The Washington Capitals have long been one of the NHL’s most storied franchises, but like all teams, their history is not without its share of regrettable trades. Some of these moves have haunted the franchise for years, leaving fans wondering how things might have turned out if the decisions had been different. Here are five of the worst trades in Washington Capitals history that continue to sting to this day.
One of the most infamous trades in Capitals history occurred in 1982, when they dealt away a young, promising goaltender, Pelle Lindbergh, to the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindbergh had a brief but brilliant career in the NHL, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in 1985. The Capitals traded Lindbergh for a mere draft pick, and it was a deal that Washington would regret for years. Lindbergh’s untimely death in a car accident in 1985 only added to the heartbreak, leaving many wondering what could have been for the Capitals had they kept him in net.
Another disastrous trade took place in 1990 when the Capitals sent away Calle Johansson, one of their most reliable defensemen, to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a package that included Chris Konowalchuk and Bobby Holik. Johansson went on to have a successful career with the Devils, while Konowalchuk and Holik struggled to make much of an impact in Washington. The trade was a clear misstep, as Johansson’s leadership and steady play would have been a valuable ᴀsset to the Capitals’ defense for years to come.
In 2003, the Capitals traded Peter Bondra, their all-time leading goal scorer at the time, to the Ottawa Senators for a pair of players who were far less impactful. Bondra had been the face of the franchise for over a decade, but the Capitals chose to move on from him in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Bondra went on to play for several more years in the NHL, and while he wasn’t able to capture a Stanley Cup, his offensive prowess was sorely missed in Washington. The return on the trade did little to ease the sting of losing such a beloved player.
A similarly painful trade came in 2013, when the Capitals sent Michal Neuvirth and Cody Eakin to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Lars Eller. Eller has been a solid contributor to the Capitals, but Neuvirth and Eakin both went on to have successful careers in the NHL. Neuvirth was a capable goaltender who performed well for several seasons with the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres, while Eakin developed into a valuable two-way forward for the Stars. Meanwhile, Eller’s production, while decent, never reached the heights that the Capitals had hoped for when they made the trade.
Finally, the 2018 trade of Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators for Martin Erat and Michael Latta stands out as one of the most baffling moves in recent memory. Forsberg, a young and talented forward, was one of the most promising prospects in Washington’s system, but the Capitals traded him away for a veteran player in Erat, who was past his prime, and Latta, who never developed into anything more than a depth player. Forsberg went on to become one of the NHL’s premier wingers, helping lead the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. Meanwhile, Erat’s tenure in Washington was short and unimpressive, and Latta’s impact was minimal. The trade is widely regarded as one of the worst in recent NHL history, and it’s one that still haunts the Capitals’ fanbase.
While the Washington Capitals have experienced significant success in recent years, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2018, these trades serve as painful reminders of missed opportunities and poor decisions. Each of these moves represents a moment in time where the Capitals failed to capitalize on valuable ᴀssets, and they stand as blemishes in an otherwise storied franchise history.
