Wow, this trade couldn’t have happened at a better time. The Boston Bruins have traded away Craig Smith and three draft picks in exchange for the Capitals’ Orlov and Hathaway, further proving that this is their “Last Dance” at the Cup.
I must be a fortune teller or something.
Literally less than a half hour ago, I was writing about how the Capitals core was old, decrepit, and broken to the point that even if the team was in relatively good shape for the playoffs, the team would need to be rebuilt after the season’s end.
And, what do you know, Capitals GM Brian MacLellan did that very thing as he traded away Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov to the Boston Bruins in exchange for veteran Craig Smith (who’s got a year left on his deal), the Bruins 2023 1st round pick, their 2024 3rd round pick, and the 2025 2nd round pick. How’s that for predicting a major, roster altering moves?
Okay, being serious, this move was a great idea for the Bruins as they not only got bigger in their depth forward positions, but they also ensured that an injury or two to the blueline will not derail their hopes of winning the Stanely Cup.
Sure, Orlov isn’t the league’s best defenseman as he’s only got 19 points and a +2 rating, but he is certainly a hardnose, rugged Top-4 guy that can fit in nicely next to either Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbert, or Matt Grzelcyk on the second pairing. Moreover, he provides fantastic cover if injury-prone players like Brandon Carlo or Hampus Lindholm go down with…you guessed it: an injury!
As for Hathaway, he’s now the Bruins go-to enforce and fighter as he’s been one of the league’s biggest pests and best fighters in his 8 years with the Calgary Flames and the Washington Capitals. I’d expect him to fill in on the Bruins’ 4th line with Nick Foligno and A.J. Greer or Jakub Lauko, and create one of the most physically intimidating and hardworking 4th-line cores in the league, which only adds to the Bruins’ imposing statue even more.
Truthfully, the Bruins didn’t desperately need to go and get pieces at the deadline like some of their rivals have done (ex: Maple Leafs, Rangers, Islanders) with their 7-point gap atop the Eastern Conference (and NHL as a whole), but this move really has solidified themselves as bonified Conference Championship or better contenders.
I mean, the Bruins forward and defensive lines are now: 1st. Marchand-Bergeron-DeBrusk; 2nd. Zacha-Krejci-Pasternack; 3rd. Hall-Coyle-Fredrick; 4th. Hathaway-Foligno-Greer; D-pairings: 1st. McAvoy-Lindholm; 2nd. Orlov-Carlo: 3rd. Grzelcyk-Forbert. When you add in that their goalies are Linus Ullmark (the Vezina favorite) and Jeremy Swayman (a solid backup), you realize that this might very well be the most stacked lineup in all of the NHL.
Still, giving up their 2023 1st round pick for a depth forward and Top-4 defenseman is a steep price to pay, especially so given the fact that both Bergeron and Krejci are probably going to retire after the playoffs. But, in order to win in the NHL, teams have to sacrifice their future for the present, which is exactly what the Bruins have done with this move.
And no team has more ridding on this playoff push than the Bruins.
As for the Capitals, this move pretty much solidifies the fact that their management hierarchy are expecting a lengthy rebuild after the conclusion of the regular season.
Yes, the Capitals might be able to sneak past the Penguins, Red Wings, Sabres, Islanders, and/or Panthers for the 8th and final Wild Card seed but moving two key veteran players just before the trade deadline is really going to hurt their chances.
It seems like the all-encompassing clutches of a rebuild will engulf the Capitals after all.
Images Source: Featured Image:
