The Washington Capitals have been the most active team in the division ahead of the deadline. On Monday, the Caps traded a 2018 conditional third-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Michal Kempny. Yesterday, they also made a deal to trade a 2019 fifth-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Jakub Jerabek. These moves leave the Caps with $693,000 in salary cap space, just above the veteran minimum of $650,000.
These moves are a little confusing to me. I know that Washington is trying to limit the minutes of Brooks Orpik, but neither defenseman makes the Caps a better team or improves their chances to win the Cup.