Capitals trade Anthony Mantha to Vegas ahead of deadline

The Washington Capitals have begun its firesale of rental players, trading forward Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights for two draft picks. The Capitals will receive a 2024 second-round draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick from Vegas.

Mantha is in the final year of his four-year, $22.8M contract. The Capitals will retain 50 percent of Mantha’s remaining salary as part of the trade.

Mantha expects to add depth to the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights. The 29-year-old was second on the Capitals with 20 goals in 56 games this season. It’s his first 20-goal season since the 2018-19 season.

Washington acquired Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings during the 2020-21 season. The Capitals traded former top prospect Jakub Vrana, a first and second-round draft pick.

Mantha’s start to the Capitals was historic. He became the first player in franchise history to score a goal in each of his first four games. Struggles on the ice prompted Mantha to be a trade candidate last season. However, the team couldn’t find warranted suitors.

Mantha’s recent surge in his contract year made him attractive for Vegas.

The Golden Knights are looking for a boost, as they sit third in the Pacific division with 73 points, one point ahead of the first wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, the Capitals are stuck in neutral, trying to move forward into the future by getting younger. The Capitals must tread waters as captain Alex Ovechkin inches towards the NHL’s all-time goals record.

At 65 points, the Capitals are seven back for third place in the Metro division and the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. With GM Brian MacLellan seeing a mathematic way to miss the playoffs, he offloads additional players.

Nic Dowd, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Joel Edmundson, Max Pacioretty, and goaltender Charlie Lindgren are candidates to get traded before Friday’s deadline.