The most frequently used phrase this time of year is that hockey is a business. The business may not be fair to the human element of the NHL but it is hard to ignore.
Be it the players and staff of NHL teams make quite a lot of money to play and manage a game, a beautiful game at that but these are still players with families and lives.
The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to trade away a player from the NHL roster, which is a relief to many players and of course the fans.