The Washington Capitals hit the Olympic break sitting at 29-23-7 - not exactly the position they envisioned at this point in the season. Once perched atop the Metropolitan Division, they now find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. For a team with postseason aspirations and a proud veteran core, that’s not going to cut it.
If Washington wants to punch its ticket to the playoffs and make any noise once they get there, the second half of the season is going to require a serious reset - both on the ice and in the front office. The trade deadline looms large, and the Capitals have some tough decisions to make.
Strategic roster moves could retool this group around its key contributors and give the team a much-needed jolt in the stretch run. That means taking a hard look at who’s not pulling their weight - and who might be better suited elsewhere.
Let’s talk about three players who could be on the move: Dylan McIlrath, Sonny Milano, and Hendrix Lapierre. Each of them, for different reasons, hasn’t delivered the kind of impact the Capitals need right now. Moving them could open the door to more productive pieces or future assets.
Dylan McIlrath: The Tough Guy Without a Role
Back in October, Washington made a surprising move by placing promising young defenseman Vincent Iorio on waivers to make room for Dylan McIlrath, who was returning from injury. That decision raised some eyebrows - and for good reason.
While McIlrath brings a physical edge, Iorio is a more complete, modern defenseman with upside. Fast forward a few months, and the move hasn’t aged well.
McIlrath, 33, has suited up for just 11 games this season. He hasn’t registered a single point, and he’s mostly been a healthy scratch. His main attribute - physicality - just doesn’t carry the same value when the team already has players like Rasmus Sandin and Martin Fehervary holding down the blue line, and forwards like Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas bringing plenty of bite up front.
With McIlrath under contract through the end of the 2026-27 season, now might be the right time to find him a new home. He’s a depth piece at best in Washington, and with limited opportunities to get into the lineup, his presence is more of a roster logjam than a luxury.
Sonny Milano: Offensive Upside That Hasn’t Materialized
Sonny Milano's time in Washington has been a rollercoaster - and right now, it’s stuck in a valley. After showing promise in his first season with the Capitals, where he posted 33 points in 64 games, his production has fallen off a cliff. This season, he’s managed just eight points in 31 appearances.
Milano spent most of the 2024-25 season on long-term injured reserve, and the team gave him a chance to bounce back. But the spark just hasn’t been there. He’s been in and out of the lineup, and when he does play, he hasn’t made much of a case to stay in.
Meanwhile, younger forwards like Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif are stepping up in big ways. Leonard has 30 points, Sourdif has 26 - and both are trending upward. Add in the fact that Washington’s defense is contributing offensively on a regular basis, and it’s hard to justify keeping Milano in the mix.
Milano is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and the Capitals may simply let the contract run out. But if there’s a team out there that believes in his skill set and wants to take a flyer at the deadline, Washington would be wise to listen.
Hendrix Lapierre: The Development Curve That Flattened
When the Capitals selected Hendrix Lapierre in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the hope was that he’d become a dynamic, top-six forward. And early on, the signs were encouraging.
In his draft year, he racked up 31 points in just 21 games with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He followed that up with a solid rookie campaign in Hershey, putting up 30 points in 60 AHL games.
Lapierre even showed flashes in the NHL. In the 2023-24 season, he posted 22 points in 51 games - a respectable total for a young player adjusting to the league.
But this season has been a different story. Through 56 games, he’s managed just nine points, with only two goals to his name.
One of those goals broke a staggering 90-game drought.
Despite being a point-per-game player in the AHL last season, Lapierre hasn’t been able to translate that success to the NHL level. The skill is there, but the consistency - and the confidence - hasn’t followed.
It’s starting to look like a change of scenery might be best for both sides. Another organization might be able to unlock his potential in a way Washington hasn’t.
Lapierre will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and while the Capitals could retain his rights, they’ll have to decide if he still fits into their long-term plans - especially with a crowded pipeline of young forwards coming up through Hershey.
The Bigger Picture
The Capitals aren’t in teardown mode - far from it. They’ve got a core that can still compete, and if they can string together wins after the break, they’re absolutely in the playoff hunt.
But to get there, they’ll need to be proactive. That means making tough calls and reshaping the roster around players who are producing now - not just those with potential or past promise.
Trading McIlrath, Milano, and Lapierre isn’t about giving up. It’s about sharpening the edges of a team that still believes it can make noise in the postseason.
The clock is ticking, and the Flyers await on Feb. 25.
If the Capitals want to be playing meaningful hockey in April, the time to act is now.