It was a nice try. But the Caps couldn’t find another NHL team to take center Michael Nylander off their hands. He sailed through waivers on Thursday afternoon and remains on the team’s payroll. There was some thought Nylander’s $4.875 million salary-cap hit – but just $3 million salary for 2010-11 – would entice someone desperate for a center and desperate to reach the NHL's payroll floor. No dice.

Make no mistake – Nylander will not count against Washington’s cap this season. His no-movement clause expired after last season. If there are no takers via trade the Caps can send him to AHL Hershey, loan him to another organization's minor-league affiliate as they did last year, pay him while he finds a spot in Europe or…whatever. It’s a sunk cost. But considering what they had to go through to clear the 37-year-old from their cap last season the front office will take it.