Capitals' GM wary of altering team chemistry with trade deadline looming

The Washington Capitals have a good thing going.

The Metro-leading Caps are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, have four balanced lines, and are on pace to best their Presidents' Trophy winning season from a year ago. And general manager Brian MacLellan doesn't want to alter his club's momentum as the trade deadline inches closer.

"We've got good chemistry, which is important," MacLellan told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It seems like our lines are all settled in here. Everyone is comfortable with their roles, the coaches are comfortable. So it has more the feel right now of something you don't want to mess with ... at all, in my mind, because it's running smooth right now. So I'd be more inclined to do nothing.

"But it doesn't mean that we're not going to go through the process of, 'Can we upgrade on guys.'"

Of course, things can change. Injuries occur, and with a division as tight as the Metropolitan, a slump of any sort can change playoff seeding. Still, with the way Washington is rolling, MacLellan staying the course might be his best bet.