The Washington Capitals have made it clear they want to add a top-six winger to their lineup before this year’s trade deadline. One of the top reportedly available candidates that could fill that need is St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou.
Kyrou, 27, recorded at least 67 points in each of the past four seasons, but has battled inconsistency with the Blues this year. He has 24 points (11g, 13a) in 42 games and first popped up in trade rumors after being healthy scratched earlier this season. Those rumors have only intensified with St. Louis reportedly “open for business.”
Two of hockey’s most preeminent insiders, Jeff Marek and David Pagnotta, recently discussed Kyrou’s availability on an episode of Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet. The two specifically brought the Capitals up as a suitor, with Marek referencing the team’s previous interest in adding speed to their lineup.
“You mention Jordan Kyrou, and if he’s going anywhere, I wonder about Washington, and the reason I wonder about Washington is that they were in on Nikolaj Ehlers,” Marek said. “This is a team that doesn’t have the most footspeed – that’s why Ethen Frank stands out with the Capitals, because he’s just so fast, and it really pops with the Caps. Carolina ended up getting Ehlers; they offered the extra year. I don’t think that stops Washington from looking to make their team faster, and that’s why I think there could be a fit there between the Capitals and Jordan Kyrou.”
Kyrou is quick, ranking in the 79th percentile in regard to NHL Edge’s recorded top speed (22.72 mph), and is one of the rare Blues players above water at five-on-five this season. With him on the ice, the team has seen 54.6 percent of shot attempts, 62.2 percent of expected goals, 61.5 percent of scoring chances, and 61.8 percent of high-danger chances. The lone caveat is that he starts his shifts in the offensive zone 69.7 percent of the time, the highest mark on the Blues.
After this year, Kyrou has five seasons remaining on his contract, carrying an $8.125 million cap hit, with a full no-trade clause that eventually shrinks to a 15-team no-trade list in the final year. The Blues will need Kyrou’s approval before trading him anywhere this season.
According to PuckPedia, the Capitals currently have $7.5 million in cap space and are projected to have $14.3 million at the March 6 deadline.
“I agree, I think that’s a great fit,” Pagnotta said. “I know some people are saying, ‘Well, Panarin, because of Ovechkin,’ but I think it’s more long-term thinking. Guys with term. If it falls into their lap, obviously they’re going to take advantage of it, in terms of Panarin or somebody else on an expiring deal, but if you’re looking at somebody with term who can continue to help this team now, next year, the season after, and so on, I think that’s kind of [Chris] Patrick and [Brian] MacLellan’s preference in terms of adding to this group.”
Kyrou, a Toronto native, does have a few prior connections to the Capitals. He spent a couple of seasons as a junior teammate of Jakob Chychrun in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting, and he has played with Pierre-Luc Dubois in junior tournaments for Canada.
As for what the Blues may expect in return for Kyrou, Pagnotta believes they’ll be seeking an upgrade on defense. The team has just three defenders signed after next season, and only one of them, Philip Broberg, will still be in his 20s.
“If they do move out a guy like Kyrou, I’m curious about the centerpiece coming back being a young defenseman,” Pagnotta said. “It looks like St. Louis is looking at guys 25 and younger who are NHL caliber already or just on the cusp of being everyday guys.”
The Capitals have a few defensemen who could satisfy those requirements, namely 25-year-old Rasmus Sandin at the NHL level and someone like 21-year-old Ryan Chesley in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Sandin could be determined as a movable piece by the Capitals, as the club could replace him with star prospect Cole Hutson on the left side of their defense as soon as this upcoming spring.
