Photo: Monumental Sports

Washington Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan held his end-of-season press conference this morning at Kettler. 

General comments from General Manager Brian MacLellan:

GM Brian MacLellan says #Caps missed Joel Ward. “He’s the kind of guy we needed in the playoffs.” #SJSharks

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 16, 2016

Brian MacLellan says improving bottom-six forwards will be #Caps‘ priority in offseason. “I’m pretty content with the core.”

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 16, 2016

MacLellan says #Caps “got exposed with the really fast teams” like the #Pens. Speed will be a priority.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 16, 2016

MacLellan: “Overall, I don’t think we’re a slow team, but I think at times, we get exposed with the really fast teams.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

GM Brian MacLellan said #Caps are still looking to solidify 3C position. Said solution may be in house. UFAs may command to be much $ to fit

— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) May 16, 2016

Asked what the wish list is for the team going into offseason, MacLellan said it’s the bottom-six and solidifying that. Wants a top-nine.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

MacLellan: “I think the 9th, 10th forward are where we’re gonna look to improve.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

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MacLellan on Hershey Bears partnership:

MacLellan said the organization is happy with its affiliation with Hershey and the intention is to work out an extension.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

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MacLellan on specific players:

MacLellan said he doesn’t know if Alzner will need surgery. Other than that potentially, doesn’t think any other pressing injury stuff.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

On Mike Richards, MacLellan said he thinks that worked out for both parties, but the offensive side they thought could come never did.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

Asked about Latta, MacLellan said he needs to have more dimensions, like penalty kill.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

MacLellan said ‘there’s a chance’ Jason Chimera comes back. Depends on cost of RFAs. Scoring 1 goal in playoffs won’t help. #CapitalsTalk

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 16, 2016

Caps GM Brian MacLellan says he will work on improving bottom 6 forwards. Added Tom Wilson needs to become Caps’ Joel Ward. #CapitalsTalk

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 16, 2016

MacLellan mentioned Chandler Stephenson as a guy who’s “coming.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

Brian MacLellan hopes #Caps can “turn Tom Wilson into Joel Ward.” Anticipates RFAs Wilson, Johansson, Orlov & Latta will be back.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 16, 2016

@u2hokie: #Caps MacLellan on Johansson as potential 3C: “I see him as a guy that you can move around.. Ideally is he a center? Probably not”

— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) May 16, 2016

MacLellan said Vrana projects as a top-six player. “I don’t know that next year’s necessarily the time for him, but we’ll take a look.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 16, 2016

Kuznetsov, MacLellan said, “maybe ran out of gas a little bit.”

— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) May 16, 2016

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Jason Chimera, who missed the Caps final media day was available for the press today:

Potential UFA Jason Chimera says he would be depressed weeks, months, years if Capitals won Stanley Cup without him. #CapitalsTalk

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 16, 2016

Left wing Jason Chimera wants to return to #Caps because he’s 37 and sees a prime chance to win. He’s a UFA coming off a 20-goal season.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 16, 2016

You can watch Jason Chimera’s exist interview here:

You can watch video of MacLellan’s press conference right here: