- Capitals GM Chris Patrick says Washington has the picks and prospects to make trades this summer
- Team targeting a top-six forward and right-handed defenseman in the offseason
- Read below for full details on the Capitals’ offseason plans
The Capitals aren’t hiding what they want this summer. GM Chris Patrick came out Monday and laid it all out: Washington is going after a top-six forward and a right-handed defenseman.
Patrick told reporters the front office finally has the assets to make a real push on the trade market, per RMNB.
“I think we’re really in the best spot we’ve been in as far as having the stuff to trade that a team might want,” Patrick said. “We’ve got picks. We’ve got some good prospects. From that perspective, our wallet’s full. If there’s an opportunity there, we’d like to jump on it.”
Washington has been chasing a scoring winger for close to two years now, missing out on Nikolaj Ehlers and Artemi Panarin in free agency and on the trade market. Patrick is betting this summer will be different.
The Capitals loaded up on draft capital at the deadline by shipping out John Carlson and Nic Dowd. That netted a 2026 first-round pick, a 2029 second-rounder, and two 2027 third-rounders. They still hold their own 2026 first-rounder too, which sits no lower than 16th overall.
On the back end, things got more pressing after Rasmus Sandin went down with a knee injury that will sideline him to start next season. Washington has just two right-handed defensemen under contract for 2026-27 in Matt Roy and Dylan McIlrath.
“We’ll explore everything, and we’ll just try to get the best player we can get for those positions,” Patrick said. “We’re going to have some holes in the backend here to fill in on the right side, so we’ll be looking there as well.”
Looming over all of it is Alex Ovechkin. The 40-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this summer after finishing his five-year, $47.5 million contract. He said earlier this month he’ll make a decision over the summer.
Patrick made clear the team will have a plan either way. With roughly $34 million in projected cap space, a stacked draft hand, and deep prospect pool, the Capitals are set up to be one of the most aggressive teams in the league this offseason.
