The NHL rumor mill is heating up as we are now almost exactly a month away from the league’s March 8 trade deadline. Teams will be preparing to either add to their roster in anticipation of a playoff run or sell off their assets while the market is hot and suitors are paying a premium.
More and more attention will start being paid to which teams consistently have their scouts in other buildings. With the Washington Capitals likely now positioned to be sellers at the deadline, their scouts will draw headlines wherever they go, especially if they’re in the same spot for multiple games.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta has provided the list of scouts in attendance to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play both the New York Islanders and Dallas Stars at Scotiabank Arena this week. The Capitals are one of the teams to have staff at both games.
Senators GM Steve Staios on the list to take in today’s Isles/Leafs game. 17 teams with reps tonight: OTT (2), SEA, CBJ, EDM, LA, NAS, WPG, WAS, COL, VAN, TB, BOS, MTL, DAL, STL, PHI & CGY
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 5, 2024
15 teams with reps on the list for tonight's Stars/Leafs game: VGK (2), AZ, TB, SEA, VAN, CBJ, ANA, BOS, MTL, WAS, NAS, FLA, COL, PHI, CGY
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 7, 2024
The Capitals and Maple Leafs became well acquainted at last year’s trade deadline when Rasmus Sandin was dealt by Toronto to Washington in exchange for Erik Gustafsson and a 2023 first-round draft pick. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Toronto is reportedly in the market for a defenseman this year but may not want to part with their first-round pick.
That’s where the Capitals may be able to step in. Earlier on Wednesday, The Fourth Period linked Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson to the Maple Leafs, and later hockey insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed the Caps are indeed looking to move the rugged rearguard.
Edmundson would definitely not cost a first-round pick to acquire and is on a cheap contract due to the Montreal Canadiens retaining half his salary in the deal that sent him to Washington this past summer. The 30-year-old blueliner also has a ton of playoff experience, winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Blues in 2019 and making it back to the Cup Final in 2021 with the Canadiens.
Outside of Edmundson, who would be a pure rental as he’s an unrestricted free agent after this season, the Capitals also have veteran names like Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk that realistically could be pried away by a suitable offer. They are natural right-handed defenders which Toronto seems to be more in need of although Edmundson, a natural lefty, has played both sides in the past.
While he wouldn’t exactly fit the “top-six forward” specifications that the Capitals and general manager Brian MacLellan have been seeking for close to a full year now, the Maple Leafs also have 22-year-old winger Nick Robertson on their roster. Robertson has been involved in a boatload of trade rumors over his NHL career which already spans parts of five seasons.
Robertson has 14 points (7g, 7a) in 30 games this season. He is set to become a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason and among Toronto regulars is playing the fourth fewest minutes per game this season (10:53). A move to the Capitals where he would immediately see a larger role would almost mirror the Sandin move from last year.
Friedman added on Wednesday that the Capitals are expected to have a ton of flexibility at this year’s deadline due to the cap hits of Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov both not being on their roster. As things currently stand, MacLellan will have a little more than $11.8 million of space to tinker with come early March.
While the talk of the Capitals and Maple Leafs getting back together as deadline partners is exciting, the possibility of the Capitals having scouts in Toronto just for preparation regarding future games against the Maple Leafs must be considered. The two teams square off two more times this season on March 20 and March 28.
