Huh?

The trade deadline has come and gone. There will be no new faces in DC, yet the disgruntled faces of Knuble and Hamrlik remain. In a move described by many so called experts as shocking, GMGM made no changes to the current Capitals roster. Curiously though, the team did place Backstrom on long term IR, although GMGM confirms that it is retroactive, so he could play next week if healthy. The only advantages to LTIR is that it openes a roster spot and make room under the salary cap, and in Backstroms case 6.7 million in space. I really felt that meant a move was coming given the timing of the decision. They could have done that tomorrow and still opened a roster spot. Not moving Hamrlik makes no sense at all. He has been a disaster, is on the books next year, does not mesh with the coach, and could help a team needing depth. Take literally anything for him.

Now, if the Capitals tried to make moves and the price was too high, good on GMGM. For instance,the Capitals needed a second line center, and Paul Gaustad would have been a good fit. But he cost Nashville a 1 and 4. Not worth it. And if options for bigger players involved Kuznetsov, ditto. But, it is hard to believe nothing could be done to improve this team, despite McPhee's claim that there was nothing out there better than what they have or could call up from Hershey.

Going into today, the Capitals were engulfed in uncertainty. They went 3-3 on during an important stretch of the season leading up to the deadline and the team has bounced between 10 and 8 in the conference for the last week or so. One assumes when you are going well and want to move to the next level you deal. Clearly not the Capitals. You also deal when you are not going well and want to give yourself a chance. Then of course, when you are not going well and are to far behind to improve, you sell. That Caps fall into both those categories, yet did nothing, signaling that they not only lack an identity on the ice, but also in the main office. McPhee clearly does not know what to make of this team, so rather than making a change, he is going to live or die with a team that constantly takes one step forward then two giant steps back. And it is terrfying to hear that McPhee has been happy with the play the "last few days", implying that he thinks it can turn around without any changes. He did nothing to help them live and nothing to ameliorate the death.

Meanwhile, the Panthers added two depth forwards over the last few days and the Jets are streaking. Nothing is over and anything can happen over the last 20 games, but one cannot help but think this was McPhee throwing in the towel without really letting us know that is his plan. He just simply does not know what to make of this team. The best we can hope for is that e team makes a little run, sneaks into the 7 or 8 spot (or 3 if they win the SE no one seems to want to win) and Nick Backstrom starts skating in mid March and is ready at the gates when the post season starts and the Caps make a run. Clearly what McPhee thinks will happen, but seems unlikily with the uncertaintiy with concussions and the lack of action today. Unlikely. More likely seems to be sneaking in and leaving early or scheduling tee times in early April. McPhee stated that with Backstrom, this team can beat anyone in the East, without they can make the playoffs, confirming that he is putting all his eggs in a healthy Nick Backstrom basket. Yet he did nothing to help them get to the point where there is an opportunity for Backstrom to help.

Just starting to look like a season that began with the Caps getting the steal of the free agency and being crown Stanley Cup Champs in "The Hockey News" preview is actually going to fall incredibly short of expectations.