The NHL trade deadline is a little more than three weeks away as general managers search for key additions to their hockey clubs. The Capitals are no different. A team that entered the regular season with no questions about its goal-scoring abilities now has plenty. A blueline that had its share of critics in the past now appears stable and without serious holes. After watching 52 games, Washington general manager George McPhee has a pretty good idea what his team is missing.
Deadline needs
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How about a second or third-line center? Washington has been going with Marcus Johansson, 20, and Mathieu Perreault, 22, interchangeably. Both have had their moments, but a veteran playmaker would be a nice boost. They have enough cap space for a one-year rental, so someone like Jason Arnott would make sense if New Jersey is willing to deal the 36-year-old.
Washington added Scott Hannan to its defensive corps in a November trade and hopes Tom Poti (groin) is ready in the next two weeks. That’s a pretty solid if unspectacular blueline, with John Erskine and Tyler Sloan providing needed depth.
The Caps always could go after a veteran goalie if Semyon Varlamov or Michal Neuvirth gets hurt again between now and the end of the month. Neither has been able to stay healthy for an extended period of time. Maybe someone like Florida’s Tomas Vokoun? Cap space might be tight there, and it’s unlikely McPhee would break the bank for a rental.
Trade chips
So what exactly do the Caps have to deal? There’s not a ton left on the farm since Washington has promoted so many of its top young players in recent years. Hershey of the American Hockey League now is mostly organizational guys or future third- and fourth-liners. Andrew Gordon has been impressive (21 goals, 23 assists in just 38 AHL games). But at 25 he’s a little old to be considered a true prospect. The one exception at Hershey is goalie Braden Holtby, who is at least in the conversation with Varlamov and Neuvirth and could be a key piece in a bigger package.
