Caps' latest contract move hints at inevitable trade!

The Washington Capitals have been able to count, in the past several seasons, on great Russian players and could be about to do once more this spring.

Rumors have been circulating on Tuesday morning that Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan is in Russia negotiating a deal with younger netminder Ilya Samsonov. 

Although negotiations at this point can be only verbal and if an agreement is reached no paperwork can be done until April 30th, due to an agreement between NHL and KHL. 

Samsonov, who was picked 22nd overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft, will then become a free agent in the KHL and be able to finalize the deal with the Caps. 

This contract move hints at a possible trade of Caps backup goalie Philipp Grubauer. Washington could get an interesting return seeing that several teams are looking for help in between the pipes. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have been shopping for a good backup goaltender in the recent weeks. 

It looks like this is Grubauer's final year in a Caps jersey...