, only one team will come out of each division to compete for the Stanley Cup. “I think teams are trying to do what’s best for their team and trying to make their team better to compete in the playoffs here and win a Stanley Cup,” Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said.