Tag: Tiers

After the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks got the ball rolling with a blockbuster deal, teams across the NHL have begun making roster moves with the trade deadline approaching on Friday, March 7 at 3 PM ET.

NoVa Caps ranks the possibility of players and other assets being moved by the Washington Capitals, who could be big buyers as they currently lead the NHL with a 34-11-5 record this season and want to give captain Alex Ovechkin a shot at a second Stanley Cup before his contract expires on July 1, 2026.

** NOTE: Any player who played an NHL game this season or is currently on long-term injured reserve is included

Untouchable

• Ovechkin (two years left on contract, $9.5 million cap hit, 10-team no-movement clause) — The 39-year-old is averaging over a point-per-game (37 in 35) and leads Washington with 23 goals despite missing 16 games with a broken leg. The team is building around Ovechkin as he is 19 goals away from breaking the all-time record, so why would they trade him?

• C Dylan Strome (four, $5 million cap hit) — Strome, who will turn 28 on Trade Deadline day, is once again in the midst of a career year (15-34-49 in 51), where he has established himself as a top-line center. He is on a bargain of a contract and will be looked up to heavily in a rebuild after Ovechkin hangs up his skates.
• RW Tom Wilson (seven, $6.5 million cap hit, 14-team no-trade clause) — The 30-year-old has bounced back and is having the best season of his NHL career as he is four goals shy of his personal best (24 set in 78 games in 2021-22) and 16 points back of his career-high (52 in 2021-22). In addition to his scoring and physicality, Wilson is a huge part of the Capitals’ culture and could be the team’s next captain.
• C Connor McMichael (two, $2.1 million cap hit) — The 24-year-old is on a very team-friendly contract and has already set a career high with 36 points in 50 games. McMichael, who already tied his previous career high of 18 which was set in 80 outings last season, is part of Washington’s younger core and has cemented his place as a top-six forward this season.
• C Aliaksei Protas (five, $3.375 million cap hit) — The 24-year-old has had a breakout season as his 21 goals are ranked second on Washington and 43 points are just six behind Strome for the team lead. He has fit in beautifully in Washington’s top-six forward group and has an excellent frame at 6’6”, 225 pounds.

Staying put

• C Pierre-Luc Dubois (seven, $8.5 million cap hit, no-movement clause) — The 26-year-old has bounced back in his first season in Washington as he already has six more assists (30) and one more point than the 40 he tallied in 82 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season. His .5736 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage and .5699 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage are both the best among all Capitals to play at least 10 contests. The fit has worked out beautifully for both sides as he has also helped McMichael and Wilson take steps forward. Pucks are starting to go in for Dubois as well, meaning his numbers should improve.

• D John Carlson (two, $8 million cap hit, 10-team no-trade clause) — The 35-year-old leads Washington with an average of 23:50 per game. While his offensive production (4-27-31 in 51) has continued to decline this season, Carlson’s defensive game has improved as he leads Washington with a .542 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage and ranks sixth with a .5524 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage.
• D Jakob Chychrun (pending UFA, $4.6 million cap hit) — The 26-year-old has had a career season with 13 goals (fourth among NHL defensemen) and .717 points-per-game (33 in 46: 13th). Chychrun’s average of 20:52 per game trails only Carlson. His .4636 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage is the worst among Capitals who have played in 35 games but he has come up big offensively. Chychrun’s contract may be set to expire but both sides have expressed a desire in extending it.
• D Rasmus Sandin (five, $4.6 million cap hit) — The 24-year-old signed a long-term contract less than 11 months ago and has bounced back nicely this season, where he has notched four goals, 18 points, a +17 rating, .5009 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5567 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5422 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 51 games, where he has averaged 19:19 per game (fourth), 1:02 coming on the power play and 41 on the penalty kill.
• G Logan Thompson (seven, $766,667 cap hit for rest of this season, $5.8 million for next six) — The 27-year-old, who signed a long-term extension on Monday, ranks third in the NHL in wins (23) and co-leads it with a .927 save percentage in 28 games. His 2.05 goals-against average ranks second. Washington gave Thompson, who has a 8.42 goals-saved above average at five-on-five, a vote of confidence as their starting goaltender of the present and future in extending him earlier this week.

• D Matt Roy (six, $5.75 million cap hit) — While averaging 19:39 per game, including 1:47 on the penalty kill (both third), the 29-year-old has earned two goals, 12 points, a +11 rating, .471 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .49 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5048 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 41 games. Roy is one of Washington’s best shutdown blueliners and just signed a long-term contract.
• LW Ivan Miroshnichenko (two, $950,000 cap hit) — The 20-year-old, who helped the AHL’s Hershey Bears win a Calder Cup Championship last season, has an empty-net goal and four points in 18 NHL games and eight goals and 18 points in 23 AHL contests. Miroshnichenko was picked 20th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by Washington and has high upside. He could become a regular top-nine forward in the NHL next season.
• D Martin Fehervary (two, $2.675 million cap hit) — The 25-year-old has recorded a goal, 11 points, +9 rating, .5016 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5063 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5173 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 51 games, where he has averaged 19:10 per game (fifth), including a team-leading 3:06 on the penalty kill. Washington depends heavily on Fehervary defensively and he is in his prime, so the team will keep him.
• LW Ethen Frank (two, $775,000 cap hit) — The 26-year-old undrafted forward has shined in his first 10 NHL games, where he has notched three goals and four points after scoring 20 goals and 28 points in 35 AHL outings to start the season. Frank’s contract is cheap and appeared to have passed Jakub Vrana for a spot on Washington’s third-line. That may change at some point but that does not mean he will be shopped.

Preferably staying, but will listen to offers

• LW Brandon Duhaime (two, $1.85 million cap hit) — The 27-year-old has fit in well on Washington’s fourth-line with six goals, 13 points, and a .4887 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 51 outings.
• Jakub Vrana (pending UFA, $775,000 cap hit) — The 28-year-old may not be a regular in Washington’s lineup but has been productive when getting called on as he has seven goals and 11 points in 25 games. The team has praised his good attitude throughout this season and Vrana has expressed how much he loves Washington and the organization. With scoring depth being a must-have in the postseason and Vrana counting the minimum against the NHL salary cap, the Capitals will likely keep the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion, especially since they were the only team that showed interest in Vrana in unrestricted free agency last summer.

• C Michael Sgarbossa (pending UFA, $775,000 cap hit) — The 32-year-old has seven goals and 29 points in 30 AHL contests and played in just three NHL games this season but has been productive for Washington with seven goals and 15 points in 43 NHL contests since the 2020-21 season. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs approaching, you can never have too many centers.

Would take a great offer

• D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (two, $3 million cap hit) — The 33-year-old has impressed this season with 18 assists, a +19 rating, .4805 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4871 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5119 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 50 contests, where he has averaged 17:39 per game (sixth), including 1:42 while shorthanded (fourth). Van Riemsdyk’s contract may be a little pricey for the role he plays but he does it well.
• C Nic Dowd (pending UFA, $1.3 million cap hit) — The 34-year-old has been productive with 10 goals, 18 points, a .493 faceoff-winning percentage, and .5122 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 50 games. Dowd, whose 2:33 average penalty killing time on ice per game leads Capitals forwards, could bring a nice return with his defensive prowess and very team-friendly cap hit but will likely stay as he is critical to Washington’s shutdown line.
• G Charlie Lindgren (pending UFA, $1.1 million cap hit) — The 31-year-old has gone 11-9-3 with a .903 save percentage, 2.61 goals-against average, a shutout, and 1.57 goals-saved below average in 24 appearances. Washington showed this week that Thompson is their starting goaltender of both the present and future. While they are reportedly interested in extending Lindgren’s contract, it is not impossible to see him go as he has a bargain of a contract and Washington’s No. 2.

• LW Andrew Mangiapane (pending UFA, $5.8 million cap hit) — The 28-year-old has notched 10 goals, 17 points, and a .5345 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 50 games and has played all over the lineup. With an expensive contract and his contract set to expire, it would not be difficult to see Mangiapane go in an “all-in” deal to get a top-six winger.
• RW Taylor Raddysh (pending UFA, $1 million cap hit) — The 26-year-old has posted four goals, 18 points, and a .5434 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 50 contests in a shutdown role.
• D Dylan McIlrath (pending UFA, $775,000 cap hit) — The 32-year-old has posted two assists, +1 rating, .413 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4808 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4956 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 11 NHL games. Washington will likely hang onto Hershey’s captain, who has led the franchise to consecutive Calder Cups, for defensive depth and his snarl might come in handy in the postseason.

Would be open to offers on

• C Lars Eller (pending UFA, $2.45 million cap hit) — The 35-year-old, who was re-acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Washington’s 2027 third-round pick and the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2025 fifth-round pick on November 12, has recorded four goals, 10 points, a .529 faceoff-winning percentage, and .496 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 32 games since getting traded. Eller has averaged 44 seconds on the penalty kill per game (sixth among Capitals forwards). Washington could improve their third-line and Eller’s pending unrestricted free agent status makes it possible he may be moved out.
• C Hendrix Lapierre (pending RFA, $863,334 cap hit) — The 22nd overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, who turns 23 on February 9, recorded eight assists and a .4248 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 27 NHL games before getting assigned to the AHL on December 29. Lapierre, who has won two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears, has tallied five assists in eight AHL games since getting demoted. He could be used as a trade chip to improve Washington’s top-six forward group but it is also reasonable to see how Lapierre fares in training camp next fall.

On the block

• LW Sonny Milano (two, $1.9 million cap hit) — After scoring a career-high 15 goals in 49 games last season, the 28-year-old has been limited to just three games due to a poor training camp and an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since November 6.  With Frank and Vrana’s emergences this season, there is not much opportunity for Milano to crack Washington’s top-nine. With that being said, the Capitals would not get fair value back if they traded Milano today.
• D Alexander Alexeyev (pending RFA, $825,000 cap hit) — The 25-year-old, who was taken 31st overall by Washington in 2018, has notched a +4 rating, .4516 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5967 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5517 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in five games. Alexeyev has not appeared in the AHL since the 2022-23 season and played in just 77 NHL games over four seasons.

IR

• C Nicklas Backstrom (pending UFA, $9.2 million cap hit)
• RW T.J. Oshie (pending UFA, $5.75 million cap hit) — Both players are unlikely to play this season. Backstrom has not suited up since October 29, 2023 due to a lingering hip injury while Oshie last played on April 28, 2024, when Washington got swept by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oshie has been recovering from a back injury.

By Harrison Brown