The Washington Capitals are looking to add another skilled forward this summer, and there are several big names floating around on the trade and free agency market. Among them: veteran and Stanley Cup champion Brad Marchand.
Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Capitals could be one of the teams in the running for Marchand if he doesn't return to the Florida Panthers.
So, could D.C. be a good fit?
Let's take a look.
First, Marchand brings quite a bit to the table. He's a proven leader and good locker room presence, and one of those players that you hate to play against but would love to have on your team.
The 37-year-old may be older, but he's still able to put up points; he had 51 points in 71 regular-season games between the Boston Bruins and Panthers before adding 20 points in 23 playoff games en route to Florida's Stanley Cup.
Marchand brings an X-Factor and grit to any top-6, and for Washington, that's exactly what the team needs. The Capitals want to add another skilled forward to the mix who can put up big points while also stepping up to the occasion when it arises, and he's also able to fill the third-line center role.
On the flip side, though, Washington is looking to get younger while starting to prepare for the future without Alex Ovechkin. Marchand adds another veteran presence to the mix, which can be helpful, but also goes against the game plan of integrating more prospects and looking to the next era.
Still, the impact Marchand could have, especially on a shorter-term deal, would be big with Ovechkin wanting one last kick at the can for a Stanley Cup before hanging up the skates. The Capitals have $9.3 million in cap space to work with this summer, so would be able to afford his services.
At the end of the day, it's likely Marchand remains in Florida or perhaps goes somewhere where he can have more security, but still, he would bring a lot to the District.
