Capitals Make Two Trades

Capitals Announce Pair Of Minor-Trades

The Washington Capitals announced that they have completed two depth trades this afternoon. The first of which was with the Philadelphia Flyers who sent the Caps Kevin Marshall. In return the Flyers acquired a forward in Matt Ford. 

Marshall is a twenty-two year old defenseman who has split time this season between the Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Phantoms. During his time at the NHL level he was held pointless through ten games, but was decent in his own end. His upside looks to be as a 6th or 7th defenseman in the National Hockey League. The player that the Capitals sent out to acquire Marshall, Matt Ford is a surprising player to target. He is not too young at twenty-seven years old, and has been about average at the AHL level. This season he has spent a lot of time on the right wing of some really solid players so his production level of 28 points in 39 games was not great. Maybe the Flyers see something in Ford that I don't, but in my opinion the Caps came out on top in this deal as Marshall has A LOT more upside than Ford.

To accommodate the acquisition of Marshall the Capitals then sent defenseman Danny Richmond to the Colorado Avalanche. In return the Capitals acquired center Mike Carman. Danny Richmond has spent a lot of time in the American Hockey League and has proven himself as a decent 2nd pairing AHL defenseman, but not much more. At 27 years old, he's a veteran that can help the young players to learn and grow. Mike Carman on the other hand has not proven much at the AHL level. He is younger than Richmond as he's 23, but his production has been poor in the AHL and his defensive style has not been nearly as effective as it was in college. I doubt that Carman will turn out to be anything, so I actually like this for the Avalanche who gain a guy that could possibly step in at the NHL level if needed or stay in the AHL to help lead the Avalanche rookies down in the minors.