The rumour mill keeps on churning faster and faster. With the draft and free agency approaching, teams are trying to get their ducks in a row. Everyone is aiming to improve and make the right moves to signal the direction that they are headed in. Today we focus on the Washington Capitals who need centres. With Nicklas Backstrom out for the foreseeable future, their attention has shifted. With free agency just around the corner, they can focus on Nazem Kadri and JT Miller.
Washington Capitals Eyeball Nazem Kadri, JT Miller
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Washington Capitals are in on Nazem Kadri and JT Miller
Why These Players Are Worth Targeting
Elliotte Friedman on @DonnieandDhali on the Canucks : Lots of teams are around VAN. Capitals lost Backstrom, I have heard Kadri and Miller connected to them,
Miller will be a big contract, VAN is worried about term.— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 21, 2022
The Washington Capitals need centres. Nicklas Backstrom has been the backbone at the centre position for his entire career in Washington. With him going down with an injury, there is a gaping hole at the position. The attention has shifted to Vancouver Canucks centre JT Miller and Colorado Avalanche centre Nazem Kadri.
Both players have warranted big deals after the stellar campaigns they put forth. JT Miller had a career season and was one point say from hitting the century mark. In 80 games played he scored 32 goals and 67 assists for a total of 99 points. He would average 1.23 points per game and average 3.53 points per 60 minutes. This is the first time surpassing the 30-goal mark and his highest point total since 2019-20, where he potted 72.
Nazem Kadri is another player on the radar. Like Miller, he had himself a career year with the high-flying Avalanche. In 71 games played he went on to score 28 goals, 59 assists and a total of 87 points. He was clutch for Colorado in the playoffs up until surgery, where he tallied up 14 points. Kadri has surpassed the 50-point mark four times in his career and scored 30 goals twice. Kadri is just a hard-nosed center who plays hard every night and had really discovered his offensive side.
Nazem Kadri: Trade to Colorado was a ‘blessing in disguise.’ https://t.co/MWChaFSOgM pic.twitter.com/Tj8LcsQfMw
— theScore (@theScore) November 24, 2019
Why Signing At Least One Is Important
Centres in the NHL don’t grow on trees. Granted, Backstrom has been a star calibre player for them for a very long time. But with Alex Ovechkin still playing at a high level that he is, they must get a centre to play with him. The term does not have money for both, but they can put pen to paper for one of them. Term could be a factor, but these are the centres they are eyeballing to replace Backstrom. Up until this season, Backstrom has eclipsed the 50-point mark for four seasons in a row so getting a centre to try and replicate that while this team is still contending.
