What could the Caps get for Erat, Orlov?

One NHL scout in attendance Tuesday night told CSNWashington.com that teams might shy away from Erat because he’s made two trade requests in less than eight months.

“And he didn’t keep it in-house,” the scout said. “That doesn’t look good on him.”

Trade rumors have swirled around Winnipeg left wing Evander Kane the past few weeks and the 22-year-old left-hander has certainly been a Capitals killer in his career, with 10 goals and 15 points in 21 games against Washington.

The question the Caps must ask themselves as they entertain offers for Erat and Orlov is this: Do they need a forward or defenseman in return? With Brooks Laich’s lower body injury hanging over them, the Caps could be in the market for a top six forward, just as they were when they acquired Erat before last year’s trade deadline.

But if you ask just about any Capitals fan, the greatest need is on the blue line, where the Caps sorely lack the hard-hitting, crease-clearing presence that a healthy John Erskine once brought.

The Jets would want far more than Erat and Orlov in exchange for Kane, but they might be willing to deal someone like left-handed defenseman Mark Stuart, who is averaging roughly 16 minutes a night and is in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.8 million.

http://www.csnwashington.com/hockey-washington-capitals/talk/what-could-caps-get-erat-orlov