Another trade deadline has come and passed.
The 2016 edition felt rather dry and uneventful, especially up until 2 p.m. ET. Nevertheless, many teams hoping to get a final piece to push them into the Cup conversation were active.
Related: Blue Jackets GM: 'Quietest trade deadline I've ever seen'
While there wasn't much in terms of high-calibre talent exchanged Monday, the transactions that did (and didn't) happen leave us with a clearer picture of the realities teams are facing.
Here are three things we learned from the trade deadline:
1st round draft picks are very valuable
While sellers such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and Arizona Coyotes were active leading up to the 3 p.m. deadline, none were able to capture the grand prize: a first-round pick.
In all the deals Monday and the days leading up, only the Andrew Ladd trade between the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks saw a team willing to part with a first-round pick.
With growing proof that these picks - no matter where in the top 30 they slot - can bring in a potential game-changing player, teams are becoming much more reluctant to give them up.
Meanwhile, as many as six second-round picks were included in deals between Feb. 25-29.
General managers are getting ahead of the curb
While several trades were made in the final minutes before the deadline, there wasn't even one major blockbuster completed Monday.
The biggest names moved were arguably Mikkel Boedker and Kris Russell, which suggests that teams interested in marquee players did their due diligence in advance of Monday.
The final week saw the likes of Ladd, Eric Staal, and Justin Schultz moved, while Dion Phaneuf was shipped out of town earlier in the month. In addition to Schultz, Teddy Purcell, Jakub Kindl, and Jiri Hudler were all sent packing Saturday.
General managers are no longer waiting until the last minute to make a deal. Teams are combing the market earlier and pouncing when they get the chance. Expect this to be the new norm.
The Avalanche want it now
The Blackhawks and Panthers made it crystal clear heading into Monday they mean business this season.
After the dust settled Monday, though, it appeared the big winner of the day was the Colorado Avalanche.
Related: Deadline day winners and losers
The Avalanche are currently holding down the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with just a two-point cushion between them and the Minnesota Wild.
Colorado added Boedker and underutilized defenseman Eric Gelinas. In exchange the team sacrificed ageing forward Alex Tanguay, 2014 first- and third-round picks Conner Bleackley and Kyle Wood, and a third-round draft pick.
Related: Avalanche all in on playoffs after adding experience to young core
Since the Avalanche gave up two prospects for Boedker, who'll likely serve as a rental player, it appears they have one thing on their mind: this year's Cup.
Boedker gives the team a lot of skill - though the analytics community will argue Tanguay holds more value - and makes the potential line of him, Gabriel Landeskog, and Nathan MacKinnon perhaps the fastest in the league.
It had been hard to get a read on the Avalanche, who've played jump rope with a playoff position. Whether or not the deals pan out, it's clear Joe Sakic and Co. are aiming for a deep playoff run.
