I’ll say this for the National Hockey League in this cap-strapped era: It’s damned efficient when it comes to trading players.

The league trading deadline came and went today at 3PM, and the teams exploded for 25 transactions. That’s more action than the rest of the year combined (even counting waiver-wire pickups that included notables like Ilya Bryzgalov, Sergei Samsonov, and Mark Recchi). As someone who enjoys trade news, I’ve resented the dampening effect the salary cap has had on trades for the past couple of years. So it seems Deadline Day is all I’ve got left.

As for today’s specifics, the biggest stories obviously were Brad Richards landing in Dallas, with Tampa Bay getting back a long-needed potential starting goalie in Mike Smith; and the Penguins surprising everyone by landing Marian Hossa.

Wild day. I almost wish I had taken the day off for it.