With the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline approaching in five and a half weeks, the Washington Capitals appear to be sellers for the second straight season after going 5-9-2 (.375 points percentage, 28th in the league) between the holiday break and bye week. NoVa Caps does their annual trade tiers for Washington leading up to March 8’s 3 PM ET deadline.
** NOTE: Any player who has played an NHL game this season is included
Untouchable
- LW Alex Ovechkin, 38 (three years remaining on contract, $9.5 million cap hit) — While he has not been his usual self this season, Ovechkin is the heart and soul of this franchise and it would be wrong to see him pursue the NHL goal-scoring record in another jersey. His 31 points in 44 games this year still lead the team while his 22 assists rank second.
- RW Tom Wilson, 29 (one, $5,166,667 cap hit; seven-year contract extension, $6.5 million cap hit set to begin next season) — Expected to be Washington’s next captain, Wilson has tallied 12 goals and 21 points in 46 games. He has hit a bit of a dry spell offensively lately but brings much more to the table than production with his physicality, leadership, and compete level.
- C Dylan Strome, 26 (five, $5 million cap hit) — Strome has been one of the team’s best players all season as he leads them with 19 goals and co-leads the group with 31 points in 47 points. For a team that needs to integrate youth into its lineup, Strome is a critical piece.
Almost Certainly Staying
- RW T.J. Oshie, 36 (two, $5.75 million cap hit) — Oshie got off to a rough start but has been one of the team’s top contributors offensively for the last month with seven goals and 10 points over his last 12 outings. He is one of the leaders of this team and brings energy. While his injuries and age are reasons to be concerned, the Capitals need his presence in the locker room.
- D Rasmus Sandin, 23 (one, $1.4 million cap hit; pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights) — While averaging 22:00 per game (second among Washington blueliners), including 1:17 on the power play (second), Sandin has not lived up to his expectations offensively going into this season with just a goal and 12 points in 39 games. Defensively, he has tallied a 46.32% Corsi-for percentage, 45.69% expected goals-for percentage, and 46.35% scoring chances-for percentage. The team just paid up big to acquire him 11 months ago and need to pull off similar trades where they bring in young players to help them compete with Ovechkin on the roster before the deadline.
- C Connor McMichael, 23 (one, $863,333 cap hit; pending restricted free agent without arbitration rights) — McMichael got off to a productive start to the season but has come back down to earth as he has seven goals and 15 points in 45 games. The 25th overall pick in 2019 will likely see his role expand next season.
- C Aliaksei Protas, 23 (one, $789,167 cap hit; five-year contract extension, $3.375 million cap hit set to begin next season) — Protas has stepped up this season with three goals and 18 points in 46 games and the trust of the coaching staff for the better part of two seasons. Washington showed how much they value him by giving him a long-term contract extension earlier this month.
- LW Ivan Miroschnichenko, 19 (three, $950,000 cap hit) — The 20th overall pick from 2022 has posted eight goals and 21 points in 37 AHL outings and appeared in four NHL contests last month.
- D Ethan Bear, 26 (two, $2.0625 million cap hit) — While Bear has not performed up to expectations with a goal, three points, -5 rating, 42.18% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 33.81% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 35.54% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 12 games, he is just coming off of shoulder surgery that kept him out of about the first three months of the seasons and the team just signed him over a month ago. The Capitals will likely give Bear, who has averaged 16:30 per game (sixth among Washington defensemen), including 44 seconds on the man advantage (third), some leash.
Would Take a Great Offer
- LW Beck Malenstyn, 25 (one, $762,500 cap hit; pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights) — Malenstyn has blossomed into an NHL regular this season, posting four goals, 11 points, and a 37.21% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 46 contests while becoming a fixture on Washington’s fourth-line.
- D Martin Fehervary, 24 (three, $2.675 million cap hit) — While averaging 18:56 per game (fourth), including 1:54 with a man short (third), Fehervary has earned two goals, 10 points, a -3 rating, 46.79% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 47.82% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 49.48% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 41 games. The team has always thought highly of Fehervary, one of the youngest players on the roster and someone they need with the Capitals’ desire to integrate youth.
- C Hendrix Lapierre, 21 (two, $863,333 cap hit) — Lapierre has played well with more NHL opportunity this season with two goals and seven points in 25 games. The 22nd overall pick in 2020 has also posted two goals and nine points in 13 AHL games.
- G Charlie Lindgren, 30 (two, $1.1 million cap hit) — “The Outlaw” has been one of the league’s top netminders this season with a 9-6-4 record, .916 save percentage (ninth in NHL), 2.59 goals-against average (12th), and two shutouts (tied for seventh) in 21 games. However, he can become an unrestricted free agent after next season and with the team nearing a rebuild, could they pull the trigger if they get an offer they like? With Lindgren’s trade value at an all-time high, it’s possible.
- G Hunter Shepard, 28 (two, $775,000 cap hit) — After leading the Hershey Bears to a Calder Cup Championship last Spring, Shepard has gone 2-1-1 with an .894 save percentage and 3.19 goals-against average in four NHL games and 17-2-1 with a .911 save percentage, 2.26 goals-against average, and a shutout in 26 AHL outings.
- LW Sonny Milano, 27 (three, $1.9 million cap hit) — Milano has spent a lot of time this season injured and has not seen the same level of production he had a year ago when healthy, earning just four goals and eight points in 23 games. He has not played since December 10 due to an upper-body injury and likely does not have a lot of trade value at the moment, so Washington would be better off holding onto him for now.
- One of Ds Nick Jensen, 33 (three, $4.05 million cap hit), and Trevor Van Riemsdyk, 32 (three, $3 million cap hit) — After signing Bear, Washington has four right-handed defensemen on the NHL roster. Both Jensen (seven assists, -6 rating, 45.69% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 43.56% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, 45.6% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 19:03 per game – third among Capitals’ blueliners, including 2:46 on the penalty kill – second, in 47 contests) and Van Riemsdyk (eight assists, a -9 rating, 45.94% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 47.92% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 47.49% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging averaged 18:28 per game, including 1:43 on the penalty kill, in 39 games) signed contract extensions around 11 months ago. The Capitals have to pick between which one to keep and the other to cut bait on.
Would Listen To Offers
- D John Carlson, 34 (three, $8 million cap hit) — Washington’s No. 1 defenseman has had a bit of a down year by his standards with only three goals, 28 points, an even rating, a 46.82% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 47.97% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 49.75% five-on-five expected scoring chances-for percentage in 47 games. Carlson has averaged a team-leading 25:41 per game, including 3:32 on the power play (second) and 2:47 on the penalty kill (first). It may be getting to the point where that cap hit is getting a bit pricey for the Capitals.
- G Darcy Kuemper, 33 (four, $5.25 million cap hit) — Kuemper has not gotten a lot of run support but has disappointed, going 11-11-2 with an .892 save percentage, a 3.21 goals-against average, and a shutout this season. Washington paid him big money less than two years ago and is expected to be the guy, even if Lindgren has taken the reigns in net for right now. With the emergence of Lindgren and Shepard, it would make sense for the Capitals to listen to offers on Kuemper but doubtful anything happens for right now.
- C Nic Dowd, 33 (two, $1.3 million cap hit) — Dowd, who has collected seven goals, 13 points, a 49.9% faceoff-winning percentage, and 41.14% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 38 games, has reportedly garnered a lot of interest on the trade market. He comes with a very team-friendly cap hit and is likely someone Washington would prefer to keep but if someone throws a tempting offer their way, they may have no choice but to take it.
- D Alexander Alexeyev, 24 (two, $825,000 cap hit) — Alexeyev has earned a goal, -4 rating, 43.65% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 43.23% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 43.81% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 13 games. Washington has shown that they do not trust the 2018 31st overall pick very much as he has appeared in only 46 NHL games over three seasons.
On The Block
- D Lucas Johansen, 26 (one, $762,500 cap hit) — The pending restricted free agent has earned an assist, a +1 rating, 35.76% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 29.59% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 31.51% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in six NHL games. Johansen, the 28th overall pick in 2016, has tallied two goals, six points, and a +8 rating in 13 AHL games but the clock has appeared to have struck midnight on him.
- LW Nicolas Aube-Kubel, 27 (one, $1.125 million cap hit) — The pending unrestricted free agent has posted five goals, 13 points, and a 39.57% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 35 games.
- LW Anthony Mantha, 29 (one, $5.7 million cap hit) — The pending unrestricted free agent is in the midst of a renaissance season with 15 goals (second on Washington) and 23 points (fourth) in 43 games.
- D Joel Edmundson, 30 (one, $1.75 million cap hit) — The pending unrestricted free agent has a goal, three points, -2 rating, 45.97% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 44.62% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 46.5% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 16:08 per game (seventh among Capitals blueliners), including 1:17 shorthanded (fifth) in 31 games. The team recently sat Edmundson, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for third- and seventh-round picks eight months ago, as a healthy scratch.
- LW Max Pacioretty, 35 (one, $2 million cap hit) — The pending unrestricted free agent has scored a goal and seven points in 12 games since returning from a torn Achilles.
- LW Joe Snively, 28 (one, $800,000 cap hit) — The pending unrestricted free agent has nine goals and 34 points in 40 AHL games this season. He has also appeared in three NHL contests.
- D Dylan McIlrath, 31 (two, $775,000 cap hit) — In 34 AHL games, the 31-year-old has notched three goals, eight points, and a +4 rating. McIlrath has appeared in one NHL game this season.
- D Hardy Haman Aktell, 25 (one, $870,000 cap hit) — Haman Aktell has recorded an assist, a -2 rating, and 52.71% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in six NHL games on top of the one goal, seven points, and a +5 rating that he has collected in 28 AHL outings.
- The other of Jensen or Van Riemsdyk
Salary Cap Casualty
- C Evgeny Kuznetsov, 31 (two, $7.8 million cap hit) — Kuznetsov is in the midst of the worst season of his NHL career with only six goals and 17 points in 43 games and running out of opportunities. He requested a trade last season and has not come close to the way he played during the 2018 Stanley Cup run since, with an exception of an impressive 2021-22 campaign. Kuznetsov sat as a healthy scratch on December 4 against the Arizona Coyotes. Washington will likely have to pay up for a team to take his contract but it may be getting to the point where the extra cap space could be worth it.
Injured Reserve
- C Nicklas Backstrom, 36 (two, $9.2 million cap hit) — Although Backstrom travelled with the Capitals on their last road trip, he is unlikely to play again due to an ongoing hip injury. He underwent a left hip resurfacing procedure on June 1, 2022 and last played on October 29.
By Harrison Brown
I see Kutzy going to Dallas or LA… maybe even Van for Gaarland or Kuz..
Dallas doesn’t want him. If the Caps and Stars make a deal, it’ll be for one of the Caps RHD. Stars don’t need a forward.
Would anyone actually want Kuzy? He’s expensive and his production has been taking a nose dive for years. Would the Caps consider retaining some of his salary to get rid of him to keep a Cap playing well or to pick up someone decent from another team (or for picks?)
Dic Dowd and/or Chuckie <crying emoji)
We’d have to pay someone to take? A second and a fourth?
I would gladly package a second round pick to get Kuzy and his salary out of town
At this point yes
Anybody outside the “untouchables” should be open game and I’m contemplating opening it up to include them too at this point.
Valid but Sandin? Protas?
When you make poor contract decisions, you gotta pay the piper. Put Kuzy, Mantha, Kuemper and TVR in a package but you’ll have to pay the shipping!
At this point Ovie could be traded. It is nice to speculate however so many of the players on this roster that people want traded either have no movement or limited movement contracts.And yes Kuzy should beon the block however does another team reallywant to takehim at even a educedsalary for 2 years even if they get a 2nd round pick…..I think not as he is looked at as a cancer.
The untouchables on this team outside of Wilson and Strom are anyone other than Sadin, he goes, who is under 25. And no I do not include Phillips in that group as he can go out the door to anyone if someone wants him. Time to clean house just donttake any bad contractsor oldplayers in return.
IF Gretzky can get traded then there is no reason that Ovie can’t. And in the Ovie trade offer to give them Backy to keep Ovie happy!!
I prefer Panama Red but Acapulco Gold or Purple Haze ought to do the job – for you
They need to find a team willing to take Kuzy and his ridiculous contract that isn’t in a position to win now but has extra cap space. It will definitely cost us a draft pick or two but at this point the move has to be made, even if we have to keep a portion of his salary on our books for the rest of the season. He has all the skill in the world but no drive to be great. I think both him and the caps would benefit from a fresh start somewhere else.
Gar-on-tee that Kuznetsov will be dealt soon. 22 teams still realistically “in the playoff hunt.” One will grab Kuzy. High desperation levels in NHL boardrooms! Would be great if it can be done before 20 Feb instead of torturing fans all the way to Trade Deadline day [excellent analysis Kevin S]
Kuzy more productive than 8. Truth hurts. 8 can’t skate, score and chilling in Dubai?
OV is beyond a shell of himself. It’s sad …. Yet he still has Kuzy nearly doubled up in points. L take.
Ovi at least has had a lot of assists so brings that to the table. But sad that he’s no longer the goal scorer he was prior to 2023.
Well, Harrison B … One of the more depressing articles on the Caps I’ve had to read in years!
Hard to argue with your analysis. But Prevent Defense is ready: I would like to see a NovaCapsFans analysis of — drum roll, please — the Coaching Staff! OK with you Jon?
Carberator & Co. came in with a lot of fanfare. Trust Us, we have the answers! Yet the past month puts the 23-24 Caps’ season on the brink of Bust. So what does NCF think? I’m pretty disappointed. Little confidence either. Does “Carberator and the Thirteenth Floor Elevators” get another gig on the King Biscuit Flour Hour?
Maybe the latest NHL sex scandal will result in Coach Quenneville being reprieved from Gory Buttmann’s Death List and allowed to coach the 2024-25 Washington Capitals
I still want to know what power each of the Caps management, coaching, and training staff have before I can analyze performance. I would hate to blame a coach for not doing something just to find out that he never had that authority.
That makes two of us: What the Flying $%^&* is going on at the upper levels of Caps’ management?
Did the Capitals organization and the fans expect such a quick, sharp decline in Ovi’s production/play?? The org is probably shocked at this quick turn of events and I would expect that GMBM is trying to figure out a new plan and how to go about this new plan. I doubt he had a ‘what if Ovi falls off of a cliff’ plan in his back pocket. He will meet with the media at some point before the trade deadline, like all GM’s do, and the media can gain insight into his perspective as to what’s going on. He will either bury his head in the sand and keep things status quo or he will fire some warning shots to let us know that bigger changed could be afoot.
Protas, Malenstyn, and Fehervary should be untouchable. You can’t teach size and/ or grit. My question is, besides draft picks, who is available out there that would make this team into a contender? Sakic was a genious by getting Toews. Is there someone like that? I read that Byram may be, or K. Miller. Also, Jiricek is frustrated in Columbus.
No way they part with Ferehevary and Patches has a full NTC
Patches will waive his NTC in a heartbeat for a chance at a cup
According to another fan site, Ovi joined his wife and kids who were already in Dubai. Where were they before? Were they here in DC or perhaps they were in Russia? Condos in Florida? No mention of them. Shouldn’t Sergei be in school? Are they perhaps staying in Moscow? Her father and Ovi’s mother flew out from Russia to Dubai. Photos show them all there. When the Dubai vacation is over, where does each of them go?
I have said since pre-season that I just don’t feel his focus this year is on the Caps. They could have gone to his Florida condos and he could have skated in Sunrise. Is he doing any skating in Dubai? If his family is living in Moscow, that could explain a lot of things. I don’t know that they are, but he didn’t fly to Dubai with them and I have not found any article about the family (especially the kids) doing any Caps things this season. No Sergei on Caps ice?
Never try to track players’ whereabouts on off days, but what if Ovi is indeed playing through some stuff (lower-body?)? In this case a couple of days off would only do him good. Provided he still gets some proper conditioning before dressing up for the games again. And there’s another point here. I think he may have rushed his return after that 3-game absence. First game back he was really switched on, trying to contribute; second game didn’t go too well, as was the case for the whole team (0-3 to SLB), but at least he was trying to pitch in. Then for two games he was, frankly, just out to lunch, barely moving his feet. Before that last road game and the frantic comeback to get the team to OT. So when he’s motivated, he’s busting his back, but otherwise just doesn’t move right or look right. Maybe ditch that RMNB motto and get some proper repairs and recovery? To come back stronger and much more effective.
Ovi can do what he wants to in his off hours and go where he wants to go. Maybe Dubai was on his bucket list. Maybe it’s just easier for everyone to get visas and flights there. I’m sure his mother could get a visa to come to DC or Florida but maybe his father-in-law couldn’t. Doesn’t matter. It’s just another example — I’m just saying that I think his mind this year isn’t on the Caps or the record. Other interests are becoming more important and it is affecting his play.
Maybe, who knows. Perhaps also frustration has set in, whether it’s at his aging/injured body, or not having the right kind of “magic” with linemates/centers, or at not progressing toward beating the record as he had hoped. Heard Tarik dwell at length the other day on the Sports Junkies about how Ovi keeps changing his sticks all the time, and nothing seems to be working out anymore. So he’s obviously concerned, and frustrated. I guess when frustration sets in, you get demotivated as well…
In any case, I’d rather, if he’s struggling with some injuries, smth’s nagging him, that he take more time to deal with it properly and recuperate.
Who care what he does or where he is on his days off.
He has lost something and I am not sure that at 38 he can get it back. If he is hurt no one is evergoing to tell you. Is his mind somewhere else, only he can tell you that. Ovie is a perfect example, like Oshie and Backy and others, that when you give a 30 year old a long term contract most of the time it is going to come back and bite you in the butt. This is on Ted and his man crush on Ovie and other players from the 2018 team and his quest to get the scoring record and get it under his watch.
On the other hand sometimes the tank goes dry and you cannot refill it! maybe the bulb that burned bright for years went out and can not be changed.
Thinking back would it not ahve been wise to traeplayers from the 2018 tean 1 or 2 a year for prospects and picksrather than sign so manyto long contracts and for so long?
This is only unusual because OV is usually in the all-star game. But he has regularly gone on trips when team has mandatory break or when he was hurt (or took off) the all-star game. Nothing to see here.
We were so lucky to land Ovie in the 2004 draft. And Backstrom, Green, Semin, Carlson, Wilson and Forsberg (oops!). The Caps have had so much offensive skill and fierce physical players as well for 20 years. Just now we’re seeing what half of the NHL has become. Pop gun offenses. Weak defensive play. Suspect goalies.
BMac or whoever simply has to draft or trade for superstar players. It’s not clear than even one of our current prospects will be as good as any of the players named above. Leonard, Cristall and Miro could but they could also be middle 6 guys. McMichael doesn’t appear to have the offensive skills to be a top 6 NHL center. Not sure what becomes of him. Lapierre has a long way to go to make any impact as an NHLer.
The Caps should certainly trade anyone other than Ovie and Wilson if the return amounts to young NHL stars on a future Caps lineup card.
Carlson at half salary retained would have to be appealing to a playoff team. I love Carlson and would hate to see him go in a way but how else can we gain a future star player?
hear me out here….
trade ovie to a cup contender where he can be a secondary guy and have a good center to work with. cue the insults, but this is a good idea for Ovie and for the Caps
See the note above about Panama Red, Acapulco Gold and Purple Haze
just thinking outside the box man….but you do you. it’s easier for you to attack the messenger than to debate the message. and insulting people in some way makes you feel better about yourself. FTR , I don’t care what you say, and I stand by my statement. Prove me wrong with logic instead of juvenile “look at me” comments….
Bro, no “contender” is paying 10m x 2.5 for broken down Ovi.
gotta kick the tires man….worst they say is no. but if they could pull off a deal and get a prospect or two and a pick and give ovie a shot at a cup and more scoring on a playoff bound team…
Looking at your list of protected players, there’s a lot of mediocrity there. And while some are young, their talent level appears to be lacking. Scoring 10-15 goals from the forward or center spot is not very impressive. And unless those players are superb on the defensive end, setting them free, while re-setting the team seems to make better sense. We need a couple legit scorers. And not one year rentals. One would also hope the coaching staff is taking a hard look and making adjustments.
I love WIlson, but his new contract is gonna be way too much pretty soon. We have to stop overpaying these guys that are heading into their thirties.
I’m getting very tired of the awful contract decisions
The Caps are going to liquidate roster, a lot and soon. Not much mystery here
Bigger Question: How long is the leash for Captain Carbery’s Flying Circus?
No one seems to want to handicap this one, nor have any “inside baseball” whether MacLellan and New-GM-to-be-named-later will extend Carbs beyond this season’s disaster. Harrison? Jon? Jacob?
A lot of Nmc and ntc. 74,6,77,92,35 all have ntc, and 67 has nmc. 67 doesn’t want to uproot his kids mid year so I really doubt he’s gonna waive. Realistically, 39,26,96,3/57 are the ones who should and would go and bring back something. I think the Protas signing is a sign they’re prepared to move 26 so protas takes 4c.
Most of the NTC are limited to a number of teams not strictly no trade.
And NTC’s can be waived by player, which is common if going to a cup-contending team
The Rubenstein purchase of the Baltimore Orioles gives some hope to one of the all-time mismanaged sports franchises in North America. Sure like the idea of Cal Ripken Jr as a junion partner with a big role in future operations. Ruby is a good buds with Ted Leonsis, worked with him in buying up basketball teams ….
We can always hope. One local big-sports franchise goes overnight from Dubious Future to Pretty Good Future. Maybe some Karma will rub off on the Do Nothing Caps Management Structure, We can always hope.
The question I have is who are the young players who might be available similar to the Sandin trade last year. Would Mantha with retention get Kappo? Or Zegras?
Mantha and picks for Kaliyev
Kaliyev scratched in tonight’s LAK vs NSH game
Healthy scratch? Not listed as injured
I was thinking Mantha for Kaako too. The Caps like reclamation projects. Wouldn’t really need much retention, if the trade happens in March. I say go for it, if it can be worked out.
Do you realize who Kaako’s coach is?
Duhhhhh….Mike Keenan?
It’s Peter Laviolette, and PL has only had him for four months. What’s your point?
No one on NCF seems to want to pose the touchy question: Is Carbery the guy?
Caps sure have been awful since Christmas. Weren’t so hot before that. They never improve. We all wring our hands about the 23 Caps delivering the on-ice sewage. They stink, too old, over-the-hill, not motivated, need to be traded, don’t really “want it,” “Better Days are Coming” and on and on Ad Pukem
But what about Captain Carbery And The Blues Magoos? Do they $ukk as much as it looks on TV … or is it my cataracts and astigmatism?
You’re the only one concerned with the coach. Doing pretty good with a mess of a roster.
That’s one vote FOR the coaching staff
Still waiting to hear from NCF analysts!
LIndholm and Kuzmenko off the boards now. Caps sit on sidelines as usual
Hershey Bears keep on rolling. Crunched the Phantoms. Game was televised.
Great game by Vecchione. Got his “cup of coffee” with Caps way back in 21-22 season. Then he fell into Lake Laviolette! Ticked me off. Caps eat their own young
And we still keep Philips on roster and not give Frank Dubey jersey.
Doesn’t matter what anyone in the blogosphere, commenters or bloggers, thinks about Carbery: he’s staying. He has 3 years left on his contract, after this one. Ted Terrific isn’t gonna eat 3 years of salary. Gotta keep Qatar happy with their investment.
MCM hasn’t produced lately because Protas hasn’t produced lately.
What’s wrong with Protas? He was making defensive decisions
that created offense for his line, now nothing.
The contracts we have seem to guarantee a losing team for 3 years
to come. Sentimentality has no business being part of a contract.
It makes no sense for the team.
The caps need to make a decision, a decision which should have been made last year. Do they keep all these aging veterans hoping for a miracle or do a mini rebuild for Ovi’s last couple of years. I think they should get rid of the big contracts.
Max Pacioretty has a no move contract. That was one of the reason he came to Washington so I don’t see him moving.
I disagree about TJ Oshi. If they can move him then they should. He is 37 years old and the longer you keep him the less he brings back. He has value right now for a cup contender.
Mantha finally has some good value so he should be moved. After the last couple of years, anything you get for him would be a bonus.
Send Kutzy packing for whatever you can get from him. You will probably have to eat some of his salary but if you get rid of the other players, it shouldn’t be a huge deal.
I would get whatever I could for Dowd since his value is very high. He would bring a good return.
I think Carlson should go. They could still get a lot in return for him. He would honestly be the heart of the mini rebuild because he would bring a lot in return.
I would also get rid of Kuemper. I think it would be hard to. But not only has Lindgren outplayed Kuemper, Lindgren’s style in net is much better for the caps style of play. You would also probably have to eat some of his salary but again, if they make the other moves its still possible.
All trades should bring in younger players and/or draft picks. The #1 priority the Caps need is a playmaking center to go with Ovi. Without a playmaker, this is the type of production you will get from him.
Let’s try another statistical-ops-analysis angle.
If the Caps were a publicly-traded common stock on the (NYSE:CAPZZ), would the NovaCapsFans analyst staff:
1) Sell Short NYSE:CAPZZ, big time
2) Aggressively buy more NYSE:CAPZZ
3) Dump all its NYSE:CAPZZ shares à la Bud Fox
4) “Accumulate” NYSE:CAPZZ
5) Something different. Gentlemen?
Getting to be more exhausting then Druid
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