Trade: Anthony Mantha to Vegas for Draft Picks

The first domino has fallen as the Caps look to be sellers before the March 8th trade deadline (as they should be).

The big right winger Anthony Mantha has been shipped off to Sin City for a 2024 2nd round draft pick and a 2026 4th round draft pick.

In his contract year Mantha finally figured it out in his contract year and showed the player we thought he’d be his whole time in D.C. which has made him wanted by many contenders. Mantha currently has 34 points on the season with 20 being goals and 14 apples in his 56 games played.

The bad news is that Washington is retaining 50% of his $5.7 million cap hit! (YIKES) I feel like we should have gotten more from Vegas for how much money we will still be paying him.

Mantha’s 20 goals had him 2nd on the team next to Stromer. If he achieves more than 28 goals it will mark the best of his career.

The Capitals now have 23 total picks in the next 3 NHL Drafts. Also, the Caps currently have 7 picks in the 2024 Draft, 8 picks in 2025, and 8 picks in 2026. The Caps can really shape the team for the future if they utilize the draft to have the team ready to compete at a high level when Ovi hangs up his record goal setting skates.

I was originally hard on Mantha at the beginning of his time here in Washington mainly because he was somewhat replace Vrana and I was a huge fan of his. Also to be fair Mantha never lived up to the hype of his potential till this season, which in hindsight got us some draft picks which could help us it is a win win in my opinion because we were never going to resign Mantha so might as well get something for him now.