Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Washington Capitals are looking for forward help by the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline five weeks from Monday at 3 PM ET. He added that they are eying forwards from the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken as possible trade targets.
“Washington’s looking for forwards. They’re going to be eying at the Pacific Northwest. Several potential matches in Seattle and Vancouver,” Friedman wrote in 32 Thoughts.
The most likely targets could include left-wings J.T. Miller (who leads Vancouver with 17 goals and 48 points in 47 games this season) and Conor Garland (11 goals, 26 points in 44 games) from the Canucks in addition to left-wing Calle Jarnkrok (nine goals, 19 points in 37 games), center Mason Appleton (five goals, 13 points in 35 games), and right-wing Colin Blackwell (five goals, 10 points in 25 games) from the Kraken. All of the Kraken players listed are on expiring contracts, though Appleton can become a restricted free agent on July 17 while Miller (two years left at a $5.5 million cap hit) and Garland (five at $4.95 million per) both have term on their contracts.
The Capitals rank 11th in the NHL with an average of 3.20 goals-per-game but 28th with a 15.5% power-play efficiency this season and 21st with an average of 2.80 goals-per-game since December 18. Over the past two seasons, they have struggled replacing a center when one gets hurt, which has cost them in the postseason. With Nicklas Backstrom missing 32 games this season due to injury and illness, the Capitals could use some insurance up the middle. All four centers have missed time this season due to COVID-19 protocol and/or injury.
In addition, top-six forwards Anthony Mantha and T.J. Oshie have missed 40 and 32 games, respectively, this season and neither have a set timetable. Mantha started skating on his own last week and could play before the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to head coach Peter Laviolette.
They also reportedly inquired on New Jersey Devils center Pavel Zacha.
By Harrison Brown
This screams bad news for Oshie.
Not really as if traded he would be going west and may not have to play in front of the net and get beaten to a pulp.
Team must something about Oshie/Mantha that we don’t know yet.
Dont need forwards, maybe a D and probably a trusted goalie. BUT not this year as there is no need to give up our draft capital or young players for older players. Ted and GMBM have to realize that this is not a young team and not a Cup team anymore. they are at best a 1 and done in the playoffs. So would it not be better to get the young players experience for the futureand at the same time obtain a higher draft pick by being sellers of our older players! I really dont want someone elses bad contract as we have plenty of our own. Lets ride with what we have and IF someone wants one of our older players who has a bad contract they can have them.
Have a question…..What was the teams record before Backy came back adn after he returned. Yes Oshie has been hurt and you caount count Mantha as he played what 2 games. So If my calculations are right we had 6 losses before Backy came back and 9 after his return. Could the problem be Backy is just not what he once ws due to his hip? maybe he is good is small spurts but not for a whole game right now. Yes our old and slow D is a problem as is our inexperienced goalies who arae great at times and other times look lost. Just wondering what you think about Backy?
Yeah Backstrom’s done, one of the worst contract in the league. Caps played better with AHLer.
Miller would be a great add, big skilled center, good skater and good on Faceoff. Would greatly help the PP. Would probably play 1st or 2nd line pushing Backstrom to the 3rd line(9.2 mil ouch!!!). Go for it.