3 trades that can propel a roster replenishment for the Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals haven’t played well lately, and a six-game losing streak has put this team well on the outside of the wild card race.
The Washington Capitals look as though they are just about out of contention for the playoffs, so don’t be surprised if they become sellers at the trade deadline and kickstart not a rebuild, but a replenishment. While quite a few notable players like Tom Wilson, Alexander Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and John Carlson will stick around thanks to their respective contracts, there are a few players whom the Caps can send elsewhere for a fair price.
With a slate of seasoned veterans, Washington could use these prospective trades to bring in some enticing prospects and draft picks if they play their cards right. This wouldn’t just set the stage for a replenishment, but perhaps also stocking some younger talent or future assets in the form of draft picks.
Anthony Mantha will fit well with a team looking for a sound scorer
Anthony Mantha is one name you will hear thrown around often, and he is the likeliest trade candidate in the nation’s capital. Mantha is enjoying a rebound season amidst what has become a down year for the Capitals, so teams looking to add one more piece to their scoring depth would love to see him in town.
While he has just 24 points so far in 2023-24, Mantha also scored 16 goals, putting himself in a position to perhaps snag a new career-high. He has also found the net often when he decides to shoot the puck, securing a 20.5 shooting percentage, with 15 of those goals coming at even strength.
He’s also logging just 13:54 of ice time, so particularly teams looking for someone on their bottom-six will call up the Capitals to see if they can work out a deal for Mantha. Someone like the Los Angeles Kings, who have yet to find a prolific scorer even on their top lines, could be the best suitor.
In this scenario, the Caps trade Mantha to the Kings, who, thanks to their lack of salary cap space, would need Washington to retain 45 percent of Mantha’s contract. This shouldn’t be a major issue, as Mantha will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In return, the Kings will give the Capitals a first-round pick in 2024, a second-rounder in 2025, plus Arthur Kaliyev.
Charlie Lindgren provides sensational depth for a goaltender-needy team
The goaltending market will be busy this season, so while he’s not a hot potential trade piece to watch, Charlie Lindgren could find himself on the move. His contract runs through 2025, and his $1.1 million AAV could have teams looking for goaltending depth interested.
So far in 2023-24, Lindgren has seen time in 22 contests, posting a 2.71 GAA and a 0.912 save percentage to go with a solid 0.619 quality starts percentage. While other goaltenders that are more likely to go elsewhere like Marc-Andre Fleury, Jacob Markstrom, and Kaapo Kahkonen boast more prominent names, their productivity hasn’t matched Lindgren’s this year.
A team like the Edmonton Oilers could come calling, as they still need someone behind Stuart Skinner as opposed to Calvin Pickard. Edmonton is especially cash-strapped, which makes them a remarkable fit to trade for someone who won’t break the bank like Lindgren.
Overall, this trade is a relatively simple one, with Lindgren going to Edmonton for the Oilers own trade chip in Philip Broberg and a third-round pick in 2025. Broberg’s career has yet to materialize with the Oilers, and it’s looking as though Edmonton isn’t a great fit for the young blueliner. So he gets a fresh start in Washington while Lindgren gets a legitimate chance to win a Cup.
Joel Edmundson could be the missing piece in a defensive rotation
Joel Edmundson arrived in Washington in July 2023, and he may not even last a calendar year unless the Capitals turn things around quickly this month. The hard-hitting blueliner would be great for any team seeking to improve their overall physicality or if they are looking for a decent defenseman to put onto the third-pairing.
Edmundson plays a simple game, as he won’t be a factor in the offensive zone. But he will get in front of shots and hit any opponent that gets close. Further, opponents haven’t scored often when Edmundson is on the ice at 5-on-5, with Washington’s save percentage at a shining 92.0 with the nine-year veteran out there.
The Dallas Stars still need a few more proven players on their blue line, despite having a top-end talent in Miro Heiskanen and a brewing asset in Thomas Harley. Edmundson would provide that stability, so in this scenario, Dallas calls up the Caps and sends over a 2024 second-round pick and prospect, Aram Minnetian.
This trade will allow the Capitals to recoup a loss that they took when acquiring Edmundson from the Canadiens last year, and it gives them a solid prospect for their pool. As for the Stars, they get a proven player on the blue line, one that should give their struggling goaltenders some much-needed help.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 9th, salary cap information provided by Cap-Friendly)