The Washington Capitals had a weird trade deadline. The sellers in the crowd didn't get what they wanted but neither did the buyers. But we still gotta grade each move before we fully turn the page and look ahead to the big playoff run coming up.
Joel Edmundson to Toronto
An annual tradition as old as time, the good old swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After doing this a year ago in the Erik Gustafsson for Rasmus Sandin deal, the Caps sent Joel Edmundson to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a third rounder this summer and a 2025 fifth rounder in the summer of 2025.
Grade B+: We didn't get to see much of Edmundson. He had six points in 44 games with the Caps with a goal and five assists. He has gone scoreless in seven with the Maple Leafs, who are currently third in the Atlantic Divisioon.
Anthony Mantha to Vegas
The Caps begun their trade deadline war by dealing Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a fourth in 2026. Many fans said it wasn't enough of a return. Maybe those were the same people who wanted Mantha out of town in the first place.
Mantha got his first goal with Vegas on March 14 in a loss at Calgary where his gal was their lone one. Mantha finished his time with the Caps with a breakout season of 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points.
Grade B-: Standing by this one. While it was weird seeing Mantha go after the rebound expiriment worked under Spencer Carbery's system, this was a contract the Caps needed to offload down the line. No chance Mantha was going to re sign here this summer.
Evgeny Kuznetsov to Carolina
Ah the trade heard around the hockey world that sent a former Stanley Cup hero to the villains down south. But we will always love Evgeny Kuznetsov and will forever salaute him for 2018 and the fun moments before and after.
Grade B: I give this one a B because it was a bad and awkward situation from the get go but both parties did a good job of parting ways even if it had to be the waiver wire and sending Kuzy to Hershey. Caps get a third in 2025.