Why we shouldn't get too excited about the trade deadline

It seems a good number of Caps fans are getting pretty fired up over the trade deadline. Although the main theme has been the will they stay, will they go storyline involving the twin Zs (Zubrus and Zednik), the status of Jamie Heward and Steve Eminger has also been cast into doubt. Caps fans all over are waiting with baited breath to see what compensation the team will get for any of the players listed.

Folks, it's time to cool your jets. At least until after the playoffs.

The Capitals are sellers at the deadline, which they admitted about three weeks after we all knew it. They're not going to make the playoffs, and therefore are highly unlikely to pick up any player of note at the deadline. No team that thinks it has a chance is going to ship a solid player in exchange for another, which means we're going to get... wait for it... wait for it...

DRAFT PICKS AND MINOR LEAGUE PROSPECTS!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

Seriously, we won't know much about the makeup of this team (aside from the absence of current players) until well after the season, when the team makes (or doesn't make) moves to sign or trade for players in the offseason. The trade deadline for the Caps will be like so much foreplay... a touch here, a touch there, but no major moving and shaking (at least not in terms of aqcuisitions). We may see some trade ties established between the Caps and a couple other teams, but not enough to read into any future deals. And while it's certainly smart for the Capitals to add to their already deep pool of young talent for call-ups and trade bait, it's not going to have much effect on the roster until well after the postseason ends.