Team: 2023-24 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 6, 2023

Published: Nov. 6, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I am referring, of course, to the mythological beast of the "aggressive GM" that sees a team that's already experiencing a lot of change and decides to take advantage of not having to worry about screwing with team chemistry.

Picks may need to be adjusted, maybe future mid-round additions or prospects attached to the Kuemper and/or Nylander trades, but generally this feels like ballpark what the Caps would be comfortable with, at max, in terms of mortgaging the future. Assuming, of course, the existence of mythological creatures.

Kuemper-for-Gibson is the least likely, both because Darcy would have to have left Anaheim off his NTC, and because the Ducks don't really "need" to make that move, although it does net them long-term cap savings and a couple extra picks.

The Canadian teams are probably going to be forced into trades like these if they can't/won't get extension talks moving.

With Edmunson and Patches moving on, an expected significant increase in the cap, and possibly an Oshie retirement and/or Kuzy trade, I fully expect the Caps to be able to extend both Hanifin and Nylander and their three key RFAs (McMichael, Sandin, and Protas) while having room for promotions for Vincent, Ivan, and Hendrix.

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