It's not quite the trade deadline, but it is time for an emergency podcast.

Brian McNally back safely in the United States after a quick trip out of the country,

and we get this, I don't know if I'd call it a bombshell, but I wasn't expecting to get the

email today that the caps made a move to get a

quality defenseman like Brendan Dillon. Your first thought when you saw the move?

I actually kind of was, Rob. I kind of was expecting. Just because it's Brian McCullen,

the jam, right? This is what he does.

He doesn't like to wait to the trade deadline.

You know, he did the Carl Hagelin trade last year a little bit early.

The Nick Jensen trade a little bit early.

So I was like, what I didn't know is if there was really a legitimate, like a legitimate upgrade where the other team would be

willing to, you know, essentially pay half the money.

So go have Z's on a good player.

You had to find a team that was kind of out of it or really willing to give up a decent player

and kind of hurt its own playoff chances.

Brian McClellan kind of checked all of those boxes.

So I figured he would try.

I just didn't know if he would be able to pull it off.

And I think in the end, we can all agree.

He knew the kind of weakness and the area where they needed to upgrade.

And he was able to get a guy who probably fits that bill.

So in that respect, I'm not surprised, but I just wasn't sure if he could be able to pull it off.

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