from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Kickin’ tires and takin’ names.

1. If Kyle Dubas wasn’t feeling pressure prior to the weekend, surely he is now.

The Florida Panthers paid the price for one of the most coveted hardnosed defenders available, and the Tampa Bay Lightning snatched Brandon Hagel, a cap-friendly 21-goal-scoring left wing Dubas had been dreaming of slotting beside John Tavares.

Dubas had interest in both.

Neither came cheap, mind you.

Julien BriseBois, firmly living in the now, surrendered two first-round picks for the 23-year-old Hagel, who should be in club control for five years.

“We’re hoping they’re late first-round picks. We know what the odds are of a late-first-round pick turning into an NHL player,” said BriseBois Friday. The GM figures he’s done shooting his shots. “We’re getting a sure thing, a player that’s already established himself in the NHL.

“If we can do anything to increase the odds of our current team being successful and going on another magical run, then I feel like we need to do that.”

continued plus 11 more topics...