3 trade-deadline rumors we’re glad that never happened
The Washington Capitals had a trade deadline for the ages. After an embarrassing loss in the Stadium Series that was the climax of a cold stretch, the Caps began the fire sale.
One rumor we wish did happen was the trade of Anthony Mantha but oh well. But the Caps traded the likes of Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, Lars Eller, Marcus Johansson, and Erik Gustafsson for Rasmus Sandin and draft picks.
They lost Conor Sheary this summer to the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency but that was expected. But anyway here were the rumors I heard back in March that I’m glad didn’t materialize.
#3 Trading Nick Jensen
The Capitals trading Nick Jensen would have been a mistake. I thought they were initially going to sign and trade him when they announced an extension. The only weakness in Jensen is in high price but he makes it worth it with his reliability.
Jensen’s deal is three more years worth $4.050 million in AAV (average annual value). He had his best season with five goals and 24 assists for 29 points in the most amount of games he played for as a member of theCaps with 77.
Jensen had five goals the previous year but he beat his point total by eight points.
#2 The Caps being buyers
This wasn’t a rumor but more of a side thought that Brian MacLellan would go the route of what the Pittsburgh Penguins did and gun for a playoff spot which in the end only helped the Florida Panthers win the Eastern Conference and the Pens own GM getting axed as well as falling down the draft board.
Yeah when I attended the outdoor game with my friends we left that stadium looking at each other each of us going “Caps need to sell”.
Thank the lord they did. The tank didn’t land them Connor Bedard but it did land them Ryan Leonard.
#1 Tom Wilson getting traded
This was the one that non Caps fans were watching. Some were crazy enough to dream about having Tom Wilson on their team. They are still dreaming about that now. But since this exercise focuses on rumors from March’s deadline we’re glad this hasn’t happened… yet.
But general manager Brian MacLellan sure sounded like the team isn’t shopping their future team captain after Alex Ovechkin retires anytime soon.
Wilson is due for a big year. Not because he can become an unrestricted free agent and hit the open market as a just turned 30 year old (he turns 30 this upcoming March). He also starts the season healthy. Something he wasn’t able to do a year ago.
Let’s see what a full season of Wilson can do. If he can reach 30 goals which would be the first time in his career, he’s getting paid by someone somehow next summer.
More. Breaking down all of next years free agents of Capitals. light
But no the Caps didn’t trade him and they shouldn’t even think about it. I’ve written enough about it. We all have. Unless the Caps go 0-82 or the Edmonton Oilers give the Caps Connor McDavid, don’t expect it to happen.