When discussing players potentially on the move, Connor McMichael often isn’t mentioned. Names like Martin Necas, Rutger McGroarty, and Patrik Laine come up much more frequently.
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However, McMichael isn’t completely off the table. While he isn’t actively being marketed like the others, his general manager is engaging in talks with other teams. At the draft, there were reports of discussions between the Capitals and the Jets about a possible trade involving McMichael. Additionally, Washington was mentioned in McGroarty trade rumors shortly after, which might not be just a coincidence.
It seems likely that McMichael and McGroarty were topics of conversation between the GMs during the draft. Kent Hughes, the Canadiens’ GM, also reportedly talked with his Winnipeg counterpart about McMichael.
Despite these discussions, McMichael wasn’t close to being traded. A few days post-draft, he signed a two-year contract with Team USA. This past season, McMichael tallied 33 points in 80 games and is well-regarded by fans for his potential to become a star.
Winnipeg’s interest in the 23-year-old makes sense, considering that Jets’ new head coach Scott Arniel previously served as an assistant coach with the Capitals during McMichael’s rookie season. Arniel likely spoke highly of McMichael, which could explain the Jets’ interest. With Winnipeg looking to make a trade and needing a center, a swap involving McMichael could have been a possibility.
In Washington, the center position is well-stocked with players like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Hendrix Lapierre (a two-time Calder Cup winner), Nic Dowd, and Dylan Strome. Nicklas Backstrom, nearing the end of his career, and Connor McMichael round out the center options, although McMichael may be used more frequently on the wing according to his coach.
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