Impossible Situation That Doesnt Feel That Impossible

Équipe: 2022-23 Capitals de Washington

Date de création initiale: 15 sept. 2021

Publié: 15 sept. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Let the record show that I do not think this is likely to happen. In all likelihood, this is my imagination being bored on a Wednesday evening.

It seems Malkin has had his issues with the Penguins for a long time, but nothing ever amounted to a trade. Is it possible he leaves in free agency this summer? I don't think it's likely, but I also wouldn't consider it impossible. And then look at the Caps. If Kuznetsov underwhelms again, he'll most certainly be on his way out. It will be difficult to find a center that can play behind Backstrom right now and keep us in contention. If Hertl is off the market by then, there really aren't any other good long term 2Cs on the market (Trocheck is the only other candidate that could fit). Instead of throwing Eller or McMichael in that spot, would they pivot to someone like Malkin to fill the void while McMichael and Lapierre develop? Would Malkin want to play with Ovechkin, especially while he chases Gretzky's record? I know the Caps want to get younger, but if there isn't a younger option on the market, going after someone like Malkin is a total Caps move. Washington seems to love going after big names after their prime years (Kovalchuk, Chara, Lundqvist recently, Fedorov and Nylander from a decade ago) and Malkin totally fits the bill as someone management would target in this situation.

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