The trade deadline has passed, and all 32 teams’ rosters are set for the final stretch of the season.
For the playoff teams, it means they have all the tools needed to contend for the Stanley Cup. Or at least, they have the tools they could afford within the salary cap and their assets.
Not every team is wary about spending the right amount for every player. Sometimes, a general manager wants a particular type of player and will acquire them at any cost. Sometimes, the market isn’t in the GM’s favour, and they cave just to bring that player into the fold.
But sometimes, the mistake is situational. A team can go all-in on a season in hopes of solidifying their chances at a Stanley Cup, and the trade only looks…