Related: 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker<\/a><\/p>\n The Golden Knights tried to address this with two moves. First, they acquired Nashville Predators right winger Cole Smith<\/a> for prospect defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third-round pick on March 3 to add depth to the wings. However, they still needed at least one center who could stabilize the bottom six until Karlsson returns.<\/p>\n Enter Nic Dowd. He has four goals and 12 assists through 55 games this season \u2013 he averaged roughly 13 goals and 11 assists in the three seasons before this one. The 35-year-old center is good in his own zone, earning votes for the Selke Trophy in each of the last two seasons (2023-24, 2024-25).<\/p>\n Dowd\u2019s contract isn\u2019t outrageous either: two more years with a $3 million AAV. The Golden Knights currently have very little cap space ($1.5 million, according to PuckPedia), so getting Dowd at that price was a smart move by the front office.<\/p>\n Capitals Get Generous Return for Veteran<\/p>\n The Capitals, meanwhile, got a great return for Dowd, considering how few picks and prospects<\/a> Vegas has left to trade. Jesper Vikman is a 23-year-old goaltender, selected 125th overall by the Golden Knights in 2020, who has yet to make his NHL debut, spending the last four seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he has a .866 save percentage through 2025-26.<\/p>\n Losing Dowd stings. He\u2019s a veteran who has been with the team since 2018-19. However, the Capitals are a few points out of a playoff spot, so selling Dowd for a few draft picks to improve their farm system is a smart move, especially a second-round pick in 2029.<\/p>\n Washington could also try to acquire some players. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t label the Capitals as pure sellers despite the Dowd trade to Vegas,\u201d Pierre LeBrun<\/a> posted on Thursday morning. \u201cMy understanding is that Washington is trying to do a bit of both, buying and selling, over the next 27 hours or so. Easier said than done but let\u2019s see where the Caps end up tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n However, with Alex Ovechkin\u2019s future in Washington uncertain after this season, it\u2019s unlikely they will completely sell off.<\/p>\n Schedule and Standings<\/p>\n The Golden Knights are currently at the top of the Pacific Division, but with just 72 points, they are only eight points ahead of the San Jose Sharks, who are just outside the cutoff line in the Western Conference. They\u2019ll face the Minnesota Wild at home on Friday, March 6, after the trade deadline, before they host the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Capitals, meanwhile, have 69 points, four behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their first match-up post-deadline will be on the road against the Bruins on Saturday, before they host the Calgary Flames on Monday. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Nic](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Nic-Dowd-Capitals-1-1-575x384.jpg\")
Nic Dowd, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr<\/a>\/The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GoldenKights_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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