NHL Trade Rumors: Washington Capitals Would Be Wise to Ditch Alexander Semin

The Washington Capitals have been disappointing this season to say the least, as they sit on the outside looking in on the playoff race, trailing both the Florida Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets in the Eastern Conference's Southeast division.

With the NHL's trade deadline approaching on Monday, many around the league are speculating that in order for positive change to occur, Washington must shake things up. 

Russian left winger Alexander Semin has been rumored to be a potential move for the Caps for months now. After all, the 27-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end and likely to walk away from DC while providing the Eastern Conference hopefuls with nothing in return.

The Caps have just 67 points through 62 games this season, and sit just 13th in the NHL in goals per game but yet rank 20th in the league in goals allowed per game. It's a far cry from the squad that won the Presidents' Trophy in 2010 with 121 points.

Although Washington would appear as losers in any trade involving the offensively-gifted Semin, who has scored 17 goals and assisted on 24 more this season, the move would serve as a much-needed wake-up call to the rest of the roster heading into the year's final playoff push.

Washington general manager George McPhee, who has put together a brilliant team over the past few seasons, must now swallow his pride and acknowledge that this group's championship window is closed.

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"That's the trouble, [McPhee] is not going to get a first-round pick. More like a prospect and second-round pick. The problem is that they're fighting for their life." NHL source via ESPN.

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Undeniably a prospect and a second-round pick is better than nothing. If the Caps take their chances the rest of the way without making a notable trade deadline splash, then they run the risk of losing Semin to free agency this summer and watching the postseason action from home.

If the opportunity presents itself for McPhee to dump Semin's $6.7 million contract on another team in exchange for a future piece or the promise of a future piece then he would be wise to take it.

The Caps are not going to win the Stanley Cup this season, and taking into account their recent playoff failure, one has to believe that moving a soon-to-be free-agent player of Semin's caliber is the best option for the long run.