Shortly before the Washington Capitals were scheduled to hit the ice for their morning skate at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, defenseman Joel Edmundson was seen exchanging handshakes with assistant coach Scott Allen.
On Thursday morning, Edmundson was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2024 draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft. Washington agreed to retain 50 percent of Edmundson’s salary cap hit as part of the deal.
Expressing regret at losing a valued teammate like Edmundson, Capitals Coach Spencer Carbery praised the defenseman’s contributions on and off the ice, highlighting his strong work ethic and impact within the team. Carbery extended well wishes to Edmundson for his future endeavors with Toronto, acknowledging his positive influence during his time with the Capitals.
The Capitals, gearing up to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on the eve of the NHL trade deadline, had acquired Edmundson in July from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a third-round and seventh-round draft pick. Montreal had previously retained half of Edmundson’s salary before trading him to Washington, meaning the Capitals were responsible for 3.5 million cap hit. With Washington now retaining an additional 50 percent, Edmundson’s cap hit on Toronto’s ledger reduces to $875,000.
During his 44-game stint with the Capitals this season, Edmundson recorded one goal and five assists while primarily serving in a bottom-pairing role. His average ice time of 16:26 marks his lowest since his rookie season with the St. Louis Blues in 2015-16.
Washington brought in Edmundson to bolster their defensive physicality, registering 59 hits in 44 games, the second-highest among Capitals defensemen.
At 30 years old, Edmundson, a Stanley Cup winner with the Blues in 2019, now offers Toronto an experienced depth option at a reasonable cost for their defensive lineup. Meanwhile, the Capitals benefit from receiving higher draft picks in this trade than what they initially traded to acquire Edmundson earlier in the year.
The Capitals initiated their trade deadline activities by moving winger Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights for two draft picks. Both Mantha and Edmundson were impending unrestricted free agents, a common focus during the trade deadline period. Washington may potentially engage in additional trades before the Eastern deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. Wingers Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Max Pacioretty, along with center Nic Dowd, who is close to returning from injury and offers more offensive potential than other bottom-six centers, are attracting interest due to their impending free agency status.
The Capitals are feeling the pressure and anticipation surrounding the trade deadline, with Coach Carbery acknowledging a sense of unease within the team. Despite this, Washington aims to maintain a sense of normalcy amid the chaos.
Acknowledging the emotional impact of seeing a teammate depart, winger Tom Wilson addressed the challenges of bidding farewells in such situations. Although parting ways can affect team morale, Wilson emphasized the importance of refocusing on the immediate task at hand and ensuring the team remains concentrated on their upcoming game.
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