Jamie Nye: Deciding winners on deadline day is a pointless exercise

The NHL trade deadline day yields big names and future stars trading places.

But there is no point in picking winners and losers now. Let’s leave the winners and losers for April, May and June, when some teams flounder with new players while others thrive.

The Flames, Lightning and Leafs did a little here and there but nothing that blew anybody away. And guess what? They may have done something without doing much.

Keeping status quo can rally a room, but elsewhere status quo can deflate a room, thinking a deal to get better was coming or having a sense that the management team doesn’t think they’re worthy of a big add.

Let’s look at last year’s Stanley Cup champs, the Washington Capitals. They made depth moves. Adam Kempney was the only one to contribute in the playoffs as a fourth d-man.

They were a good team, stayed the course — and won the Cup.

It didn’t matter to them if they were a winner or loser on deadline day.