After adding Pierre-Luc Dubois to shore up their center depth, the Capitals have struck a deal to add an upgrade on the wing. The team announced that they’ve acquired Andrew Mangiapane from the Flames in exchange for Colorado’s 2025 second-round pick (previously acquired).
The 28-year-old had a breakout year in 2021-22, scoring 35 goals after putting up 35 in the previous two seasons combined. Hoping that this was a sign of things to come, Calgary inked Mangiapane to a three-year, $17.4MM contract, buying out his final RFA year plus two more years of club control.
However, Mangiapane hasn’t quite been able to replicate his output from that season. In 2022-23, his output dipped to 17 goals and 26 assists while this season, it went down a bit more as he noted 14 goals and 26 helpers although it’s worth noting that he missed seven games due to injury.
With Calgary committing to a rebuild after being sellers during the season along with moving starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom to New Jersey earlier this month, it makes sense that they were looking to move Mangiapane. They now have two first-round picks and two second-round selections in the 2025 draft while they now sit with just under $29MM in cap room, per CapFriendly. That positions them to be aggressive in free agency or on the trade front if they so desire as only four teams have more space to work with.
Meanwhile, Washington, who is picking up his full salary, was one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league this season and only had three players put up more points than Mangiapane did with the Flames, center Dylan Strome, winger Alex Ovechkin, and defenseman John Carlson. Clearly, GM Brian MacLellan correctly identified that if the Capitals are going to take a step forward and try to push for a top-three spot in the Metropolitan Division, improvements offensively are going to be needed. An expected late second-round pick is a reasonably low enough cost to pay for a short-term upgrade.
With taking on additional salary in the Dubois trade and now adding nearly $6MM with Mangiapane, the Capitals are now technically over next season’s salary cap with just over $90MM in commitments, per CapFriendly. However, with Nicklas Backstrom and his $9.2MM AAV expected to remain on LTIR next season, Washington still has some flexibility to work with although some of that will be needed to re-sign RFA forwards Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn at a minimum. T.J. Oshie’s availability for next season is also in some question and if it’s determined that he won’t be able to play, Washington would be able to add another $5.75MM to its LTIR pool.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Big-time trade for Washington. Really going for that give Ovi one more chance move.
That’s it?
Caps making things happen at least.
This guy’s name means “Bread Eater” in Italian and that amuses me immensely.
Omg today I learned why his nickname has always been Bread man
Panarin is a similar deal. It basically means “baker”.
Ackshually I have it on good authority that Panarin means “place that charges $18 for soup and sandwich”
@fightcitymayor — And don’t forget the slightly truculent staff that keep after “those” people. The ones they bark orders of, “keep your stinkin’ elbows off the table, already!”
This means one less great goal call by Beasley. Sadness. :(
Only a 2nd? Seems like a great deal for washington
Trade everyone and build around that Huberdeau contract.
I know your kidding but Coleman, weagerc Anderson and kadri (at least partially retained)would net the flames so much prospect and draft pick capital that they would be able to draft the kind of scorers that would allow huby to dish at will and earn his value back within the next 3 years