Imports have been released during the season before, but typically it is also a more mutual thing. To be fair, however, an NHL draft import goalie being tied for the 2nd worst SV% among qualifying goalies is also almost unprecedented.
Ultimately, you are right in that by the deadline; high-quality goalies were seemingly not available. Most teams with holes in net identified it much earlier in the season and made moves then. So much like last year, I think it came down to a failure by the Wolves to evaluate what they actually had in terms of talent between the pipes.
Obviously, this sucks, and they have to make do with it at this point, as there is no changing it. Luckily, they have the talent to outscore those problems for now, but I figure that will be a much tougher feat come playoff time.
