Earlier this month, when trade discussions between the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues heated up, goaltender Pheonix Copley’s name entered the fray. “A deal-breaker,” one individual with knowledge of the situation later called the 23-year-old prospect’s inclusion, because while forwards T.J. Oshie and Troy Brouwer became the marquee, NHL-caliber names exchanging sides, the Blues foremost wanted the emerging Copley in their system.
The ripple effect inside the Capitals’ organization was instantaneous. Rather than enter 2015-16 with Copley solidified as the No. 1 goaltender in Hershey, they had instead parlayed an undrafted free agent, one groomed in the system who went 17-4-3 for the Bears last season, for a top-six forward.