Trade deadline fixes: Southeast

Hockey Prospectus is taking a look at the NHL division by division and suggesting ways each team should tackle the forthcoming trade deadline. On Friday, we conclude with the Southeast Division.

Feb. 28 marks the NHL's trade deadline, and every team in the league -- both those playoff-bound and those likely for the draft lottery -- has needs to address. To prepare for the final flurry of transactions, we're going team by team to see which players can help fill some holes on contenders or provide some foundational stability for teams building for next season and beyond.

One statistic you'll come across in the analysis below is GVT, the main player valuation metric used by Hockey Prospectus. For a detailed explanation of GVT, click here.

Washington Capitals

The Problem: The Capitals have long been considered an offensive juggernaut. However, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, both tremendous players, are having down years in 2010-11. Alexander Semin is the team's other offensive difference-maker, but he has been missing in action since approximately November, due in part to injuries and poor play.

The Capitals' fifth-leading scoring forward is Mike Knuble with his 24 points; if you had told Washington GM George McPhee prior to the season that this would be the case, he wouldn't have believed you. With that in mind, the Capitals should be looking to add another offensive contributor heading down the stretch.

To see what Hockey Prospectus has identified as problems and solutions for every team in the Southeast Division, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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