Max McNab trades
| Los Angeles Kings acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Garry Galley | July 23, 1981 | Al Jensen |  |
| Detroit Red Wings acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mark Lofthouse | July 23, 1981 | Al Jensen | |
| Colorado Rockies acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1981 1st round pick (#5-Joe Cirella) | June 10, 1981 | 1981 1st round pick (#3-Bobby Carpenter) | |
| 1981 2nd round pick (#26-Rich Chernomaz) | 1981 3rd round pick (#45-Eric Calder) | |||
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | Pittsburgh Penguins acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 5th round pick (#91-Peter Sidorkiewicz) | January 2, 1981 | Gary Rissling |  |
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | New York Islanders acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Lowdermilk | December 26, 1980 | future considerations |  |
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | Philadelphia Flyers acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.Bob Kelly | August 21, 1980 | 1982 3rd round pick (#47-Bill Campbell) |  |
| Calgary Flames acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | future considerations (cash) | July 1, 1980 | Jean Pronovost | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Tim Coulis | June 11, 1980 | Mike Palmateer | |
| Robert Picard | 1980 3rd round pick (#55-Torrie Robertson) | |||
| 1980 2nd round pick (#26-Bob McGill) | ||||
| Toronto Maple Leafs acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Kaszycki | February 16, 1980 | Pat Ribble | |
| Hartford Whalers acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Tom Rowe | January 17, 1980 | Alan Hangsleben | |
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | New York Islanders acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Kaszycki | December 7, 1979 | Gord Lane | |
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | Philadelphia Flyers acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Stephenson | August 16, 1979 | 1981 3rd round pick (#47-Barry Tabobondung) | |
| Quebec Nordiques acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nelson Burton | June 15, 1979 | Dave Parro | |
| Los Angeles Kings acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Marson | June 11, 1979 | Steve Clippingdale | |
| Minnesota North Stars acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Chuck Arnason | April 24, 1979 | future considerations (cash) | |
| Minnesota North Stars acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| future considerations | March 12, 1979 | Chuck Arnason | |
| Washington Capitals acquire | Date | New York Islanders acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michel Bergeron | October 19, 1978 | 1979 2nd round pick (#25-Tomas Jonsson) | |
| Minnesota North Stars acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 1st round pick (#10-Tom J. McCarthy) | October 18, 1978 | Dennis Maruk | |
| Vancouver Canucks acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | cash | June 15, 1978 | 1978 twelfth round pick (#189-Steve Barger) | |
| Colorado Rockies acquire | Date | Washington Capitals acquire | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cash | June 15, 1978 | 1978 fourteenth round pick (#215-Ray Irwin) | |