Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Hall’s rights isn’t the only asset the Coyotes have made available recently. The team is also looking to move long time defenseman and captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Could this be the shake up the Washington Capitals need to see for the defensive pairings?
The addition of Ekman-Larsson would bring onboard another offensive weapon to help bring back the power play of old. This would give the Capitals a true quarterback for the second pairing or would increase the efficiency of the first pairing with both Carlson and Ekman-Larsson.
It would probably mean the departure of one of Dillon (UFA), Kempny, or Orlov. Or it could mean the possibility of one of the aforementioned players or Larsson/Fehervary playing on their opposite hand. The salary dump aspect would only make sense if the Coyotes agreed to take on a portion of the cap space, possibly the signing bonus of $4 million, which would leave about $4 million for the Capitals.
The trade package would most definitely take at least the 1st rounder with the potential of a prospect, a good match might be Lucas Johansen who the Capitals just signed to a team friendly deal to prove himself. This could be a situation where a reset could help spur Johansen into his potential which made him a first rounder in 2016.