A Look Back at the Filip Forsberg Trade

 In 2012 Filip Forsberg was taken with the #11 pick in the draft by the Caps. Considered a steal at that pick that the Caps acquired from Colorado in the Semyon Varlamov trade. However, at the 2012 NHL Trade deadline George McPhee traded Forsberg to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. Two years that trade is proving to be the wrong one for the Caps.

  Filip Forsberg in his first year as a full time NHL player is the lead candidate for Rookie of the Year. Forsberg, has 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in his first 20 games. As well as having a solid plus 20 rating. Along with Seth Jones the Predators now have two young guys to start building a good nucleus.
  Meanwhile the addition of Martin Erat was less than stellar. Erat would score 2 goals in 62 games as a Cap. Forced to play his off wing and at many times center, Erat would be one of the least affective Caps players. Michael Latta, who is playing his first full season as a Cap is proving to be a solid 4th line player.
  This trade is the reason why George McPhee was fired. If he would have just kept his calm and didn't panic the Caps would have 3 top flight prospects in their lineup along with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky. Instead McPhee traded for a guy that they would not put in the right position and wanted out as soon as he got in. Now Michael Latta is turning into a good grinder but is not near the talent Forsberg is.
  I know that George McPhee was trying to put the Caps in position to win a Cup. However, that 1st round exit was not as costly as this trade was and it could make Caps fans feel worse. The Predators are 13-5-2 and playing really well to start the season. Whereas the Caps are 9-8-3 and as of now treading water in the Metro Division.
     As a fan I am reminded on a nightly basis that Filip Forsberg is starting to have his career take off. While the Caps are waiting for Evgeny Kuznetsov to break out. Not that Kuz won't be a great player, but how fun would it have been to watch Forsberg, Kuznetsov, Burakovsky, and Wilson grow up together. We will never know how great it could have been.