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    Capitals On The Hockey News
    Capitals On The Hockey News
    Aug 7, 2023, 16:25

    GM Brian MacLellan said that the Capitals aren't done pondering moves.

    GM Brian MacLellan said that the Capitals aren't done pondering moves.

    Danny Wild - USA TODAY Sports - Capitals Still Looking To Make Move, Change Up Top-6 Before Training Camp

    The offseason is slowly coming to a close with training camp just over a month away, but there's still work to do for general manager Brian MacLellan and the Washington Capitals.

    MacLellan said that the Capitals are still looking to make a change up front and make a move that would bring in a top-6 forward and revamp those first two forward lines.

    “I think there could be [more change]. I think we had a few discussions at the draft that might carry forward or might not carry forward," MacLellan said. "We’re comfortable with where we’re at [but] we'd still like to change [some things]. We’ll see where it goes here.”

    He reiterated that change would be finding a top-6 forward.

    Washington had been working the phones going into the 2023 NHL Draft to close out the month of June, but none of those talks went anywhere as the team remained in tact. MacLellan then brought in Max Pacioretty on a one-year deal and aqcuired Joel Edmundson for depth on the blue line to open free agency.

    Since then, the Capitals have taken care of their pending free agents and also inked Tom Wilson to a seven-year extension, but MacLellan still wants to change up the top-6. He has been in touch with teams about potential deals and has also kept in contact with agents around the league, and he hinted there could be deals on the table as well.

    When it comes to who would be going the other way, all eyes have been on Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha this offseason. Both were reportedly being shopped following disappointing seasons.

    Kuznetsov had 55 points in 81 games, but posted the lowest shooting percentage of his career and saw his scoring pace take a nosedive. He also reportedly requested a trade, though he has somewhat denied that.

    Mantha, meanwhile, had just 11 goals and 16 assists, and inconsistency also resulted in a handful of healthy scratches. There was also reportedly a lack of interest in him on the market.