Capitals need to sell at trade deadline
Have you ever seen the Broadway play Damn Yankees? It’s about a Washington Senators fan who sells his soul to the Devil so his Senators can do well against the Yankees. It’s like someone did that after the Washington Capitals kept losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Soul is sold, Caps win the Cup and now they’re in purgatory.
What’s ironic is they are in this spot at the same place where the whole ordeal started. That was Game 3 in 2019 against the Carolina Hurricanes where the Caps had a commanding 2-0 series lead but would fall.
That would end the Cup run and start the purgatory.
Sometimes I get criticized for being a homer. This is the first time I say I don’t think this is the roster that can win the team a Cup. After that loss I think they should sell at the deadline. It would only be a temporary rebuild not as bad as the Nationals.
If they don’t want to tank that’s fine. Just get younger and acquire good draft capital for the next couple drafts especially this year’s one which promises a good class. Try for the playoffs this week no matter what happens to the roster and some players are even calling this upcoming stretch crucial if they want to get to the big dance.
Alex Ovechkin is still absent but word has it he’s on his way back to D.C. from Russia he just won’t be playing in the game tonight. Don’t worry, he ain’t going anywhere. Neither is Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, or T.J. Oshie.
Two players I could see getting moved on the forward front are Lars Eller and Anthony Mantha. Eller is up there in age. Mantha’s play has been good at times but mostly been inconsistent. Could the Caps possibly move Conor Sheary, Garnet Hathaway, or Marcus Johansson too to get some value back? I think they try to re sign Nicolas Aube Kubel.
On the defense, obviously go after re signing Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev. John Carlson will be under contract so he’s not going anywhere. Everyone else could possibly get moved.
Dmitry Orlov has proven reliable but rumor has it both the player and the team have not reached the right agreement on a contract extension. Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk could get a good return back. As could Erik Gustafsson. Dylan McIlrath and Matt Irwin for draft picks maybe?
Related Story. Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals: Date, Time, Betting Odds, Streaming, More. light
I’m glad I’m not general manager of the Capitals because Brian MacLellan has a lot to work with the next couple weeks.