If they're rebuilding the D why did they trade picks at the deadline for John Michael-Liles and Lee Stempniak, as well as holding on to Erikkson?
Because they where in a playoff spot and had just picked 6 times in the first two rounds the year before with 2 1sts in 16'
And trading Spooner for a D as speculated would be the opposite of addressing the center position for the future.
The need for a bridge dman,who can help now and still be here in 2-4 years to support the younger guys coming up, is greater than the need for a 2nd line center.
It looks to me like they thought they'd start a rebuild with the trading of Lucic and Hamilton, but they didn't have the stomach or the support from ownership to go through with it.
Management most likely was telling them to make the playoffs considering where thhey were in the standings. I know this is HF and people get all moist with thoughts of picking high in the draft, but the NHL is a business and the majority of teams don't sell at the deadline if they are in a playoff spot.
They might be able to make the playoffs for a couple years with more help on D, but the roster looks destined for disaster in the long run, at least to me.