ARLINGTON — A long and bumpy road has brought Ilya Kovalchuk to his third team of the season in the Washington Capitals. But the Capitals‘ latest trade has a chance to be mutually beneficial.
For Kovalchuk, the chance to play with longtime friend Alex Ovechkin and the shot at a Stanley Cup make Washington an ideal new home. For the Capitals, acquiring the depth goal scorer might be the final piece needed to get back on track and make a serious playoff push.
The Capitals sent the Montreal Canadiens their 2020 third-round draft pick for Kovalchuk Sunday on the eve of the trade deadline, and remained active Monday by swapping defenseman Christian Djoos for Anaheim Ducks forward Daniel Sprong in a minor-league trade.