The Washington Capitals had a choice to make after they were swept out of the first round by the New York Rangers.
Does the organization start a hefty rebuild, or with Alexander Ovechkin chasing Wayne Gretzky’s record, do they go all in to surround him with a team that can win right now?
Flash-forward many months, the Capitals, who brought in five new players this summer, sit with a 14-point lead for first in the Metropolitan Division.
As we approach the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, it makes all the sense in the world for the Capitals to keep that mindset.
In late January, I heard that the Capitals were a team that had inquired about New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson. The 33-year-old top-six centerman, who plays on both special-team units, is in the final season of a five-year deal that carries a $6 million cap hit.
Back when I first reported this, the Islanders season was still very much up in the air, which meant so was general manager Lou Lamoriello’s deadline plans.
But with the Islanders dropping four straight games in their return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break and currently seven points back of a wild-card spot, the path forward for Long Island looks as clear as day.
Who knows if Nelson is set on re-signing with the Islanders or whatever team acquires him. He could be set on testing free agency regardless.
I was told the Capitals have interest in Nelson as a pure rental as he would just make them much deeper.
Nelson hasn’t been scoring at the same clip as we’ve become accustomed to, with 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 57 games, but he can still be a difference-maker and has 82 games of playoff experience (27 goals, 23 assists).
The Capitals currently have $3.65 million in available cap space and cannot fit Nelson’s $6 million.
However, while the Islanders may be willing to retain some of his cap hit in any trade-deadline deal they make, that will require their trade partner to offer more.
As mentioned in my previous report, the Capitals are unlikely to trade Aliaksei Protas, their 24-year-old second-line left winger, with 38 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 50 games.
His cap hit is $3.38 million, which would allow the Capitals to take on Nelson’s contract if he were included in the deal.
Colleague Sammi Silber wrote a story off a report that the Capitals would part ways with prospects to bolster their offensive depth.
Per ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie, the Capitals could trade one of their prospective defensemen in order to bring in forward depth for a playoff run.
More on the #ALLCAPS surplus on d, who could be on the move and who the team should take a look at:https://t.co/dVFrdgVWL6
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) January 17, 2025
I’ll reiterate that Boston University and Team USA’s gold medal-winning defenseman Cole Hutson is obviously off the table.
Could 23-year-old right-winger Henrik Rybinski be of interest? He has 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 38 games this season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League?
Or what about the Capitals’ 2020 first-round pick, center Hendrix Lapierre, who has struggled to find a consistent game at the NHL level?
The 22-year-old has three goals and 10 assists in 15 games with Hershey after just eight assists in 27 games with the Capitals.
Forward Sonny Milano, a Massapequa native who is currently on long-term injured reserve, could come back the other way if he’s healthy. He is on an expiring deal worth $1.9 million.
The Capitals, including any player at league minimum, would clear the remaining $720,000 needed for them to acquire Nelson at his full cap hit.
Plenty of teams will be ringing Lamoriello’s phone before the deadline and while the Capitals are a division rival, their focus on winning right now makes them a key player in the Nelson sweepstakes.
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