NHL Trade Deadlines: Washington Capitals Outlook, Fits, Trade Candidates
By Trin Potratz
The Trade Deadline is Nearing and Teams Are Starting to Solidify Their Trade Deadline Strategy. In Order to Predict What These Teams Might Do, First You Need to See What They Need. Check In and See What the Washington Capitals Might be Looking For This Season.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Depth Chart
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – TJ Oshie
Marcus Johansson – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Justin Williams
Brett Connolly – Lars Eller – Andre Burakovsky
Daniel Winnik – Jay Beagle – Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana
Karl Alzner – John Carlson
Dmitri Orlov – Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik – Nate Schmidt
Taylor Chorney
DEADLINE HISTORY
The Capitals have never been able to stand pat with the club they had around deadline day, normally adding a piece here and there.
In GM Brian MacLellan’s first season, the club added stay-at-home defender Tim Gleason and secondary scorer Curtis Glencross. Those additions came in exchange for a barely used defenseman in Jack Hillen and 2nd, 3rd and 4th round draft picks. Both Glencross and Gleason underwhelmed and were basically non-factors as the Caps bowed out in the second round of the playoffs.
Last year, MacLellan felt he had a team capable of winning it all and decided to add some depth while also dumping a large contract. The Capitals signed Mike Richards in January to play a fourth-line role, traded a 3rd round pick for depth defender Mike Weber, and acquired Daniel Winnik in exchange for dumping Brooks Laich’s contract.
Winnik and Richards both failed to produce a single point in 12 playoff games, while Weber only suited up for two games.
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BIGGEST NEED: Defensive depth
The Washington Capitals are the best team in the league, so there is no glaring need for them going into the trade deadline. Up front they are completely set barring a major injury down the stretch. The Capitals are comfortable plugging in Jakub Vrana or Chandler Stephenson in spot duty.
With Taylor Chorney settling into his role as the 7th d-man, the Capitals likely wouldn’t mind adding another depth defender. They say you can never have enough defensemen come playoff time, so if the Capitals don’t feel comfortable with just Taylor Chorney, they will add a defenseman on the cheap.
DEADLINE PREDICTION: Stand Pat
GM Brian MacLellan acknowledged that he may have messed with the team’s chemistry last season when he added three roster players after the new year, and he may not make that mistake again.
The Capital’s will have enough wiggle room to acquire a player with a cap hit of $1.7 million as it stands right now. They may need to move salary to acquire a player with a cap hit higher than that.
The Capitals could be looking at cheaper options like Edmonton’s Eric Gryba, Arizona’s Zbynek Michalek, or Colorado’s Fedor Tyutin. Each player could be had for not much more than a 4th round pick.
Next: NHL Trade Deadline: Evaluating the Detroit Red Wings
POSSIBLE TRANSACTIONS
COL: 2018 5th round pick
WSH: D Fedor Tyutin* ($500,000 retained by Colorado)
EDM: 2018 4th round pick
WSH:D Eric Gryba