State of the Den: Post-Deadline Edition

Pencils down! Those were the directives all 32 NHL general managers received when 3 p.m. elapsed on Friday – signaling the anticipated trade deadline.

Depending on who you ask, the few moves made by Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan could yield various reactions.

During his press conference, MacLellan indicated that varying factors – such as market analysis differences and current standings position – were the reasons why the team did not go in full sell mode.

The Capitals defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Saturday night at Capital One Arena, giving the big club control of their destiny. The Capitals sit six points, with three games in hand, behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the division. They also trail the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings by five points and three points, respectively, with games in hand for a spot in one of the two available wild card spots.

The Bears split the weekend series against the Charlotte Checkers, winning 3-2 on Saturday and losing 5-3 on Friday. The local hockey team is the first AHL club to punch their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs after the Providence Bruins shutout the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-0 on Sunday.

Here’s a recap of what transpired and how the Hershey Bears move forward: Bears fans were anticipating seeing two-time Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov suit up for the Bears this past weekend against the Charlotte Checkers. However, his stay was short lived. MacLellan traded Kuznetsov within the Metropolitan Division to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 third round pick. The Capitals are retaining 50% of Kuznetsov’s salary, whose contract expires next season. Kuznetsov, forward Anthony Mantha and defenseman Joel Edmundson were the only players shipped out.

Per American Hockey League rules, players on NHL rosters needed to be on their respective AHL rosters by 3 p.m. on Friday in order to be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Health willing, the Bears will be defending their title with the services of forwards Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko, as well as goaltender Hunter Shepard – who the Capitals loaned back to the Bears on Saturday. Miroshnichenko and Lapierre, two of the Capitals highly-touted prospects, will bring speed and offensive firepower back to the lineup when they return to the Chocolate and White.

Their subsequent loans will depend on two things: the health of forwards Nic Dowd and TJ Oshie, as well as individual performance. Capitals bench boss Spencer Carbery indicated the two veterans are close to returning and will travel with the team on their five-game western road swing. On Saturday, Lapierre notched his fifth goal in six games. Miroshnichenko scored his first NHL goal on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Miroshnichenko could return to Hershey if Dowd and Oshie are both available. Lapierre’s status will be a bit murkier as his play continues to impress the Capitals brass.

Forward Matthew Phillips, claimed on waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins, provided a massive boost to the Bears for his debut on Saturday for the Chocolate and White with a goal and an assist. At 5’8” and 160 pounds, Phillips’ ability to drive to the net front with speed and high hockey IQ will be significant in how deep the Bears go this postseason. Before seeing NHL action with the Capitals and Penguins, Phillips posted back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers and Stockton Heat.

Two words describe the Bears in a nutshell: deep and resilient. The Bears, despite mixed results, have fared well enough with their depth pieces to keep their sizeable lead in the standings. While MacLellan has not ruled out the possibility of giving other Bears forwards opportunities, head coach Todd Nelson and Bears faithful will rejoice when reinforcements arrive in Chocolatetown. Wednesday marks the AHL trade deadline. Now we wait to see if any moves materialize. Hershey begins a stretch of three games in as many nights on Friday against the Utica Comets in New York. The Bears return home on Saturday and Sunday to square off against the Syracuse Crunch and Hartford WolfPack.