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Monday’s game against the San Jose Sharks marks the two week warning before the NHL’s Trade Deadline occurs on February 27th, 2012. Teams will be finalized (barring NHL/AHL/ECHL transactions) for the 2012 Playoff Chase with many teams switching interchangeable parts to cover their own perceived weaknesses. With the Washington Capitals sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference there are plenty of holes that need to be covered, without too many moveable parts. Certain cornerstones will continue to be untouchable, Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Karl Alzner, etc., but other parts will be assessed by General Manager George McPhee to arrive at a decision regarding dealing; is the juice worth the squeeze?

Aside from those noted above several other players will be unavailable to competing teams on February 27th. Joel Ward was signed as a free-agent out of Nashville, Tennessee for his tenacity and playoff prowess, evidenced by the Predators’ 2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Chase. Signed as a playoff performance specialist, I cannot see George McPhee taking offers on Ward before he competes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a Capitals’ logo on his sweater. Relative newcomer Mathieu Perreault is another likely untouchable, his performance in the 2012 NHL Season head and shoulders above previous campaigns. It is expected that McPhee would like to hold onto the Hershey Bear favorite throughout the next season as a fully capable injury replacement, one hungry to solidify a permanent roster spot. Other players along the Capitals’ roster will not net the return needed to address the team’s weaknesses. Players such as Jeff Halpern, Matt Hendricks, Roman Hamrlik, and Jeff Schultz will not pay dividends beyond a prospect or pick.

The only players that I perceive as available by McPhee, and good enough to net a necessary return, would be sniper Alexander Semin, injured defenseman Mike Green, and goaltender Michal Neuvirth. All three players are capable at their own positions, playing well enough at times to garner All-Star consideration. The inevitable question leading up to February 27th will be the value of return on any of these players.

 
 
I want Jeff Carter.
 

 

 
The Capitals are in need of another center ice man who is capable of putting the puck in the net; certainly with Backstrom on the shelf indefinitely. Jeff Carter down in Columbus is one available center ice option, a player unhappy with his current setting in Ohio. How convenient, Carter should be happy to uproot and leave the Blue Jackets’ mess. Carter comes with a long term contract and well documented management issues, but brings a shoot first mentality that would bolster the Capitals’ second line for the foreseeable future. Getting Jeff Carter out of Columbus will require a significant return, along with moving enough salary to clear Carter’s $5.3 million/year contract against the NHL imposed Salary Cap. Flipping Semin for Carter would eliminate a duplicate piece in Washington (scoring wingers) while solidifying the Capitals’ top two centers once Backstrom returns. Scoring winger Alexander Semin could certainly entice Columbus General Manager Scott Howson to get the Carter experiment off of his hands.
 
 
The Blue Jackets have been suffering with Steve Mason in goal for the past three years, making Capitals’ #1B Neuvirth also a tempting option for Howson. Perhaps the Capitals would need to package a pick with Neuvirth to pry away Jeff Carter, but we don’t see the need to offer them Colorado’s first-round pick; a potential top ten selection. Available draft picks could be used to help leverage Alexander Semin’s trade value as well.
 
 
Mike Green’s avalability is a little trickier to understand, as he is coming off sports hernia surgery and may not be able to play before the February 27th Trade Deadline. Green brings the ability to control the power play from the point, a lethal shot through traffic and off a pass, with skating legs for miles. The man’s speed alone can breakout an NHL team from behind their own net. The hinge on Green has always been his less than stellar defensive play, but as time progresses his ability to stay healthy looks to be the biggest monkey on his back. Despite the worries, Mike Green is All-Star talent that many teams would be interested to talk about. There should be plenty of interest from teams outside of the playoff bubble in a healthy and productive Mike Green to begin their 2012-2013 NHL Season.
 
 
The two ideas fit both sides well enough to merit consideration; I’m sure McPhee has already been riding the phone lines. General Managers Scott Howson and George McPhee have dealt together in the past, Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina going to Ohio for Jason Chimera coming to DC. Previous experience with each other wouldn’t hurt the process. The pieces certainly look to fit together for both teams, a rare mutually beneficial trade.
 
 
Here’s to hoping McPhee pulls the trigger; on anything.