The Capitals are looking for consistency on offense, and GM MacLellan has said for months that the team is exploring adding a top-6 forward.
The Washington Capitals are still looking for consistency and scoring on the top-6 as general manager Brian MacLellan remains on the hunt for a young scorer to add, and there's a name on the market that fits the bill that D.C. has reportedly considered: Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko.
Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Washington is among the possible suitors for Kuzmenko, who has emerged on trade boards across the league following a decline in ice time and a number of healthy scratches to open 2023-24.
"I think Washington is a team that has looked around at Kuzmenko," Friedman said on The Jeff Marek show.
However, Friedman did add that he didn't see the Capitals as a surefire landing spot for the 27-year-old, given there's not a lot that the team could offer in terms of return.
"I just don't see a trade match there. It's not like the Canucks are going to take Anthony Mantha," Friedman added. "I just don't know where this is gonna sort itself out."
Kuzmenko, who had 39 goals and 35 assists for 74 points in 81 games last year as a rookie with Vancouver, has just six goals and 11 assists through 29 games to open the year. He carries a cap hit of $5.5 million.
Despite his struggles this year, he was highly sought after last season and has proven to be a dangerous goal scorer who can play on the top-6 and spark a power play, both of which D.C. can benefit from.
Considering his salary, questions surrounding his consistency and a lack of assets — though Mantha is finding his game — to give Vancouver in return, Washington doesn't seem like the likely landing spot right now. Six-time 30-goal scorer Max Pacioretty is closing in on making his return from a re-torn Achilles, and the hope is that he can help ignite the offense and PP.
The Capitals also don't have many spots to offer, as Kuzmenko's former teammate Ethan Bear will be the 23rd skater when he puts pen to paper. That deal is expected to be announced soon, as he was spotted at the team's practice facility on Tuesday.