Time for Capitals to make a deal?

The Capitals have lost seven of their last nine games and could be out of a playoff spot by the time they play again Thursday night in TampaBay.

They have two players – goaltender Michael Neuvirth and forward Marty Erat – who want a change of scenery, and three goalies trying to share one net.

With all that in mind, is now the time for the Caps to make a deal?

Clearly, Capitals general manager George McPhee is not dealing from a position of strength. Neuvirth, 25, hasn’t played a game since Nov. 22 and hasn’t been a No. 1 goalie since 2010-11 when he went 27-12-4. Since then he’s gone 19-21-8 in parts of three seasons.

Erat, 32, has no goals and 15 assists and is back to playing on a fourth line now that Brooks Laich is healthy. [As a side note, the prospect the Capitals traded to Nashville in exchange for Erat, Filip Forsberg, was named the MVP of the recently completed World Junior Championships].

http://www.csnwashington.com/hockey-washington-capitals/talk/time-capitals-make-deal