The 2012 NHL Trade Deadline has officially passed and the Washington Capitals stood pat, not making any deals to bolster the team for the playoff push.
Rumors have been circulating for weeks regarding several Caps, most notably Mike Knuble and Roman Hamrlik. Yet, at the 3 p.m. EST deadline, both Knuble and Hamrlik are still members of the Washington organization.
The Caps' biggest need was at the center position, particularly a top-six center that can play on the top lines. Over the last week, however, players that could fit that mold - Jeff Carter, Antoine Vermette and Sami Pahlsson to name a few - were shipped elsewhere.
It seemed as though the Caps were primed to make a splash Monday when they put Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) on long-term injured reserve, freeing up nearly $7.6 million of cap space. Instead, Washington did not make a deadline deal for the first time since 2008-09.
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