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Top 3 reasons Capitals won at the NHL Trade Deadline

3 reasons the Capitals had success at the trade deadline

By Michael Marzzacco |
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals / Derek Cain/GettyImages
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The Washington Capitals had a successful trade deadline and we aren't just saying that because they are in a playoff spot right now, though that certainly helps. Here are 3 reasons Brian MacLellan did good.

#3 Didn't lose much

Yes the Capitals had to part ways with Anthony Mantha, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Joel Edmundson but other than Mantha's 20 goals, the Caps didn't really lose much. Mantha had an expiring contract so the Caps wouldn't have been able to afford to have kept him anyway.

The Caps hit a mini stride in November but in February onward they got really hot. How hot?

Since Evgeny Kuznetsov entered player assistance en route to North Carolina the Capitals went 11-6-2 which is pretty solid. They won 3 in a row and have gone 5-2-0 since March 7, their win in Pittsburgh over the Penguins.

All of a sudden you were looking at a team that was down in mid January or February back in the race. The Caps went from chaser to now being chased by the teams that they were chasing. The Red Wings have been in a slide. The Caps took advantage and got hot at the right time. Winning formula.

Ryan Leonard, Washington Capitals
Ryan Leonard, Washington Capitals / Richard T Gagnon/GettyImages

#2 Draft stock

While the Caps did a slight sell at the trade deadline they didn't do a full on fire sale. Last year was a lot worse but the decision was unfourtunately easy as the Caps got cold down the stretch. Well unless that person was Dylan Strome. But like last year which led to Ryan Leonard, the Caps have loaded up on draft picks as a result of their trades.

This summer they'll have a first, a second from Vegas in the Mantha trade, a third from the Bruins and Islanders, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth.

In 2025 they'll hold a first, second, a second from Boston and a second from Colorado, a third as well as a third from the Hurricanes in the Kuznetsov trade, a fourth, a fifth and a fifth from Chicago, and a sixth.

2026 so far featurs a pick by the Caps in each of the seven rounds as well as a fourth from the Golden Knights. Thanks George McPhee! it all adds up to 26 selections if our math is right over the next three drafts.

The Caps also re upped the contract of young defenseman Rasmus Sandin for five seasons kicking in next season.

Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals / Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

#1 House money

The Caps didn't have to go far to get younger and they only had to look within. They also got Matthew Phillips back, reclaiming him off waivers after the Penguins released him. The Caps also kept Nic Dowd, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Charlie Lindgren.

If you could give out an MVP award to anybody at this stage in the season I think Chuck is the runaway winner. He now has six wins in the month of March which is the best in the league.

Over his last six starts, Lindgren has a record of 5-0-1 with a 1.33 goals against average and a .956 save percentage. This season his record is 18-11-5 with a 2.59 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Nic Dowd is a reliable fourth line center so it was a good thing the Caps kept him.

Teams weren't willing to give the Caps first rounders like candy and you have to remember that. Trevor van Riemsdyk while a veteran can play on either side of he defense and that Caps defense has been excellent this season and a big improvement.

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