Capitals make savvy trade for Flames forward ahead of NHL Draft

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan made another roster-bolstering move Thursday night, acquiring forward Andrew Mangiapane from the Calgary Flames for a 2025 second-round pick.

Ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, beginning Friday night in Las Vegas, MacLellan cleverly flipped the pick that he previously received from Colorado in a trade for center Lars Eller at the 2023 trade deadline.

Mangiapane is a top-six forward who can fill the potential gap unrestricted free agent Max Pacioretty or the injured T.J. Oshie would leave if they do not return to the nation's capital this upcoming season.

The 28-year-old tallied 40 points in 75 games for Calgary last season and comes with a $5.8 million salary cap hit according to CapFriendly.com .

Having now addressed depth-scoring needs and controlling the 17th overall pick in Friday night's draft, MacLellan is in prime position to select a young player to develop for the team's future.

After also trading for center Pierre-Luc Dubois from Los Angeles on June 19, essentially replacing the injured Niklas Backstrom, Washington has replenished the top of its roster with high-quality talent.

MacLellan will still have to decide whether another acquisition is in the cards or if he'll fill out the remaining roster spots with Hershey Bears players ; Washington's American Hockey League affiliate has won back-to-back Calder Cup trophies.

Either way, team captain Alexander Ovechkin will be receiving high-caliber reinforcements for the 2024-25 season, one of his likely two final seasons in the NHL while chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.