Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan has always been willing to make a bold move at the trade deadline in order to try and chase a championship. And on Monday, he took that philosophy to the extreme.
The Capitals traded winger Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a first-round pick and a second-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for winger Anthony Mantha — a blockbuster deal that signifies Washington’s pursuit of another Stanley Cup. The team also acquired winger Michael Raffl from the Philadelphia Flyers for a fifth-round pick, adding forward depth.
Mantha, the 20th overall pick from the 2013 draft, is an imposing presence at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds.