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Waivers: 3/5/25

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Four players hit the waiver wire on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

F Christian Fischer (Red Wings) – Fischer, 27, has slipped down Detroit’s depth chart as the season’s progressed. He’s been a healthy scratch in four of their last eight games. His 11:09 ATOI is his lowest in five years, as are his 0.16 points per game (1-6–7 in 45 GP). On an expiring deal worth $1.125MM, he’ll cost $100K against the cap for Detroit if he clears and is sent to the minors. It’s unclear if it’s purely a performance-based demotion or if they’re waiving him to open up roster flexibility ahead of the deadline – likely a bit of both.

D Jordan Oesterle (Bruins) – Oesterle’s waiver placement comes after the 32-year-old scored his first goal since December 2022 in yesterday’s loss to the Predators. He’d been a healthy scratch in 10 straight games before re-entering the lineup for Ian Mitchell. The veteran depth piece has served as a bottom-pairing/depth option for a good chunk of the season with Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy missing significant time on the Boston blue line. He’s been rostered since late November, so today’s waiver placement is likely an effort to get him assigned to AHL Providence on deadline day to make him eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

F Jesse Puljujärvi (Panthers) – Puljujärvi signed a tryout with Florida’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte last month after having his deal with the Penguins mutually terminated. Today’s waiver placement indicates he’s landed an NHL deal with the Panthers for the rest of the season. If he clears waivers and returns to Charlotte, he’ll now be a recall option down the stretch. It’s a two-way, league-minimum deal for the 2016 No. 4 overall pick, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic reports. He has three assists in seven games with Charlotte after posting 3-6–9 in 26 showings with Pittsburgh earlier this season.

F Jakub Vrána (Capitals) – Vrána won’t necessarily be reassigned to AHL Hershey if he clears, at least not immediately. They’ll have a 30-day window to send him to the minors waiver-free to aid in salary cap flexibility around deadline moves, AP’s Stephen Whyno reports. Regardless, it’s been a tough year for the 29-year-old. He landed a PTO with Washington in camp and converted that into an NHL contract for his second stint with the Caps, who drafted him 13th overall in 2014. He’s been reasonably productive when dressed, posting 7-4–11 in 26 games despite seeing just 9:50 of ice time per game, but hasn’t found a regular role in Washington’s league-best offense. He’s suited up just three times since New Year’s, sitting almost exclusively as a healthy scratch. He’s on a one-way deal for 2024-25 worth the minimum $775K.

Capitals Sign Charlie Lindgren To Three-Year Extension

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The Washington Capitals have both halves of their goaltending tandem signed beyond this season. According to a team announcement, the Capitals have signed netminder Charlie Lindgren to a three-year, $9MM contract extension.

Although Lindgren’s salary will nearly triple on this deal, it appears to be a solid bit of work from Capitals’ general manager, Chris Patrick. Washington will pay a combined $8.85MM to Lindgren and Logan Thompson next season, equating to 9.26% of the 2025-26 salary cap ceiling.

However, it’s reasonable to assume Lindgren missed a bigger payday. His first season with the Capitals was fairly generic, sporting a 13-11-3 record in 26 starts with a .899 SV% and 3.05 GAA. According to MoneyPuck, his -3.9 goals saved above average was good for 80th in the league, while his goaltending partner at the time, Darcy Kuemper, ranked 16th in the NHL with an 8.8.

Due to injuries and poor play from Kuemper last season, Lindgren became the de facto starting netminder in Washington. In one of the most unprecedented seasons from a goaltender in recent memory, Lindgren managed a 25-16-7 record through 48 starts with a .911 SV%, a 2.67 GAA, and a league-leading six shutouts. His 10.5 GSAA ranked 16th in the NHL, helping Lindgren to an eighth-place finish in Vezina Trophy voting and a 12th-place finish as the league’s MVP.

Still, the Capitals desired to lighten Lindgren’s load this season by acquiring Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights last summer. His 48 starts from the 2023-24 campaign nearly matched his total starts from the previous seven years combined, split between the Capitals, Montreal Canadiens, and St. Louis Blues.

Returning to a share of the crease this year, Lindgren’s production more closely resembles his output from two years ago rather than last year. The Lakeville, MN native has a 13-10-3 record through 27 starts with a .896 SV%, 2.70 GAA, and a -2.2 GSAA. Washington’s patience in signing Lindgren to an extension likely saved the organization a few million dollars compared to pursuing an extension in the summer months after his incredible 2023-24 campaign.

Photo courtesy of USA Sports Images.

Capitals Looking For Depth Additions

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  • The Capitals are looking to add depth both up front and on the back end before Friday’s trade deadline, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period (Twitter link). With Washington leading the way in the Eastern Conference, it’s understandable that their preference would be to avoid doing anything to shake up the core of their group.  They have $3.65MM remaining in their LTIR pool, per PuckPedia, meaning that if they want to make a couple of additions while still leaving room for injury replacements, they’re going to be primarily looking at low-cost pickups.

Washington Capitals Hoping To Trade Ethan Bear

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  • Despite being the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals are expected to sell one player from their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. In a short clip from TSN’s Insider Trading, insider Chris Johnston reported the Capitals are looking to accommodate Ethan Bear’s desire to play in the NHL and move him to a team with openings on the blue line. Washington may have a better idea of what that looks like closer to deadline day, but Bear should garner some interest, scoring eight goals and 33 points in 46 AHL contests. He’s in the final season of a two-year, $4.13MM contract and hasn’t suited up in an NHL game since March 13, 2024.

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Capitals Looking For Bottom-Six Forward Help

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As most assumed, the Capitals’ top priority ahead of next week’s trade deadline is adding a piece to their bottom-six forward group, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic wrote Friday. Don’t expect a bigger splash than that, he cautions.

“Their main goal seems to be achieving balance in finding ways to improve the team while not tinkering too much with a team that has played so well all season and a group that trusts and plays for each other,” LeBrun wrote. “That may sound a bit corny, but one thing the Caps have learned over the years is not to overextend themselves at the trade deadline. There’s a feeling within the organization that there were some years when they were ’all-in’ last decade that they added too much and upset the apple cart.”

Yet Washington’s roster has forced its front office into making at least one pickup of some significance. A major offseason retool has yielded their best regular season since winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2016-17, on pace for 117 points and the Metropolitan Division title all but secured.

While a forward upgrade may not seem like it should be the top priority for a team that leads the league in goals per game (3.63), it’s the most apparent need on paper. The Caps’ defense has performed well, ranking 11th in the league with 27.4 shots against per game, and Logan Thompson has checked in as a legitimate challenger to the Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy between the pipes with Charlie Lindgren as a capable No. 2 option. There’s also not much flexibility on that defense core – all of their six regular blue-liners make at least $2.675MM against the cap – not exactly the kind of salary a cap-strapped Washington club can afford to have in the press box. A cheap upgrade on extras Alexander Alexeyev and Dylan McIlrath may be in the cards, though.

Nonetheless, the Caps’ lack of significant financial flexibility ($3.65MM in space on deadline day, per PuckPedia) and overall roster construction will inform the type of player they go after. As LeBrun notes, they also want to have some room for 2023 No. 8 overall pick Ryan Leonard, who’s tracking to turn pro following his sophomore season at Boston College. The 20-year-old center/winger is amid a 27-goal, 42-point campaign through 31 showings.

If they’re looking for a piece to slot into the third line, a physical edge will presumably be more desirable than a scoring touch. They don’t need any help putting the puck in the net – even AHL call-up Ethen Frank is helping out with 4-2–6 through his first 18 NHL games in a third-line role. There’s undoubtedly a playoff upgrade to be had on the 5’11” late-blooming 27-year-old, though. Veteran Lars Eller may be overtaxed as a No. 3 center with 6-6–12 in 40 games since being re-acquired from the Penguins in November, but he’s relieved by minute-munching fourth-line pivot Nic Dowd (who’s tracking for a career-high 29 points).

That leaves checking wingers like Seattle’s Brandon Tanev and Boston’s Trent Frederic as some of the more obvious targets. Both carry cap hits under the Caps’ available space, so they’d be feasible without retention or a roster player heading the other way. Pending Canadiens UFA Joel Armia is likely out there as a defensively responsible option, too.

Trade Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals

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With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Washington Capitals.

Hopes are as high as they could be in Washington as the Trade Deadline nears. The Capitals have been on top of the Metropolitan Division since mid-December with no signs of slowing down. Washington posted a 4-1-2 record and plus-11 goal-differential in February, with one game left in the month. Their success is spearheaded by captain Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record and backed by fantastic summer additions. After an incredibly fruitful off-season, this Deadline will be rookie general manager Chris Patrick’s first chance to carry the hot-hand into the season.

Record

38-12-8, 1st in the Metropolitan Division.

Deadline Status

Budget Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$3.65MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 47/50 contract slots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: WAS 1st, BOS 2nd, WAS 2nd, CAR 3rd, WAS 4th, WAS 5th
2026: WAS 1st, WAS 2nd, VGK 4th, WAS 4th, WAS 5th, WAS 6th, WAS 7th

Trade Chips

The Capitals have found fantastic chemistry at the top of their lineup, and will base their deadline around not stirring the pot too much because of it. Most of the Capitals trade assets sit down their depth chart. The group is headlined by former first-round draft pick Hendrix Lapierre, who landed in the minor-leagues at the start of the new year after recording just eight assists in 27 NHL games. He’s in the midst of a slumping season after posting 22 points in 51 games as an NHL rookie last year. But Lapierre has been routinely effective in the minor-leagues, with 17 points in 21 games last season and 13 points in 15 games this year. He was a top young prospect, and earned a first-round selection despite multiple injuries in his age-17 and age-18 seasons. Lapierre has untapped upside that could make him enticing enough to base a larger buy around.

Young defenseman Alexander Alexeyev finds himself in a similar spot to Lapierre. He’s spent the year as Washington’s seventh-man, stepping into just five games and recording no scoring and a minus-four. Also a former first-round pick, Alexeyev punched into 71 games over the last two seasons – but hasn’t scored more than five points in a single year. He’s a six-foot-four, 213-pound defender with a long reach and stout control of the defensive end that, like Lapierre, could be just enough to garner the interest of a deadline seller.

Aside from the pair of youngsters on the lineup fringe, the Capitals may lack the assets to make a big move. Veteran centerman Lars Eller seems to be in the right rut for a move, with just 12 points in 39 games in Washington – but the Capitals aren’t likely to garner more than the third and fifth round draft picks they traded for him in November. Both third-line forward Andrew Mangiapane and third-pair defender Trevor van Riemsdyk have played strong enough to earn interest of their own, but the Capitals would likely be hard-pressed to move functioning cogs in the midst of another hot streak. Their deadline will be a balancing act between preparing for the playoffs, and not rocking the boat – as they try to maintain momentum that could very well land them the President’s Trophy.

Team Needs

1) Impactful Bottom-Six Center – Eller has averaged 12:28 in ice time this season, while holding a firm grip on third-line center and second-unit penalty killing duties. He’s performed well enough to stay put, but the lack of a driver on the third-line could be Washington’s downfall in the postseason. Finding a difference maker to couple with Eller and Nic Dowd in the bottom-six is an achievable and potentially defining move for Washington to pursue. They’ll have plenty of options on the open market. The New York Islanders finally seem poised to bank on Brock Nelson’s late-career performances. Nelson has 15 goals and 32 points in 52 games this season, and made Team USA’s starting lineup at the recent 4-Nations tournament. Should he prove too old or two slow, Washington could find a performer in the midst of his prime in Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato. Donato is having a career year, with 19 goals and 39 points in 56 games on one of the league’s lowest-scoring offenses. He’s a reasonable upside bet that shouldn’t come at a rich price – an ideal match for the asset-strapped Capitals. Other options could include Montreal power-forward Jake Evans, Boston enforcer Trent Frederic, or Colorado upside-bet Casey Mittelstadt.

2) Depth Wingers – The Capitals are receiving fantastic efforts from their depth wingers. Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh, and Brandon Duhaime have performed well enough to hold onto their roles, and Jakub Vrana and Ethen Frank have shown flashes of scoring in their limited minutes. But the Capitals lack a truly binding piece down their flanks. Bruins winger Justin Brazeau could give the Capitals a bit more grit and well-rounded offense at a minimal acquisition cost. The Capitals could also find a reasonably priced upside bet in Toronto shooter Nicholas Robertson. Brazeau has 20 points, split evenly, in 54 games; while Robertson has 11 goals and 16 points in 50 games. Neither players would be particularly thrilling additions, but could give Washington helpful variety as they hope for an extended run to their season.

Sonny Milano Nearing A Return

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  • After missing the last four months of action due to an upper-body injury, a return to game action is on the horizon for Washington Capitals’ forward Sonny Milano. According to Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post, Milano was upgraded to a full-contact jersey for today’s practice. Unfortunately for Milano, given the likelihood of the league-leading Capitals’ adding one or two forwards before next Friday’s trade deadline, Milano is a strong candidate for waivers upon his activation from the long-term injured reserve.

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No Recent Contract Talks Between Capitals And Chychrun

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  • While Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun made it known last month that he’s open to signing a contract extension with Washington, he told reporters including Sammi Silber of The Hockey News (Twitter link) that there haven’t been any extension discussions since before the break. The 26-year-old has been a great addition for Washington, already notching 14 goals and 21 assists through 50 games while logging 21 minutes a night.  He’s well on his way to earning a sizable raise on his current $4.6MM price tag but it doesn’t appear a new deal is coming in the near future.

Milano Still Not Close To Returning

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  • Sammi Silber of The Hockey News relays that while Capitals winger Sonny Milano was skating in a non-contact jersey before the 4 Nations break, he’s still a ways away from returning to the lineup. The 28-year-old suffered an upper-body injury in his third game of the season and hasn’t played since.  Assuming he’ll see some time with AHL Hershey on a conditioning assignment, it’s possible that Milano won’t be back until after the trade deadline when roster maximum sizes are no longer in effect.

Capitals To Release Hardy Haman Aktell After He Cleared Unconditional Waivers

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Saturday: Haman Aktell passed through waivers unclaimed today, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.  That will pave the way for his contract to be terminated.

Friday: The Capitals placed defenseman Hardy Haman Aktell on unconditional waivers Friday as a precursor to a mutual contract termination, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports. He will become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow if he clears and will likely return to his native Sweden.

Washington signed Haman Aktell, 26, to an entry-level contract out of the Swedish Hockey League’s Växjö Lakers in the 2023 offseason. The 6’4″ lefty was previously a fourth-round pick by the Predators in 2016 but never signed with the club, letting his signing rights lapse in 2020. He put himself on NHL teams’ radars with a breakout 27-assist, 36-point campaign in 51 games for Växjö in 2022-23, tying for second on the team in scoring en route to an SHL championship.

While a well-rounded player in Europe, his lanky 198-lb frame put him at a bit of a disadvantage in North America. He didn’t quite pop as the Capitals hoped in the AHL, posting just 11 points (2 G, 9 A) in 55 games for Hershey last year. But a rash of injuries to their NHL defense corps meant he was called upon to make his NHL debut early in the season, skating in six contests in October and November. He recorded an assist and a minus-two rating, recording five shots and 11 hits while averaging a minimal 10:38 per game. His possession numbers were promising – a 52.5 CF% and a +0.6 expected rating at even strength – but was never added back to the roster aside from a late-season emergency summons.

A restricted free agent last summer, the Capitals opted to keep Haman Aktell around on a two-way contract. He cleared waivers to begin the season and returned to Hershey, where he’s yet to score through 27 games and has seen a diminished role. He did have nine assists and a plus-three rating, but with a lack of NHL opportunity ahead of him, there understandably wasn’t any mutual interest in extending their relationship.

Ending Haman Aktell’s contract now allows him more time to pursue options overseas, potentially finishing the 2024-25 season with a European club. It doesn’t have any cap impact for Washington since he was a league-minimum player in the minors, but it does save a small amount of prorated actual cash. He was earning a $350K salary while in the AHL.

The Caps will have three open contract slots after he clears waivers tomorrow.

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