Golden Knights trade for longtime Caps C Dowd

The Vegas Golden Knights added veteran center Nic Dowd in a trade with the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Dowd, 35, heads to the Golden Knights with the Capitals receiving prospect goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

"Really difficult day for the organization, our team, players, staff. Nic Dowd being traded after seven years," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters. "... He's meant a lot to this team. He's meant a lot to this community, him and his family. He'll be missed. It's one of the unfortunate parts of this business, saying goodbye to good people."

Landing Dowd, who has four goals and 12 assists in 55 games, accomplishes a few things for the Golden Knights. It gives them a bottom-six center and an anchor for their fourth line.

Dowd also provides the Golden Knights with a sense of certainty. He is in the first of a two-year contract worth $3 million annually for a team that has four active forwards who are slated to be unrestricted free agents.

That list includes winger Cole Smith, whom the Golden Knights acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Nashville Predators.

Strengthening their forward depth has become a priority for the Golden Knights given the state of their roster. The club moved captain Mark Stone to injured reserve Thursday with Brett Howden and William Karlsson already on long-term injured reserve.

Vegas (29-19-14) entered Thursday leading the tightly contested Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have a one-point lead over the Anaheim Ducks and are separated by five points from the Seattle Kraken, who are in the second and final Western Conference wild-card spot.

PuckPedia projects the Golden Knights to have $1.503 million in deadline cap space should they elect to make another move before the 3 p.m. ET Friday cutoff.

As for the Capitals (31-25-7), they are four points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot but have played three more games than the Bruins.