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Washington Capitals: 3 Potential Trade Deadline Targets

By Rohan Yaradi

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) during a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 20: Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65) during a game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on January 20, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images /

Bogdan Kiselevich

Team: Florida Panthers

HDCF%: 57.08%

Cap Hit: $925,000 (Pending UFA)

If you’ve never heard of Bogdan Kiselevich, I can’t really blame you. He has only played 31 games this season since being signed away from CSKA Moscow in the KHL, and he has not done anything noteworthy to be recognized by a non-Panthers fan.

Another left-handed defenseman, Kiselevich may well be the true Michal Kempny of this year’s trade deadline for the Washington Capitals. Despite playing on an awful Florida Panthers team (HDCF% of 45.47%), he has posted an exquisite 57.08% in 31 games played.

Kiselevich has been the recipient of 0.984 team PDO (shooting + save percentage) when he is on the ice, indicating bad luck or lack of talent around him. The Capitals have the talent to comfortably carry a PDO of 1.01 to 1.02, significantly higher than that of the Panthers.

Trending. 5 Dark Horse Candidates To Be Traded. light

In addition to his high-reward potential, Kiselevich is also extremely cheap, with a cap hit of just $925,000. Washington could very well afford him simply by trading a draft pick, making up the cap space by sending a defenseman like Madison Bowey to the AHL.

Like Bouwmeester, Kiselevich could immediately slot into a top-four role for the Capitals, thereby allowing the struggling Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen to get sheltered minutes so that they can improve on their awful play this season (39.20% and 40.60% HDCF%, respectively).

For the Panthers, with just 50 points at this stage of the season, it may be worth exploring trades to get back assets such as draft picks and prospects. They are currently nine points out of a playoff spot, and Kiselevich does not factor significantly into their future plans.

This trade seems to fit GM Brian MacLellan to a T: a depth defenseman with a low cap hit who can be acquired for a draft pick. Bogdan Kiselevich could very well be a difference maker for the Washington Capitals this season.

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