It’s over. A surprisingly active trade deadline day finalized a pretty interesting trade deadline season. Especially if you play in the Metropolitan Division.



“I like what Carolina did,” said one NHL scout assessing Monday’s action. “But it’s like sitting in a poker hand and you’ve got a pair of queens thinking you’re good but then four other players go all in too. Look at Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh. … Wow, that first two rounds will be epic.”



It sets up for a fun stretch run and postseason. But before we get there, with help from scouts, executives and coaches, let’s pass out some final grades for how each team did during the entire trade season – the stretch of time from December’s Taylor Hall trade until Monday’s buzzer.



PRINCIPAL’S LIST



Carolina Hurricanes: A



The approach by GM Don Waddell and his front office was to try and make deals that...