3 players who Capitals need to trade right now
The Washington Capitals may have swung but whether or not they did for Alex DeBrincat, they missed. So relax, rinse, and try again.
We did this a few days ago with that option on the market still in line. We know a little more and have a general idea now of what kind of chips the Caps need to move to make a hockey trade for the top six.
Last time I did this exercise, I picked two defensemen and a forward as options. But today’s exercise I’ll have two forwards and a defenseman. Some different, some the same but let’s try again.
#3 Lucas Johansen
Lucas Johansen is not only the lone defenseman on this list, he’s also the lone sort of prospect as the left handed defenseman has one more year on his contract. worth $762,500 and is 25.
This can be a young player for young player swap.
Johansen is coming off a Calder Cup and was a key contributor in that run. The Bears will still have good pieces on defense even if they’ll lose LuJo.
Even though it’s a revolving door in the minors, the Bears should still be poised to defend their title. It’ll be a challenge.
#2 Anthony Mantha
The forwards might be too easy and obvious but we start with Anthony Mantha who the Caps were reportedly shopping around the draft but no other teams seemed to garner interest in the inconsistent right winger.
Mantha is coming off an 11 goal season. He had nine the year before but he had shoulder surgery and played in 30 less games so he gets a pass there.
Having just two more goals than the previous year despite playing in 30 more games has to be rough. That’s almost like scoring just two goals in those 30 extra games.
It’s not really the inconsistency that make him an unattractive trade chip. It’s more his inconsistency that would be coming with his $5.7 million cap hit.
It’s one thing to be inconsistent when you’re making two million. That’s still enough to make a better living than most of us, collect good paychecks and party.
If I was a bad athlete and I was making five million a year I’d be in Las Vegas at least every other weekend. Mantha has a kid and just got married so I doubt he’s out there. But hey at least he can send the little girl to college.
#1 Evgeny Kuznetsov
If you’ve read my recent work you know I pivoted away from trading Evgeny Kuznetsov. But I’m not Brian MacLellan and from what we’ve all heard, the Caps are exploring everything and Kuznetsov certainly isn’t off the table. That’s why he is still included on here.
Like Mantha, dealing him will be easier said than done due to that high salary. Unlike Mantha, there are teams interested in Kuznetsov’s services. We know one of those teams was the Nashville Predators who almost gave the Caps Matt Duchene.
Kuznetsov has a cap hit of $7.8 million. No team will be willing to take on that contract unless they get the 2018 Stanley Cup Kuzy. And nobody knows if that happens or not till the end of the season.
light. Related Story. Ryan Leonard has the potential to be a future Hall of Famer
Anyway those are the 3 players that I think could possibly be traded as of the morning of July 11. Who knows what MacLellan has up his sleeve?