Grading the Capitals’ Trade for Jordan Kyrou

The Washington Capitals made a splash on Tuesday (Jun. 23) by acquiring forward Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, the Blues received Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft.

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues for forwards Connor McMichael and Milton Gastrin and Washington’s first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 23, 2026

The Capitals needed a top-six forward, while the Blues are looking to retool. Kyrou’s name had been involved in trade rumors for months, and finally, he was moved.

In this article, we take a quick look at how the deal worked out for both sides. This is a rare occasion where both teams could be considered winners of this trade for different reasons, but there is always a team that comes out on top right away.

Capitals Land Underrated Star Forward

The initial reaction from some fans indicated that the Capitals may have overpaid for Kyrou, which I don’t believe is true at all. Kyrou is one of, if not the, most underrated players in the entire league. He has a solid two-way game, produces well offensively, and should be someone who does extremely well in a new situation.

Jordan Kyrou, acquired by WSH, is a dynamic scoring winger with sick hands, wheels, and dual-threat skill, especially off the rush. Finishing collapsed this year, previously a strength. His D metrics were also superb this year; I don't know that I would count on that though. pic.twitter.com/TXFzRm7aPC

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 23, 2026

Kyrou was likely a top trade target for several teams looking to make additions to their top-six forward group this summer, so the Capitals needed to make sure they beat out any competing trade packages, and it hurts to have to lose McMichael and Gastrin, on top of a first-round pick.

With that being said, though, they end up with a player who is immediate help offensively. He slipped a bit offensively last season, notching 46 points through 72 games, a drop-off from his 2024-25 campaign where he had 70 points in 82 games.

With the uncertainty surrounding the future of Alex Ovechkin, adding someone who is a multi-time 30-goal scorer is a tidy piece of work, regardless of what decision their captain makes.

If Kyrou can bounce back offensively, while maintaining his strong play away from the puck at both ends and in almost any situation, this could end up looking like a steal for the Capitals.

Capitals Grade: A

Blues Receive Solid Trade Return

When you trade a good player, you have to get a good return, and that’s exactly what the Blues did.

McMichael, who is 25 years old and had 46 points through 78 games last season, steps into their middle-six forward group immediately, and there would be no surprise if he became a staple in their top-six.

Gastrin, who is 19 years old, has yet to play in North America, but has shown promise in Sweden. He was drafted 37th overall by the Capitals in the 2025 NHL Draft, and seems like a promising prospect who could, eventually, be a contributor for the Blues.

Lastly, they added a first-round pick in a strong draft class. That kind of return for someone that is impressive, and makes moving out a player like Kyrou easier to handle. The Blues get a little younger, and open up some room in their lineup for growth of younger players, where they can have larger roles next season.

Blues Grade: A-

This might be a hot take, but I give a slight edge to the Capitals for this move. Blues fans complained that Kyrou has a tendency to be streaky, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for the Capitals, who are adding an elite forward, filling one of their key needs this offseason.

Both teams did extremely well in this deal, and only time will tell which team comes out on top, but out of the gates, it is a win for the Capitals.

As the 2026-27 season approaches, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.