Team: 2017-18 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 24, 2018

Published: Jan. 24, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

You can afford this cap overage at the deadline b/c the Caps are only taking on the portion of salary to the season's end.

Trading John Carlson at the draft makes complete sense because you've upgraded to the Karlsson that is way better. And used some of what you would have paid JC to extend EK.

You shed the last year of the Orpik hit, and MDZ is younger and cheaper.

Don't need Bowey (and his mistakes) because your right side D going into next year has room to bring Connor Hobbs to the NHL.

Caps have not given up Samsonov, Siegenthaler, Johansen, Bura, Vrana, and so on and so forth.

They've made cap space under the increase in 2018-2019 AND added picks...still have all 1st rounders and more.

You've fixed the defense for a very long time. You've got Holtby in net, plus could open the pipes for Samsonov as NHL backup (to be groomed if you end up trading Holtby some day). And Vanek walks at seasons end so you can re-sign role players like Willy and Beagle, AND have roster space in the bottom six for Nate Walker or Shane Gersich.

If not this year, they'd really be a Cup contender next year. Done.

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