As the NHL offseason surges forward with notable developments, teams across the league are vying to bolster their rosters in preparation for the upcoming season.
The Capitals are among those hopefuls in the Eastern Conference, optimistic that they’ve secured a vital addition to enhance their lineup.
In a significant move, the Capitals announced on Tuesday that they had acquired forward Jordan Kyrou from the Blues. The trade includes sending forwards Connor McMichael and Milton Gastrin, along with a 2026 first-round pick, to St. Louis in exchange for Kyrou.
Kyrou, who is currently 28, made a name for himself during the 2021-22 season when he amassed a career-best 75 points and earned a spot in the All-Star Game. He followed that breakout with three consecutive seasons scoring over 30 goals, topping the team’s scoring charts each year.
Nevertheless, the previous season saw a decline in his numbers. Kyrou closed the season with 18 goals and 28 assists, rounding out his performance with 46 points—the lowest since his third year in the NHL.
The Capitals, who finished with 95 points and missed the playoffs this year, made clear they are thrilled to acquire a player of Kyrou’s goal-scoring and offensive ability.
“Jordan is an exceptionally talented and dynamic offensive player who will make an immediate impact on our club,” general manager Chris Patrick said in a statement. “His skill, creativity, and ability to generate offense at an elite level will be a tremendous addition to our group. At just 28 years old and under contract for the next five seasons, Jordan is entering the prime years of his career. We believe he is an ideal fit for our team both now and for the long term.”
Kyrou signed an eight-year extension worth $65 million before the 2022-23 season, so he’s under contract through the 2030-31 campaign, in theory giving Washington a top-flight forward for years to come.
In McMichael, the Capitals lose their 2019 first-round pick, who, ironically enough, finished with 46 points last season. Gastrin, a center from Sweden, was a second-round pick last year and has yet to make his NHL debut.