17 Things: Capitals Headlines, Oilers & Dowd, Ovechkin Comments On His Future, What Players Really Think Of The Trade Deadline

Here's the latest on the Capitals as they continue their playoff push and count down to the trade deadline.

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals have seen a drastic improvement in the hockey being played, and now, it's just a matter of getting the results to go that way, too.

Nic Dowd, for one, has seen his team turn a corner, inspired by their recent performance as the playoff push continues. While the postseason remains six points out of reach, there's still hope that the team can make one last effort for a spot, but it'll mean getting points out of every game going forward.

At the same time, Washington sits less than three weeks away from the trade deadline, and the approach remains unclear, though the trend and odds indicate that a sell-off may be the answer. However, the players in the room want the group to remain intact, using that as even more motivation to work for one another.

That said, there's a lot to consider for D.C. going forward. Here's the latest on the Capitals in a new edition of 17 Things.

1. I caught up with Nic Dowd to get his thoughts as his name pops up in trade rumblings. He said he's not really thinking about the deadline but did make a point that it's smart to be in the know with regard to that side of the business. Still, the goal is to win every day, and he said there can be added motivation when it comes to keeping the group together.

2. Max Pacioretty said the same thing, adding that around the league, Washington is considered one of the closer-knit dressing rooms. No one wants to see anyone go at the end of the day, but at the same time, it's a business. Pacioretty also mentioned that he hasn't given much thought to what D.C. will do at the deadline.

3. Both Dowd and Pacioretty's names have come up in rumblings, and Anthony Mantha only added to his trade value with his 17th goal and another assist to boot on Saturday against his home province Montreal Canadiens. Going into March 8, there are certainly pieces that will be of interest and likely get calls; it just all depends on what general manager Brian MacLellan thinks of the group and what the return is.

4. Personally, I don't think it'd be worth moving a player like Dowd, who plays reliable minutes and plays so many different roles, for less than a first-round pick. He's such an important part of the team, and that goes beyond his on-ice play. The players love him, he's vocal and he can be a key leader in a playoff push.

5. I still see the New York Rangers as a good fit for Dowd if he is traded, but Jason Gregor also mentioned on Oilers Nation that Edmonton could be a fit for Dowd. He suggested putting together a package for Dowd and Beck Malenstyn, though I personally don't think the Capitals would be as quick to part ways with a young utility player like Malenstyn, who has been one of the unsung heroes and most valuable assets all season long.

6. Speaking of young, reliable players: Martin Fehervary suffered a lower-body injury in the opening minutes of Saturday's win over the Montreal Canadiens and is week-to-week. It's a tough blow for D.C., who was just near full strength for the first time in a long time, with Sonny Milano making his long-awaited return.

This could be a huge opportunity for the likes of Ethan Bear to get back in the swing full-time and for Alex Alexeyev to get some games in and show what he can do with more ice time.

7. When it comes to Bear, Carbery said that he still wants to see more consistency and growth in his game as he eases his way into the organization, which explains the multiple healthy scratches.

8. Back to trade talk: Joel Edmundson could get a lot of attention going into the deadline as a reliable veteran defenseman who can be a rental and add depth to a contender's blue line.

9. I also got to catch up with Rasmus Sandin and get his take on the deadline, as he's nearly a year removed from when he was dealt from Toronto and part of the Capitals' trade deadline plans to build for the future. Sandin has truly enjoyed being in D.C. and hopes to be part of Washington's future. He also said that he can understand how stressful the deadline can be.

It reminds you of an important point: this is a business, but players are human, with families and lives away from the rink. So for Sandin, he said it's important for him to make the rink a fun, welcoming environment for his teammates while giving his all on the ice in an effort to avoid a sell-off.

10. One player who values having fun at the rink is Alex Ovechkin, and that's been the theme for him over this last stretch. He has salvaged what was thought to be a lost season, as he extended his point streak to eight while recently enjoying a six-game goal streak. It's not just his numbers that have improved, though, but his play; he's moving more, and it appears that the extra time to rest really did work wonders.

As mentioned, though, Ovechkin is still enjoying the game, and at the beginning of the year, that was an important aspect of his career and something he said is keeping him going.

11. He did speak to Sport-Express about when he might be done playing, and the answer wasn't surprising, as he said he thinks it may be time to hang up the skates when his current contract is up in two years.

He sits 59 goals away from Wayne Gretzky's all-time record, and hockey is a lifestyle for him. Personally, I think he plays until he breaks the record, but his commenting on the end of the Ovechkin Era is tough as it brings reality front and center. He'll be 40 when his contract expires in two years. But as Connor McMichael and his teammates have advised me: never bet against the "Big Man."

12. Ovechkin also mentioned in the article that he would have to wait and see how things would go for him if he were to consider playing in the Olympics in 2026. 

Speaking to him over the course of his career, he's a player who very much lives in the present and likes to take things day-by-day, so I don't put too much weight into things like this.

13. The Capitals captain also said that he's been in touch with Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is receiving care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and that the two have texted and that everything will be fine for No. 92.

There is no definitive timeline for Kuznetsov's return; every player is different and every treatment plan is different, while the reason for his entry remains confidential. All the players can do is support their teammate, and they've expressed hope that he gets the help he needs, Ovechkin included.

14. With Kuznetsov out, Mike Sgarbossa has come up to fill the void, and the team and organization have been impressed with his performance. His speed has been impressive, but Sgarbossa mainly prides himself on his hockey sense.

We'll have a full 1-on-1 with Sgarbossa tomorrow, but he said the experience has been a bit of a whirlwind, especially as a father of two. His hard work has not gone unnoticed, though, as Hershey is also operating without a key piece of the lineup.

15. Of course, that void would have been easier to fill if Matthew Phillips ended up clearing waivers and joining the Bears, but he ended up being claimed by the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

He is playing in his first game Sunday as he takes on a bigger role with Pittsburgh dealing with its own injury issues, but if he spends 30 days on the NHL roster and ends up being waived, he could end up being re-claimed by the Capitals, who would add more depth to an already-impressive Hershey team filled with top prospects.

16. On the topic of top prospects, it's getting harder for me to see Ryan Leonard staying in the NCAA beyond this year. He's been a force to be reckoned with, and each game, he's either racking up points and making a statement with his size, speed and physicality.

17. Leonard has a lot of T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson in him, which leaves me closing this 17 Things with thoughts on Wilson, who has taken on a fourth-line role of late.

Wilson is in the midst of a bit of a cold streak, and he has gone without a point in seven straight while registering a plus/minus of minus-6 over that span. Perhaps playing him on the fourth line will give him the spark he needs to bust out. Having him play that role in the midst of a playoff push is also important, and it doesn't hurt Dowd's value to have Wilson as a linemate, either.

If this sticks remains to be seen, especially with the "McProMo" line clicking and T.J. Oshie complementing Ovechkin well. I could see things getting a switch, though, as Carbery makes tweaks with Milano re-entering the picture full-time.