A look at a busy week for the Caps, the moves they made ahead of the deadline, and a few that they didn’t.
Anthony Mantha to Vegas
After over a year of trade rumors and speculation, and after putting together his best campaign with the Capitals to date, Mantha became the first domino to fall this week, heading out west to join the many players who are newly anointed Knights of Vegas. In return, the Caps received Vegas’s 2nd-round pick in 2024 and their 4th-round pick in 2026, and also retain half of his salary through the end of his contract (so through June 30).
Not quite what they gave up to get him, but excellent work by the Caps’ brass to get a couple of picks out of someone likely to leave for nothing this summer.
Evgeny Kuznetsov to Carolina (via Hershey)
Ah, Kuznetsov…even his exit from the Capitals was dramatic and fascinating to watch. After being activated from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program last week, the Caps placed the forward on waivers, citing Kuznetsov’s desire for a fresh start. He then headed to Hershey, where he remained until earlier today, when the Carolina Hurricanes gave up a 2025 third-round pick to acquire him (the Caps picking up the tab on half his salary this season and next).
Thus ends a 14-year relationship, 10 years of Kuznetsov in Capitals red, that resulted in many a thrilling moment including, of course, an overtime winner in Pittsburgh and a Stanley Cup. Wishing him, if not the best (divisional rival and all that), at least peace and both mental and physical health. Thanks for the memories, Kuzy!
Joel Edmundson to Toronto
NHL GMs are a fascinating bunch. No offense to Joel, who seems like a perfectly nice guy, but it was a little bit of a mystery to hear his name bandied about as a rental player many teams were looking to add. Ultimately it was the Toronto Maple Leafs opting to bring in the hulking blueliner, sending a 2024 3rd round pick (from the Islanders) and a 2025 5th round pick (via Chicago) back to DC in exchange. Not bad, considering the Caps spent a 3rd-round pick (from Minnesota) and a 7th-round pick to get him in the first place.
As was the case with Mantha and Kuznetsov, the Caps will also retain some salary through the remainder of this season for Edmundson, filling in their third and final salary retention slot with the $875,000 they’ll shell out to send the blueliner to Toronto.
Rasmus Sandin Contract Extension
While most of the week was spent subtracting from the lineup, one move did bolster it for the future, and that was locking down Rasmus Sandin with a new five-year, $23M deal. The 24-year-old is expected to be a big piece of the team’s retooling blueline going forward, and while he’s had some growing pains here and there, the potential is there.
Deals Not Made
While the Caps were busy in the week leading up to the deadline, there were also a number of names being tossed around as potential trade targets – including the much-coveted Nic Dowd – who are staying put. Of this group, only two are set to be UFAs this summer, so Brian MacLellan and company weren’t under a ton of pressure to move them unless the perfect deal presented itself…and it looks like it never did:
- Max Pacioretty. As a veteran on an expiring deal who has yet to win a Cup, Pacioretty is exactly the kind of depth addition contending teams sometimes look to add this time of year. He does have an NMC on his contract, but while it was reported that he was maybe interested in Florida (a contending team in the East, plus family connections), and the Rangers were maybe interested in him, ultimately Patches remains a Washington Capital.
- Nic Dowd. Over the past few months, it’s as if the rest of the league woke up to just how good of a depth center Dowd is and has been. His performance the last few years plus a cap-friendly contract made him enticing trade bait, and Dowd’s name was tossed around a ton in the lead-up to the deadline – but the Caps don’t have to trade him, and probably did better to hang onto him if they couldn’t get an offer that absolutely blew them away.
- Charlie Lindgren. The Caps have been leaning more heavily on Lindgren than expected this season, and all eyes were on the goalie after he posted his fourth shutout of the year last night in Pittsburgh…would it be his last as a Capital? Turns out, nope. The goalie market in general was pretty dry this week, the only somewhat big name being Jake Allen, who went to New Jersey earlier today. The Outlaw is sticking around for the foreseeable future.
- Nicolas Aube-Kubel. The team’s only other pending UFA, NAK has had a bit of a turbulent season but has Cup-winning pedigree and is a scrappy depth player – another one of your typical deadline adds for a contender. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Capitals decide to re-up NAK or not, as he does seem to fit well in DC (and is hardly going to break the bank) but also runs a bit hot and cold.
How did Brian MacLellan do this week? Let us know your thoughts below!