With the trade deadline now two months away and a soft deadline coming in the form of a trade freeze before the Olympics, teams are starting to make calls to see who could be out there to fill their needs. The Capitals are no exception and speaking with reporters today (video link), GM Chris Patrick indicated what he’d like to add to his roster.
Specifically, that would be a skilled winger to play at the top of their lineup, something that Patrick said they are “actively pursuing”. It’s an area of need that has been around going back to last season but they weren’t able to fill it either via trade or free agency over the summer.
Patrick and the Caps will be hard-pressed to do so as things stand with the market largely bereft of sellers at this point of the season due to the standings being quite jumbled. As a result, they may have to wait until closer to the March 6th deadline for more options to potentially become available.
At first glance, Rangers winger Artemi Panarin could be a logical fit. With the Rangers moving into a retool that will involve not re-signing him, he’s likely to be moved over the next six weeks. Washington has ample regular season cap space to acquire him at his full price tag ($11.643MM). They don’t have enough playoff cap room to fit him in with a fully healthy roster but if New York retained on his contract, that could be workable. That said, plenty of contending teams will be going after Panarin, who stands to be one of the top players moved (if not the top player dealt) before the deadline.
Despite not having their full lineup available to them for the bulk of the season with Pierre-Luc Dubois out since mid-October and several other key pieces missing time, Washington is eighth in the league in goals heading into tonight’s action. That should allow Patrick ample time to be patient and let the market develop in the hopes of some options becoming available over the coming weeks.
Bread Man will forsure be a top target that fits the bill, Ovechkin and Panarin playing RW on the top 2 lines would be crazy, my gut Tells me Detroit is the front runner with Patrick Kane being good friends and the undeniable chemistry they had, Minnesota could be a possibility with former teammate and fellow russian Tarasenko and Kaprizov being another star russian
Please tell me this wasn’t written by a 29 year old.
Sherwood (and Canucks)
gonna cash in as the runner up after whoever misses out on Panarin. Just watch.
they could also go for Zabanijad because he’s both a Center and a Winger
but Sherwood is a 3rd line checker, Panarin is an actual star. Sherwood looks better than he is because the rest of the Canucks has gone into hibernation. Any GM who pays for Sherwood as a goal scorer should be immediately fired
Mika has been pretty reluctant to leave with his NMC. Unfortunately he’ll be a Ranger for a few more years.
There’s also the viral video on Compher’s goal where Sherwood leaves his man to go to the point, which eventually results in Compher just sitting all by himself in front of the net. Sherwood’s being given 2nd line duties and it’s exposing that he’s a bad 2nd liner
DeBrusk has been very clutch in the past, and Garland is a steady pain-in-the-butt for opposing teams. You can keep the lesser Hutson, too!
Who isn’t? Might be a better question.
And here’s why NOT Panarin for the Caps. Right now, Washington is tied with Pittsburgh and Toronto for the last playoff spot in the East; the Pens have two games in hand and the Leafs one, both are surging, and Washington decidedly is not. Even as a rental, with retention, Panarin is going to come with a giant price tag … given the eyepopping prices paid for average players in recent seasons, the Rangers shouldn’t touch any offers that don’t start either with a pair of first rounders, or a first rounder and a top-six forward with term.
That kind of package is tolerable for a genuine Cup contender. Washington isn’t one this season.
That’s one heck of a peace pipe you’re smoking.
Present Day Pending UFA Panarin absolutely will not fetch an offer that “starts with two firsts or a first and a top-six forward with term.”
If Panarin decides to waive for only ONE team, the return will be less than that. A late 1st, a top 9 guy and a decent prospect or a 3rd.
Maybe Washington should go for Mangiapane 2.0. LOL
I can make a case for the Caps being the most aggressive suitor for Panarin.
IF they think Ovie might not be back next year, then…
A) It makes sense to go for one last all in run with him.
B) And if he does retire, they will have the cap space and need to offer Panarin an extension to fill his role on the team.
You kidding? We’re seeing middle pairing defensemen being traded for second rounders. My eyes popped last season when Brandon Carlo (who never *has* been a top pairing guy) went for a 1st, a 4th, and Fraser Minten. Sure, he had two years of team control still, but what Carlo is is a solid shutdown defenseman. What Panarin is is a future Hall of Famer who’s still playing like one.
Leonard and a first this year will get it done for panarin. Good trade on both sides. Ovechkin gets one more chance at a cup before he retires.
Username checks out, if it’s short for “big ol’ laugh.”
I assume you dont think panerin is worth Leonard, ok. No soup(cup) for you.
Why on earth would you trade a future star like Leonard?
how do you know he’s going to be a star? a good young player now. who else would the rangers want? tough to trade in division. panarin might love it there and resign. him and ovechkin would be amazing on the same line.
They didn’t draft him at #8 overall for no good reason. Leonard is already playing well and is alot younger than Panarin.
I think Connor Garland would be a nice fit here. He is a super-consistant offensive contributor with term, on a reasonable deal. Garland is a guy that plays the game the right way, and will be half the price of Panarin. I would love for him to play out his contract with Vancouver…but we are heading in the opposite direction.
Agree with Garland. I think Frank Vatrano, who before his injury was being under utilized by the Ducks coaching staff, would be worth consideration too.
Panarin will not go to the Capitals. He was a Navalny supporter while Ovechkin is a Putin supporter. Panarin was assaulted because of his outspoken opposition to Putin.