The Washington Capitals are looking to add another skilled forward this summer, and there are several big names floating around on the trade and free agency market. Among them: veteran and Stanley Cup champion Brad Marchand.
Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Capitals could be one of the teams in the running for Marchand if he doesn't return to the Florida Panthers.
So, could D.C. be a good fit?
Let's take a look.
First, Marchand brings quite a bit to the table. He's a proven leader and good locker room presence, and one of those players that you hate to play against but would love to have on your team.
The 37-year-old may be older, but he's still able to put up points; he had 51 points in 71 regular-season games between the Boston Bruins and Panthers before adding 20 points in 23 playoff games en route to Florida's Stanley Cup.
Marchand brings an X-Factor and grit to any top-6, and for Washington, that's exactly what the team needs. The Capitals want to add another skilled forward to the mix who can put up big points while also stepping up to the occasion when it arises, and he's also able to fill the third-line center role.
On the flip side, though, Washington is looking to get younger while starting to prepare for the future without Alex Ovechkin. Marchand adds another veteran presence to the mix, which can be helpful, but also goes against the game plan of integrating more prospects and looking to the next era.
Still, the impact Marchand could have, especially on a shorter-term deal, would be big with Ovechkin wanting one last kick at the can for a Stanley Cup before hanging up the skates. The Capitals have $9.3 million in cap space to work with this summer, so would be able to afford his services.
At the end of the day, it's likely Marchand remains in Florida or perhaps goes somewhere where he can have more security, but still, he would bring a lot to the District.
Capitals Have Options When It Comes To First-Round Pick, Will Try To Be 'Creative'
The Washington Capitals enter the 2025 NHL Draft in the coming days with quite a few options when it comes to their first-round pick.
Washington owns the 27th overall selection following their second-round elimination at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, and when it comes to what to do with that pick, D.C. can go multiple routes.
There are a number of top prospects available, and when it comes to areas of need, the Capitals could stand to draft a puck-moving, right-handed defenseman to add depth with John Carlson's career winding down and the team needing more insurance on the right side.
Washington could also consider some more forward options, though the team has done a good job of building depth up front for years to come.
Another option is for the Capitals to leverage the first-round pick as a trade chip and use it in a package to bring in a top piece for now. At the present moment, they're in need of another skilled forward who can play either center or wing, and all the while, want to keep getting younger.
With a first-round pick and other asset sbundled up, Washington could entice quite a few teams and go for a bigger name out there on the trade block ahead of free agency.
General manager Chris Patrick said at the end of the season that the team will evaluate all of its options when it comes to the No. 27 selection.
"Given the prospects we have, does it make it a little more palatable? Potentially. I think you also get a sense for what might be there when you're picking, and that can also factor into it as well," Patrick said. "What might be there maybe is something that's kind of duplicative with what you already have. So, yeah, we'll try to be creative with what we can do."
The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
