The Washington Capitals are on a three-game win streak and closer to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference than they have been in several weeks. Despite that spell of good play that has them back in the postseason conversation, the Capitals are still expected to subtract from their roster at the upcoming March 8 trade deadline.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan spoke with general manager Brian MacLellan earlier this month and GMBM revealed that his deadline plans would be determined based on how well the Capitals played during a three-game stretch against some of the league’s best teams. They ended up going 1-1-1 in those three games.
Kaplan had an update on the Capitals and their plans in the latest edition of her “NHL buzz” series posted on Friday morning.
“Most people I talk to around the league believe Washington will try to unload some contracts to position better for the future,” Kaplan writes. “MacLellan said he is balancing doing right by legacy players — specifically captain Alex Ovechkin and his quest for the NHL all-time goal record — while trying to stay competitive and get younger.”
The specific players the Capitals could offload that Kaplan highlights have had their names in league rumors for weeks.
“Nic Dowd and Joel Edmundson are two players I heard were drawing league-wide interest,” Kaplan writes. “I believe Anthony Mantha is getting some interest based on a strong season, too. I also believe there is a distinct possibility Max Pacioretty could be traded.”
Dowd has been talked about in trade rumors since all the way back at the start of October. The veteran, fourth-line center was just placed on injured reserve by the Capitals after suffering an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s win over the New Jersey Devils.
With the shallow pool of dependable centers currently available and Dowd’s cheap contract that lasts one more season past this one, the Capitals are expected to net a first-round draft pick in return for his services.
Edmundson has been linked to the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as February 7th. Additionally, Mantha has been on the team’s trade block since the start of last offseason but has pumped up his value with 18 goals in 51 games before he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Pacioretty is perhaps the most interesting and complicated of the bunch as he holds a full no-movement clause in his contract. Kaplan reported during ESPN’s telecast of the Capitals-Lightning game on Thursday night that teams around the league have expressed interest in acquiring the veteran winger.
The 35-year-old winger and his agent Allan Walsh will hold all of the cards though when determining a landing spot if one is to be found. Where the team is located will reportedly play a large factor.
“I heard that geography is very important for him and his young family,” Kaplan said Thursday.
The Capitals have six games ahead of them before that March 8 deadline. Four of those six games come against the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
All of those teams either currently sit in playoff spots in the Eastern Conference or are in the same boat as the Capitals and are trying to claw their way into one.
