Trade deadline outlook: Washington Capitals

By foxsports
Published

Buyers or Sellers

The Washington Capitals are not only one of the better teams in the NHL, they are having one of the better seasons the NHL has ever seen. With a tremendously deep team in both their forward and defensive unit, few teams can match the Capitals. Normally, teams with a strong chance at a Stanley Cup appearance look to retool their squad at the deadline, filling out any clear weaknesses. But, with no obvious weaknesses, do the Capitals really want to do all that much at the deadline?

The Capitals have already proven that they are buyers, sending a 2017 third-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Mike Weber. Now, the question is, do they actually have any more moves in store?

Team needs

As previously mentioned, the Capitals don't really need anything. If another sort of move is made, it'll likely be an addition to help out their overall forward depth.

Initially, the Capitals appeared to be in the running for a high-end defenseman. With Brooks Orpik out of the lineup since Nov. 10, Washington was rumored to be in the running for Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets extended Byfuglien's contract, taking him off of the trade market. But even before then, the Capitals would have only added a player of Byfuglien's caliber if Orpik was out for the remainder of the season. Orpik has since returned to the Capitals' lineup, and a big-time defenseman, like, say, Dan Hamhuis, is no longer necessary.

And with the mid-season addition of Mike Richards, the forward unit is already quite full. The Capitals have seven or eight forwards that are capable of playing as a center, one of the most important positions. And with several healthy scratches that are capable of filling in when needed, the Capitals forward addition may have actually been Richards.

But if one more move is to actually be made, it will likely be a left wing. Here are some potential options.

Key players

Tomas Fleischmann

This past offseason, it didn't even look like Tomas Fleischmann was going to get an NHL contract. The 31-year-old forward had to turn to a professional tryout with the Montreal Canadiens. He impressed enough to earn himself a one-year, $750,000 deal. 

The Canadiens are going to sell whatever they can at the deadline, as they are in the middle of a nightmare season. 

Fleischmann has chipped in nine goals and 10 assists this season for Montreal. And while he likely won't fit in as a full-time player for the Capitals, they'd appreciate the depth on their left side, and if any injury were to happen to the Capitals within their top-nine, Fleischmann would likely be worked in.

Fleischmann also has some familiarity with Washington: He spent his first five and half seasons with the Capitals, who traded for him in 2004.

Stanislav Galiev

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz stated earlier this week that Stanislav Galiev wasn't going anywhere. That may very well be true, but if the Capitals do in fact plan on improving their forward unit, some salary is going to have to be shed. And if it's a small-time trade like Fleischmann, Galiev seems like the likely casualty.

The 24-year-old has appeared in 16 games for the Capitals, primarily playing on Washington's fourth line. He's recorded two assists in his 16 outings, and while he hasn't been able to crack a full-time spot within Washington, he may be able to do so elsewhere. He doesn't have gigantic amount of potential, but a struggling team should be able to throw a draft pick the Capitals way, and it may prove to be beneficial.

Andrew Ladd

If the Capitals do manage to land a big-name player at the deadline, it's going to be Andrew Ladd. 

According to Gary Lawless of TSN, Washington may be one of the six teams that are in the running for Ladd. But there's really only one possible way they can do it, and it's tough to imagine they would.

Brooks Laich is the clear black mark on the Capitals' roster, as he's a fourth-line player that has scored one goal this year and carries a $4.5 million cap hit through next season. If the Capitals can convince the Jets to take on Laich's contract, a prospect and a draft pick, they can realistically land Ladd, as he would fit within the team's cap space.

Here's why I don't think that will happen. Laich has been apart of the Capitals' organization for the last 12 seasons, playing all but one of his career games in a Capitals sweater. He is well liked by his teammates, and he plays a valuable role as the team's top penalty killing forward (a penalty kill unit that ranks fourth in the NHL). It would be incredibly disrespectful for the Capitals to move on from Laich when they are one of the clear-cut favorites for the Stanley Cup. And while, yes, Laich's contract is bad, he is not a bad fourth line player by any means. If Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan decides to trade Laich to acquire Ladd, it could potentially make an awkward dressing room.

On top of all of that, what team would want to take a $4.5 million fourth-line player with one goal on the year, and then have him on your roster the next season?

But, with all that being said, the Capitals would certainly improve on paper as a result of this move.

Is it possible? Of course it is. But is it likely? Not in my opinion.

Tommy Chalk writes about the NHL for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk