Another trade deadline has passed, and with it the NHL’s annual integrity problem that no one in the national media seems willing to discuss. In the days leading up to the NHL deadline, teams looking to move players are allowed to field sub-par lineups to protect those assets from an untimely injury.
After an 8-7 loss to Chicago on Feb. 19, Ottawa benched its best players until they were traded. Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone each sat out a 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 21 (while New Jersey sat winger Marcus Johansson).