Washington Capitals trading for Mike Green would not make sense
It’s that time of year where rumors swirl around D.C. with what the Washington Capitals will do at the trade deadline. There’s one now involving former Capital Mike Green in a potential homecoming.
Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan did his annual move of adding a defensemen at the trade deadline with the acquisition of Brenden Dillon. It’s the perfect reason why there shouldn’t be a need to add Mike Green.
But yet the rumor mill likes to turn this time of year and it seems like we got one popping up of a return to Washington for Green.
On Thursday’s 31 Thoughts podcast hosted by Elliotte Friedman, he said that the Caps may shop Nick Jensen.
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“I’ve heard that Jensen might be available. It just hasn’t worked there as much as they’d like. You just added Dillon, and your top four is gonna be Carlson, Orlov, Kempny, and Dillon. I think Washington might have some interest in [Mike] Green. Jensen’s extended for four years at two and a half million. That’s a big number. I just don’t think it’s worked there as much as everybody hoped, so I could see Jensen potentially being moved.”
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no Mike Green hater. In fact, I liked him when he suited up for the Capitals. I have a feeling something might happen with Nick Jensen but not in regards to a swap back to Detroit. They could move Jensen as a salary dump which will help them in the summer when it comes to re-signing RFAs and making decisions on the UFAs.
Why would they want to bring back a veteran defensemen that may be past his prime when they got young prospects in the pipeline chomping at the bit at NHL playing time. They brought up Martin Fehervary for a reason and there’s still Alex Alexeyev. And that doesn’t even mention Stanley Cup champion Christian Djoos.
In last night’s game Jonas Siegenthaler served as a healthy scratch. I can’t see that happening much more anytime soon as it would hamper his development. That’s what would happen if they added another defensemen in Mike Green, who’s more counted on offensively compared to Siegenthaler’s defensive skills.
Would Green help boost an offense? Absolutely. Would he help tighten the crease in front of Braden Holtby and Ilya Samsonov? Probably not.
Related Story. Capitals: Ovechkin scores No. 699, Holtby’s not so great night and Dillons first game as a Capital. light
The Capitals defense should be set once they make a decision on Nick Jensen. But they should perhaps pursue a forward with their defensive pool well stocked.