Report: Connor McMichael Was Nearly a Capitals Trade Casualty

Sometimes, one trade can lead to another, and in the case of the Washington Capitals, that was nearly the case for center Connor McMichael despite coming off a breakthrough season.

According to Winnipeg Jets insider Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press, the Jets were looking at McMichael as a potential recruit in the pivot after losing Sean Monahan in free agency.

There was some chatter around the 2024 NHL Draft that the Jets and Capitals were considering a deal that involved centre Connor McMichael. McMichael is under contract for two more seasons at $2.1M and then will be a restricted free agent.

McMichael was a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft (25th overall), and after a slow start to his Capitals career as a rookie (2021-22), he spent the next season in the minors, before breaking through this past year with 18 goals and 33 points in 80 games, playing about 16 minutes a night.

There was some talk that McMichael could have been available due to the fact that new trade acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois would be taking over the second-line center role, relegating McMichael either to 3C or the wing.

New Jets head coach Scott Arniel would have been able to vouch for McMichael coming over to Winnipeg as well, having been an assistant coach with the Caps when McMichael made his NHL debut.

But the trade never materialized, and the 23-year-old might very well shift over to the wing alongside PLD if he is to win a role in the top-six for Washington.

The Jets have $5.8 million in cap space, and might still be looking to add another center.