The Washington Capitals are reportedly in the market for one of the top veteran forwards expected to be available at this year’s trade deadline. According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Capitals are one of several teams rumored to have interest in St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn. They’re joined by the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. Schenn, the captain of the Blues, could be part of a major sell-off by the team’s general manager, Doug Armstrong. The Blues are 18-21-8 this season and five points behind the San Jose Sharks for the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Armstrong is reportedly expected to listen to offers on almost all of the team’s players as he seeks a major shake-up, looking to shift his roster in a younger direction and add draft capital. Among the likely potentially available Blues are Schenn, Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Justin Faulk, Pius Suter, Oskar Sundqvist, and Mathieu Joseph. Schenn, 34, is in his ninth season with the Blues since arriving via trade from the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2017 NHL Draft. The versatile forward can play both center and wing and has 19 points (9g, 10a) in 47 games this season. He has eight 50-point seasons in his career, including 50 points (18g, 32a) in 82 games last year. The Saskatoon native won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 and has 43 career points (13g, 30a) in 82 playoff games. Schenn is averaging 16:31 of ice time per game for St. Louis this season and has been an ace in the faceoff circle, winning 54.6 percent of his draws. Acquiring Schenn would give the Capitals a dependable presence down the middle that they’re presently missing, as head coach Spencer Carbery has been reluctant to trust 23-year-old forward Hendrix Lapierre with much ice time. In December (7:53) and January (7:08), Lapierre has averaged less than eight minutes on ice per game. Schenn is signed through the 2027-28 season at a $6.5 million cap hit. His contract includes a 15-team modified no-trade clause.
