In the end, General Manager George McPhee didn't pull the trigger on any trade deadline deals this year, and the Washington Capitals will have to improve from within.
Plenty of players moved before the 3:00 p.m. eastern deadline, including several that at one point had been linked to the Capitals in some capacity. But after professing his desire to keep much of the young talent Washington has drafted and cultivated in the last few years, McPhee did just that.
And combined with the fact that he ultimately could not find a partner to take Michael Nylander's hefty contract to create cap room, McPhee fairly tied his own hands at this trading deadline.
All season long, Nylander's name has been featured prominently in trade rumors, at some point going to Chicago, Toronto, Nashville or Columbus--really anywhere that would take the remaining year and $5 million off the Caps' books. But Nyls' No Movement Clause made any deal subject to the player, and he was coy all along with his intentions.
The Caps were rumored to be targeting a couple players that eventually did move, and unfortunately for the Caps, they went to conference rivals.
Bill Guerin went from the New York Islanders to Pittsburgh, giving the Penguins some much-needed grit and veteran leadership, and defenseman Derek Morris goes from Phoenix to the New York Rangers, along with Nik Antropov, formerly from Toronto.
McPhee is scheduled to address the media early this afternoon.
Plenty of players moved before the 3:00 p.m. eastern deadline, including several that at one point had been linked to the Capitals in some capacity. But after professing his desire to keep much of the young talent Washington has drafted and cultivated in the last few years, McPhee did just that.
And combined with the fact that he ultimately could not find a partner to take Michael Nylander's hefty contract to create cap room, McPhee fairly tied his own hands at this trading deadline.
All season long, Nylander's name has been featured prominently in trade rumors, at some point going to Chicago, Toronto, Nashville or Columbus--really anywhere that would take the remaining year and $5 million off the Caps' books. But Nyls' No Movement Clause made any deal subject to the player, and he was coy all along with his intentions.
"I'm just going to let it play out," Nylander said early Wednesday. "There's nothing I can do. In my case, I have a little say in what goes on. But I'm like everyone else." --Courtesy of Capitals InsiderThere were some big names that traded places, but the really big names (Chris Pronger, Jay Bouwmeester, Ryan Smyth) stayed at home.
The Caps were rumored to be targeting a couple players that eventually did move, and unfortunately for the Caps, they went to conference rivals.
Bill Guerin went from the New York Islanders to Pittsburgh, giving the Penguins some much-needed grit and veteran leadership, and defenseman Derek Morris goes from Phoenix to the New York Rangers, along with Nik Antropov, formerly from Toronto.
McPhee is scheduled to address the media early this afternoon.
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