Capitals Rumors: Gritty Forward Becoming Trade Candidate

The Washington Capitals are in an intriguing spot as we get closer to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. They are not a guaranteed playoff team, nor are they at the bottom of the NHL standings. Because of this, their trade deadline plan is not as easy to predict as rebuilding teams like the San Jose Sharks and contenders like the Boston Bruins.

However, if the Caps start to drop further in the standings, they are quite likely to be sellers. In this scenario, the most likely Capital who could be traded is forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel, according to The Athletic's Sean Gentille.

Here is what Gentille said about Aube-Kubel as a trade candidate: "Aube-Kubel is a cheap ($1.25 million), pending UFA forward with some defensive value. Contending GMs still love flipping low-round picks to add players like him."

Aube-Kubel, 27, is quietly having a solid season in the Capitals' bottom six, as he has five goals, 13 points, 58 hits, and a plus-8 rating in 35 games. Teams looking for a bit more bite in their bottom six could certainly make a push for Aube-Kubel, especially when noting that he would not cost much to acquire, as Gentille notes.

We will now need to wait and see what happens with Aube-Kubel from here.