Brian MacLellan said the Capitals will continue to monitor the market as the team looks to add to the top-6.
The Washington Capitals addressed all of their restricted free agents and got a couple of signings done, but there's still work to do when it comes to bolstering the top-6 as general manager Brian MacLellan looks to the trade market -- and he has a certain player in mind.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman shared on 32 Thoughts the Capitals are looking for a player like Alex DeBrincat, who is currently being shopped by the Ottawa Senators, to add to the first two forward lines.
"We'll see what else Washington tries here, but they are looking to make a hockey trade in their top-6," Friedman said. "I mentioned DeBrincat, but I think that's the kind of player that they've looked at."
DeBrincat's next contract will carry an AAV north of $9 million, and that's not necessarily affordable for the Capitals, who have just $888,000 left to work with 19 roster players on board -- and that's not including the Hershey Bears expected to make the jump this coming season.
Still, that's the type of player that MacLellan wants: a goal scorer who can change the look on the top two lines and add flair to the power play. That's what the hope is for Max Pacioretty, depending on if he can remain healthy, but having another piece may be ideal as well.
"We gotta find a way to score more goals," MacLellan put it simply.
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha are the biggest trade chips that Washington has in its arsenal; MacLellan has reportedly shopped both, and shipping them out would open up some cap space. Kuznetsov carries an AAV of $7.8 million for the next two years, while Mantha has a cap hit of $5.7 million for one more year.
Still, Mantha's said to not be getting a lot of interest, and Kuznetsov is reportedly also a "long shot" to be traded. That said, retaining salary and adding a sweetener may be necessary.
The Capitals were aggressively pursuing a trade at the 2023 NHL Draft, but "nothing panned out," per MacLellan. It's also rumored that a Kuznetsov-for-Duchene swap failed with the Nashville Predators. While nothing's really played out, MacLellan said that the team is still actively pursuing a deal and will keep its eyes open for a player that matches the target age and criteria that D.C. is looking for.
"We'll continue to monitor the trade market," MacLellan said, adding, We'll continue to have the conversations going forward."