The Washington Capitals are entering the unknown in the best way possible when it comes to the NHL Trade Deadline in 2025. And it's an improvement from the unknown that they entered just a few short years ago when they missed the postseason completely. Now with a good spot in the standings the hot question around the D.C. area is what will the Capitals do in March to bolster their roster?
The Caps although with an aging core have an opportunity of a lifetime in front of them. Not only could Alex Ovechkin surpass Wayne Gretzky this season but the team could and that's the key word, could lift a Stanley Cup. We don't like jinxes so that's why we said could but with their spot in standings in the Eastern Conferernce it's a tough argument to see them not go far.
Anyway the Caps have until March 7 to make a move if new general manager Chris Patrick decides to go that route. Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report wrote this about the Capitals in his Trade Deadline Goals for Every Team article: the goal he sees the Caps doing at the deadline is adding center depth.
Here's more on what Gretz said:
"After barely sneaking into the playoffs a year ago while being outscored by more than 30 goals, the Capitals went out this offseason and dramatically upgraded their roster with a series of moves that saw them add Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Andrew Mangiapane, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Logan Thompson. The result has been a team that is contending for the Presidents' Trophy and has almost overnight turned itself back into a top-tier Stanley Cup contender. It is making Alex Ovechkin's run at Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record even more exciting. "Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report
Gretz added in the same story, "One area the Capitals could stand to make an upgrade is with their center depth. They tried to address it earlier this season by bringing back Lars Eller in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won their Stanley Cup in 2018 with Eller playing a third-line center role, but is he still capable of playing that role for a Stanley Cup contender at this stage of his career? It might still be a spot worth upgrading if you are the Capitals."
Gretz has a good point here. We all know secondary scoring is what won the Caps a Stanley Cup in 2018. The hot question is whom the Caps and Chris Patrick are willing to give up. They have until 3 p.m. that day on March 7 along with the other general manager across the league to make their moves.