Mike Green, once an elite offensive defenseman, has fallen on hard times since back-to-back 70-point seasons in 2009 and 2010.
Green has struggled to stay healthy and put up those kind of offensive numbers over the past five seasons, but he’s still a valuable defenceman with upside. As a result there has been lots of speculation over the past couple seasons that the Washington Capitals were looking to trade the 29-year-old and his $6.25 million contract.
However, according to Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday the Capitals aren’t likely to part with Green before the trade deadline.
“The GM of the Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan, saying today that ‘He will not trade Mike Green for a rental or a prospect. It’s a big deal or nothing,’” said Friedman. “He says ‘He doesn’t see anything materializing.’ So, you can expect that Mike Green will stay with the Capitals and they will take a run with him.”
With the Capitals just five points out of first in the Eastern Conference, and four points shy of the division lead, Washington thinks they have a legitimate chance of making a run for the Stanley Cup and Mike Green is a big part of the reason why.
Green is a key cog in the NHL’s second-best power play, and has proven to be an important piece on a talented blue line. Green logs over 19 minutes a night and has five goals and 36 points in 51 games this season, with 15 of those points coming on the power play.
If the Capitals do hold on to Green as expected, they do however risk losing him for nothing in the offseason when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
