With the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline about five weeks away, the Washington Capitals are spiraling out of contention for a postseason spot in the Eastern Conference as they are currently seven points out and appear to be on their way to selling for the second straight year. NoVa Caps takes a look at what should be the team’s top priorities before the clock strikes 3 PM ET on Friday, March 8.
5. Trade Nicolas Aube-Kubel
The 27-year-old has been a key part of Washington’s fourth-line with five goals, 13 points, and a 39.57% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 35 games.
Aube-Kubel can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and counts $1.225 million against the NHL salary cap. Washington could look to get a mid-round draft pick in return.
Aube-Kubel has become a staple in the Capitals’ fourth-line and the team could always bring him back with the cost just the cap space to pay him on July 1.
4. Offload Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Contract
Enough is enough. The 31-year-old is in the midst of the worst season of his NHL career with only six goals and 17 points in 43 games.
Kuznetsov requested a trade last season and has not come close to the way he played during the 2018 Stanley Cup run since, with an exception of an impressive 2021-22 campaign. He sat as a healthy scratch on December 4 against the Arizona Coyotes.
Kuznetsov costs $7.8 million against the salary cap through next season and Washington will likely have to pay up for a team to take his contract but it may be getting to the point where the extra cap space could be worth it.
3. Keep One Of Nick Jensen And Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Move The Other
Washington inked both defensemen to three-year contract extensions around 11 months ago but signed Ethan Bear to a two-year contract just last month, creating a logjam on the right side of their blueline.
Jensen, who has collected seven assists, a -6 rating, 45.69% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 43.56% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 45.6% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 19:03 per game (third among Capitals’ blueliners), including 2:46 on the penalty kill (second), in 47 contests, costs $4.05 million against the cap.
Van Riemsdyk, who has posted eight assists, a -9 rating, 45.94% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 47.92% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 47.49% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 39 games, is on the hook for $3 million. He has averaged 18:28 per game (fifth), including 1:43 on the penalty kill (fourth).
Both players have recently been healthy scratches.
2. Deal Anthony Mantha
The 29-year-old is in the midst of a renaissance season with 15 goals (second on Washington) and 23 points (fourth) in 43 games. Mantha can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The 6’5” forward provides teams a mix of size and skill, someone a lot of team will be in command for with the postseason approaching.
Washington tried to trade Mantha last summer after a disappointing season and no one would bite. They may have to eat some of Mantha’s $5.7 million cap hit through the end of the season to up the return but that will not be a problem if Washington are sellers.
1. Flip Joel Edmundson
The 30-year-old has a goal, three points, -2 rating, 45.97% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, 44.62% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and 46.5% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 16:08 per game (seventh among Capitals blueliners), including 1:17 shorthanded (fifth) in 31 games. The team recently sat Edmundson as a healthy scratch.
The team has seen Alexander Alexeyev step up when given the chance this season and Edmundson, whom counts $1.75 million against Washington’s salary cap, can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
At 6’5”, 221-pounds, Edmundson, who’s 3.35 hits-per-60 ranks second among Washington defensemen and 4.91 blocked shots-per-60 and 2.03 giveaways-per-60 are both fifth, is another player who could be valuable to teams come postseason time. He won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and helped the Montreal Canadiens to the final just two years later.
The Capitals sent third- and seventh-round picks to Montreal to acquire Edmundson just eight months ago, so expect a similar return coming their way.
Washington may also seek to acquire a scoring forward with term left on his contract and more trades similar to the one that brought 23-year-old defenseman Rasmus Sandin from the Toronto Maple Leafs, which saw the 28th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Erik Gustafsson head up north. Left-wing Max Pacioretty, whose contract expires on July 1 and contains a no-movement clause, and center Nic Dowd, who has reportedly garnered a lot of interest and has another year left at $1.3 million, could also be on their way out but those potential moves should be behind these five priorities.
By Harrison Brown
