we aren't trading dowd. Idc the prices he's too important

Hard to turn that down even for a division rival

That’s be a big boost

I think if the right offer comes along, it’s hard to refuse. He is a 4C who can play 3rd line and he excels in all aspects of the game, but we have a plethora of guys who can fit on that 4th line at the center position. Especially if we’re adding another forward in a separate deal.

not joking when I say dowd would return a first if traded at the deadline

I just didn’t want to cause outrage by trading him for a first lol

I always saw TK with a value of a 1st, a 2nd, and a good prospect, so this would work if the gain of taking Mantha's cap was another prospect.

He's "too important" for what ... us missing the playoffs? He 100% should be moved at the deadline for at least a second, maybe even a late first or a second and a third.

In fairness, he has two years left on his contract and I'd anticipate us being a contender in 2024-25 with the additions of Miroshnichenko, Iorio, Leonard, and whoever else the caps add with their cap space from Mantha's contract ending and the cap going up. So he could be a very important piece next season. Dowd is replaceable, but he is a very high end 4C who can fill in at 3C. The caps have the luxury of having some underratedly good center depth, making Dowd expendable for the right price.

I am not criticizing his play - Dowd is a fantastic player (on a great contract) but that is precisely why he should be moved. He has value now, he wont in the future. Why hold onto a valuable asset that we don't need right now. Not to mention, we have a plethora of depth at center to replace him (see Connor McM, Lapierre, Ethan Frank, Malenstyn, and Phillips).

Guys, I love Dowd as much as the next guy (hell, I have his jersey), but a 2nd is almost certainly the ceiling for his value, not his floor. Maybe another pick (a 4th or something) because he has an extra year on his deal, but realistically the Caps got a far future 2nd for Eller and Dowd was producing at about the same level as Eller and would fill the same role on a contender. I don't see a world where anyone, except for maybe Treliving, throws away a 1st round pick for a 4th liner.

Either way, I don't think there's any chance Dowd is moved this year. His value on the PK with Protas and Malenstyn unproven, as well as the extra year on his deal and the current center prospects not really playing a similar game to him (lapierre, mcmichael for instance play a more offensive game). I'd say his special teams and locker room value are enough to dissuade Washington from trading him. We did see what happened when teams kept calling about Tom Wilson... (can't believe former Sens defenseman Jason York would lie about something so important)