Capitals acquire Graovac from Wild for 5th-round pick

The Washington Capitals acquired forward Tyler Graovac from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2018, the team announced Wednesday.

The move is likely a ploy by the Capitals so they can make Graovac unprotected at the expansion draft and in turn protect forward Lars Eller from being plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

The 24-year-old split last season between the Wild and the American Hockey League. He posted seven goals and nine points in 52 games with the big club, while adding had 10 goals and 15 points in 26 games with Iowa.