Blockbuster trade idea could save Commanders' season after Terry McLaurin injury
The NFL trade deadline is right on the horizon, and the Washington Commanders are in flux. At 3-5, it would seem that the likely move for Adam Peters is to sell rather than buy.
But this is a team that started the year expecting to compete for a deep playoff run. Selling would be a weak-willed admission of failure, and would affirm a losing culture the Commanders absolutely cannot afford to let creep back in.
The Commanders went through this two years ago, when Washington traded away defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat just hours before the deadline. The team quit. Everybody was going through the motions, just waiting for the season to be over. Let's not do that again, please.
Washington must do whatever it takes to salvage a respectable season in 2025, even if that looks like a lost cause. There's one move that could pay significant dividends.
Commanders named potential landing spot for Saints WR Rashid Shaheed
Dan Quinn's squad needs some reinforcements to their wide receiver corps in a bad way, with All-Pro Terry McLaurin having played in only three games in 2025 and Noah Brown on injured reserve. One player who could solve many of their problems is Rashid Shaheed.
The speedy weapon has 431 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns through eight games in 2025, which is the final year of his rookie contract on one of the worst teams in the NFL. He's a perfect candidate to be on the trade block, and Dan Treacy of
"With (Terry) McLaurin aggravating a quad injury, the Commanders have to decide if they are still hoping to contend this season. If they believe that path is there, a deep threat in Shaheed could be fun to pair with the arm of Daniels down the stretch."
Dan Treacy
Adam Peters is no stranger to making deals with the Saints, acquiring four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the 2024 deadline. That move hasn't aged particularly well, but Shaheed seems like a much better fit.
The Commanders need an explosive playmaker in their offense now that McLaurin is out again. Luke McCaffrey has shown in spurts that he can provide that. As has Deebo Samuel Sr., though the veteran's play has tailed off since the start of the year while nursing his own heel injury.
However, Shaheed could open up Washington's passing attack and help Jayden Daniels rediscover his rookie-year magic.
The Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster
The Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-2) are getting back in their groove, winning four straight games after their 2-1 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. While the Lightning look to rise to the top of the Atlantic Division their American Hockey League (AHL, Syracuse Crunch) and ECHL teams (Orlando Solar Bears) are heading in opposite directions. The Crunch are cruising, with a 6-1-0-0 record, which leads the North Division, while the Solar Bears own a dreadful 1-4-0-0 record, allowing twice as many goals (20) as they’ve scored.
Even still, there are standouts littered in the minors for Tampa Bay, and in some instances, the Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster.
AHL: Jakob Pelletier, F
The Lightning signed Pelletier to a three-year contract last offseason in the hopes he’d reach his massive upside. At 24 years old, the 2019 first-round pick scored four goals and seven assists with a plus-10 rating in 24 games for the Calgary Flames last season. That’s an average of about 14-24-38 over a full season, and he was usually playing bottom-six minutes.
Unfortunately, the Flames traded the winger to Philadelphia for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost in late January. Pelletier couldn’t get back his offensive spark in Philadelphia. With the Flyers, he scored just three goals, five assists, and eight points in 25 games, sometimes being healthy scratched. When he was due $840,000 on a qualifying offer on a two-way deal, the Flyers non-tendered him, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Pelletier hasn’t made his debut with the Lightning, but with the Crunch, he’s thriving. Through seven games, Pelletier has notched four goals and five assists, with a plus-1 rating. He currently leads the Crunch in points and goals. In a 5-2 win against the Hershey Bears, Pelletier had two goals and an assist.
If Pelletier keeps this pace up, the Lightning could recall him, and he could be an injection of youth Tampa Bay desperately needs right now.
AHL: Dylan Duke, F
Dylan Duke is another young talent the Lightning hope can evolve into an NHL-caliber forward. He was drafted 121st overall by Tampa Bay after a stellar career with the Michigan Wolverines. In 2023-24, Duke was on a team with NHL draftees Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, and Seamus Casey. However, Duke led the team in goals (26) and finished third in points (49). Overall, he finished with 54 goals and 46 assists in 123 games.
Duke has just one goal in the NHL level so far, but he is turning a new leaf with the Crunch this season. He’s scored one goal and added six assists for seven points through seven games. He is currently in the top 20 in assists in the AHL level.
It appears Duke could be taking a big jump from his rookie season, when he scored 20 goals, 20 assists, and 40 points through 62 games. Like Pelletier, Duke is another young forward the Lightning are looking to develop into an NHL-caliber player. Unlike Pelletier, Duke is just 22, and he has time to grow and become another late-round NHL contributor for the Lightning.
ECHL: Spencer Kersten, F
It’s hard to find a standout for the Solar Bears this season, but there’s one player who’s been tried and true for them. Spencer Kersten continues to shine for Orlando.
Kersten spent four years with Princeton University and one year at Bowling-Green University before signing with the Solar Bears in 2024. In his rookie season, Kersten shined, recording 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points through 60 games. That earned him a spot on the 2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie team.
This year, Kersten has increased his scoring output, with three goals and three assists for six points through five games. He is on pace to record 86 points this season.
That could earn Kersten a recall to the AHL. His strong play with Orlando earned him brief stints with the Crunch and the Belleville Senators on loan. He scored one goal in nine games with the Crunch, but he could be in line for more opportunities in the AHL if he keeps up this pace.
