Washington Capitals Trade Nic Dowd to Vegas Golden Knights for Draft Picks and Prospect

The Washington Capitals traded veteran center Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, acquiring a second-round pick in 2029, a third-round pick in 2027 and goaltender Jesper Vikman. The move signals Washington is becoming a seller ahead of Friday's deadline.

Senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced the deal Thursday morning. Dowd had been a fixture on the Capitals' fourth line and penalty kill since joining the team in 2018, but the 35-year-old is headed to Vegas for what he hopes is a playoff run.

Washington Capitals prepare themselves for future playoff pushes

The Capitals received solid future value in return for their veteran center. The 2027 third-round pick originally belonged to San Jose, giving Washington added draft capital for their rebuild.

Vikman represents a lottery ticket for the Capitals' goaltending pipeline. The 23-year-old Swedish goaltender was selected by Vegas in the fifth round of the 2020 draft and stands 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds.

Vikman has an 8-7-3 record with a 3.41 goals-against average and .866 save percentage in 18 games with the Henderson Silver Knights this season. His career AHL numbers include a 16-18-5 record, 3.48 GAA and .880 save percentage across 41 games.

The Swedish netminder played two seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Vancouver Giants from 2021 to '23, posting a 36-36-3 record with a 3.19 GAA and .903 save percentage. He was named the BC Division's First Team All-Star Goaltender for the 2022-23 season.

Vegas addressed a major need by acquiring Dowd. The Golden Knights lost centers William Karlsson and Brett Howden to long-term injuries earlier this season, forcing them to use star winger Mitch Marner up the middle.

Dowd gives Vegas a proven defensive center who can kill penalties and provide leadership. He recorded 16 points with four goals and 12 assists in 55 games this season for Washington.

Over seven seasons with the Capitals, Dowd posted 166 points with 79 goals and 87 assists in 506 games. He's been one of the league's most consistent fourth-line centers, typically scoring double-digit goals and around 25 points per season.

Dowd carries a $3 million cap hit through next season, giving Vegas a veteran option for two potential playoff runs. The deal allows Washington to give younger players like Justin Sourdif more opportunity while accumulating draft capital for the future.


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