Top 5 bold NHL offseason predictions for Capitals
The Washington Capitals are not done with their offseason just yet. So as the dog days of summer begin to pile on and we wait for the highly anticipated trade for a top six forward, I came up with five bold predictions of what we’ll see the Caps.
So since it’s July 13 the time frame of these bold predictions will be from today to September 20 when the team reports to Arlington for training camp.
#5 We will see a prospect get traded
Having covered Brian MacLellan for eight years, seven when I started to understand the offseason and business side of hockey, I know Brian MacLellan always has something up his sleeve when orchestrating a trade.
I think we’ll see a prospect get traded in the package for a top six. The question is who.
There’s some good candidates who did well with the Hershey Bears. Joe Snively can be a good option as he led the Bears with 15 points with two goals and 13 assists.
Aliaksei Protas and Mason Morelli each had five points. Though Morelli just signed his first NHL deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Protas is still an option.
Of course the other two obvious options are Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre.
#4 Caps and Flyers will talk but not get deal done
While we anticipate that big trade and more names get taken off the board I have no choice but to figure out players that could be available on the market for a good price that fit the 20-30 age range.
Yesterday I wrote about Travis Konecny who would be great for the second or third line in this upcoming Caps lineup. But would the Philadelphia Flyers be willing to trade them to the Caps like they were with Radko Gudas?
I think they’ll talk about it but neither will get anything done. It’s too close within the division. Konecny is good and would help the Caps which is exactly why Philly won’t give them to the Caps unless they offer an arm and a leg (couple stud prospects) in the deal.
Evgeny Kuznetsov could enjoy a career resurgence with the Flyers and reunite with Garnet Hathaway but I don’t see him going within the division. Anthony Mantha I could see doing well with the Flyers.
I don’t understand why maybe the tougher environment would make him perform better?
#3 Evgeny Kuznetsov will get traded
I can easily make this bold prediction number one if I wanted to but one too easy and two Evgeny Kuznetsov could get traded as I’m writing this or hitting publish.
Now I’m going to get a lot of heat because the other day I said the Caps were going to and should give Kuznetsov another chance. That was my prediction.
But this morning an article from Caps senior writer Mike Vogel confirmed what we thought was true but weren’t 100 percent sure, Kuznetsov did request a trade.
Vogel notes that the Caps usually accommodate these requests of players wanting to get traded. But trading Kuznetsov for a top six forward has been difficult as a Kuzy for Matt Duchene swap with the Nashville Predators fell through.
Vogs does however mention that there is a possibility Kuznetsov could respond positively to the new coaching staff.
#2 Caps will attempt to trade for William Nylander
After failing in the Alex DeBrincat sweepstakes the Caps will try to swing big for William Nylander. Now before you flame me in the comment section I didn’t say they would execute the trade. I said they will ATTEMPT it. Big difference.
Would the center be willing to move to wing is the question? He does have a right hand shot. Nylander is coming off a 40 goal season which was a career high.
Nylander has a cap hit of just under $7 million. But his trade value is worth more than Kuznetsov right now. I just can’t understand money and how this trade can be executed. But GMBM has the magic touch.
Adding a 40 goal scorer who’s still in his late 20’s could be what the Caps are looking for. Not too young, not too old, just right at 27. And if God forbid Nicklas Backstrom suffers another setback, Nylander can slide to that center position.
#1 Anthony Mantha stays
You knew the Anthony Mantha slide was coming didn’t you?
Teams are reportedly not interested in Mantha due to the inconsistency on the ice. He hired a mental health coach in the offseason which is more important than scoring goals so credit to him for that.
Not being sarcastic either. Mental health is important. Hockey players are people too. If they make a mistake in a game, sure I’ll write about it and say what the mistake was. But I’m not going to torch the player. I’m above that.
They get enough of that on Twitter and I will get it too. But at this point in the offseason I just don’t see a Mantha trade happening unless the Caps were forced to retain at the minimum 50 percent of his salary.
The best thing about the Spencer Carbery hire was his hands on approach. Can his hands on approach be exactly what Mantha needs to rediscover his game?
Related Story. Travis Konecny would be an instant playmaker on Capitals. light
These are my bold offseason predictions. Hopefully something happens soon. If not, sit tight. We’re just three months away from Friday the 13th hockey to open the season.