Let's pretend you have a theoretical team that is in 1st place in their division. Let's pretend your theoretical team is having a bit of trouble moving the puck out of their own zone and their power play is struggling a bit. It's not bad, but your theoretical team is kind of limping home with less than 10 games left in the season. And then, your theoretical GM makes a magical move and gets Shattenkirk in a deal and has to give up nothing in return. None of the other teams get a chance to upgrade at all. Would you feel good about your theoretical teams chances going into the playoffs?
Relax.
-------------------- "The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud