Edited Feb. 27, 2021 at 7:45 a.m.
They don't have room for Mete, unless he's still waiver exempt. They have nine NHL-proven defensemen under contract. Eight are healthy. Are they supposed to waive TVR or Siegenthaler to make room?
I have to think before they'd trade for a goalie they'd (a) look at Copley and (b) look at one they have cap space for.
eta; I'd like to see Anderson and Samsonov get more than two starts apiece before they call up Copley, personally, but that's just because I don't believe in overreacting to two average games by a terrific goalie. If they each play five or six games and they're below .900, then at least Vanecek will have gotten some rest and can get back to top form. Plus, who knows, maybe Lundqvist is actually planning a comeback from heart surgery? He's skating with coaches. It'd be pretty amazing.
2nd edit: I think Lapierre's trade value is still low after he missed half of last year, so I don't think the Caps should look to move him until he puts up a full season and shows he can still play. I mean, sure, if MTL offers Kotkaniemi or Suszuki, he's gone, but unless MTL has unsolvable expansion worries at forward, I can't imagine they would consider either.