Just a bit or a public service announcement:
Today is April Fools’ Day, couple that with the fact the NHL trade deadline is on Wednesday at 3 PM and you need to be much much more wary of anything you hear today (and from the sources you hear it from) than any other day of the year concerning trade rumors and transactions.
It’s bad enough during the usual silly-season of the NHL trade deadline that idle speculation will lead fans and some popular rumor-mongers presenting fabrications or wishful-thinking as fact. When you pair the traditional trade season absurdities up with April Fools’ – the day that usually inspires all sorts of practical jokes – and you have the makings of a grand mess.
Case in point: Sunday night saw a Tampa Bay Lightning trade rumor make the rounds on the social networks – one of absolute absurdity, but it was still eaten up by the masses. Steven Stamkos traded – which in itself makes absolutely no sense – to the New York Rangers. Um, no. I didn’t see the full post as it was presented on Facebook but it supposedly had Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik coming to Tampa in the deal.
And yet, of course, some believed it, or thought the entire possibility had some merit before they caught wind the “deal” was an early April Fools’ joke.
This is going to transpire countless times on Monday with casual fans across the leagues that aren’t plugged into the news. I’m asking you now – if you’re an NHL fan who is hungry for some 2013 NHL trade deadline rumors and speculation – take today off from it on Monday, or be skeptical of anything you are told until you actually see the news announced/confirmed through a reputable news outlet.
