Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 632
Likes: 297
The Caps aren’t in “re-stock the cupboard” mode, they’re in “compete as best we can while Ovie’s playing” mode. That means either trading the pick for a young stud like Keller, or (more likely) taking the best forward available at 8 and hoping they’ll be able to contribute in a year or two. Their absolute last priority at the moment would be prospect depth.
Also, just in general, trades like this don’t happen anymore. No one’s traded down from a top 10 pick since 2008 when the Isles traded down from 5 to 7 and then from 7 to 9 in exchange for two 2nds and a 3rd. As scouting improves teams don’t do the “quantity over quality” thing anymore - if you’ve got a chance at an elite player you take it.