PITTSBURGH -- Consider what a season-altering moment it really was for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Consider just who, exactly, would have played a team-high 28:41 minutes Wednesday night in a huge playoff game against the Washington Capitals, scored a goal and registered a plus-3 in the absence of Kris Letang.
And consider whether it might just be the trade of the season in the NHL.
Veteran GM Jim Rutherford aggressively pursued defenseman Trevor Daley, calling the Chicago Blackhawks numerous times when he saw things weren't working out. Finally he struck on Dec.