The Washington Capitals finished atop the Eastern Conference standings in 2024-25, but they’re closer to the bottom in the early going this season. They have a short-term need for a center to replace sidelined Pierre-Luc Dubois, but they must also bolster their scoring depth at right wing for the long term.
Tom Wilson is currently their leading scorer, but the 31-year-old right winger’s physical style of play could eventually take its toll on him. Meanwhile, 20-year-old rookie Ryan Leonard has shown some promise, but he’s not yet ready to move up into a full-time role among the top six.
Adding someone like Jordan Kyrou gives the Capitals a scoring right winger in his late twenties who could take pressure off Leonard in the short term and be an eventual replacement for Wilson in the long term. He’d provide an immediate boost to their offense.
The Capitals will have $15.2 million in accrued cap space if they wait until near the trade deadline to pursue Kyrou. They won’t part with Leonard, but another prospect, such as defensemen Cole Hutson, winger Andrew Cristall, or Ilya Protas, might be of interest to the Blues, along with a first-round pick.
Stats and standings via NHL.com. Contract and salary info via PuckPedia.