With the Washington Capitals out of contention for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the focus immediately turns towards next season with the goal of making the most out of captain Alex Ovechkin’s final years while also bracing for the post-Ovechkin era. After reviewing the potential offseason strategies that Washington could adopt this offseason, NoVa Caps contributors give their thoughts on how Washington should approach the biggest offseason in a long time.
Harrison: I think a hybrid of infusing youth, a significant trade, and blowing some of the roster up is warranted at this point. Lots of changes are needed if the intent is to stay competitive with Ovechkin. We have seen the players that Washington values when they inked extensions post-NHL All-Star break, as well as the core guys. I have absolutely no problem with that as all of those players earned the extensions they got.
I would expect a number of guys like Lapierre, Alexeyev, and Aliaksei Protas to get close looks at regular roles in the fall. I also think a major trade is absolutely necessary, whether it’s center Evgeny Kuznetsov or defenseman John Carlson, preferably the latter, but Washington needs to be sure to get fair value in return.
I think that the Capitals will see what it will cost to move left-wing Anthony Mantha before they do anything this offseason unless the head coach believes that he can get more out of him, and then start tinkering to get a more accurate picture of their salary cap situation.
Jon – I think my take is probably fairly mainstream at this point. Starting at the top, all signs point to going a different direction by bringing in a new head coach. Laviolette was brought in reinstate accountability, which he has done. But the team’s “needs” have changed since his hiring. Younger players will require more of a development coach.
Also mainstream is the take that Blaine Forsythe’s time is over in DC. He was successful along the way, but that has come to an end. I expect all new coaches with the exception of Scott Allen, who did very well this season.
As far as player adjustments, I still think we are short on the backend. Alexeyev looks to be solidifying a role with the team next season, but it’s better he begins as the seventh defenseman. We also need at least one more scoring forward, possibly two, depending on who the Capitals lose in the off-season. Finally,I would look to move Mantha and be open to calls regarding Kuznetsov and Carlson.
Justin: Acquiring a top-six scoring forward in the prime of their career is a requirement this off-eason. With another primary scorer in the lineup, the Caps should be able to improve considerably in finishing rate, and should transfer to success in the standings. A player like Nick Schmaltz would be a tremendous addition to the lineup. That would likely require prospects and picks to make a trade work.
A nice-to-have addition would be a legitimate top four defenseman, ideally someone to pair with John Carlson. That move would largely depend on the evaluation of Alexander Alexeyev, but a defensively focused, fleet-footed top-four defenseman next to Carlson should allow Carlson to do what he does best: create offense.
To have the space for these types of moves, there’s probably one or two players who make considerable money that’ll be on the move: Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov. I’d only move Kuznetsov for the right package, but impactful additions to the roster are going to cost cap space.
Eric – The key for the Capitals this offseason is to get some young blood into their forward corps. Five forwards under contract for next season are aged 30 or older and a few of them, namely T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, have dealt with many injuries throughout their careers.
Adding the jump and desire of younger players can infuse a new energy into the lineup. There are a few options with Hershey that can step in and help. Connor McMichael has excelled since being sent to the Bears and can succeed at the next level if put in the right spot with a coach that believes in him. Ethen Frank is another younger player that can fit into the Caps plans. He is a natural goal scorer with a knack for the net. Beck Malenstyn would infuse energy into the bottom six and would aid the penalty kill.
Bryan: As a Spring of disappointment meanders towards a Summer of discontent, Capitals brass needs to think about the unthinkable: asking Nicklas Backstrom to retire. Everyone wants him on the the ice if/when Alex Ovechkin passes Gretzky. Everyone understands his contributions to this franchise. Everyone knows he has earned his salary through past performance, but he is no longer earning his salary, right? Nine million dollars is too high a price for his current performance. Nick is to be lauded for a tremendous career and commended for his comeback from surgery.
What to do? Name him First Line Center Emeritus and let him hang in the locker room. Make him the highest paid assistant coach in the league. But Washington needs his $9 million cap hit off the books. It won’t be an easy conversation, but someone should get in his ear before the start of the new league year.
Michael: I believe the Capitals can infuse younger players into their lineup to increase their speed and skill while not limiting Ovechkin’s chances of running down Wayne Gretzky’s record. Dylan Strome is an ideal top-line center and has played well this season, which in my opinion makes Evgeny Kuznetsov expendable for the right return in a trade (but hold onto him if nothing that increases their prospect pool and/or draft cupboard comes along).
The team also needs to give prospects like Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre, Joe Snively and Beck Malenstyn a realistic opportunity to contribute next season and continue to give Alex Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary (pending restricted free agents) more responsibilities; a contract extension for Rasmus Sandin would also not be a bad thing either ($3-3.5 million x eight years would make sense to me given his play with the Caps this season and their anticipated role for him).
While Peter Laviolette has done his best, the team needs to look elsewhere and for a younger coach that will hopefully give said young players more of a chance than the veteran bench boss has done in his time in DC. The Caps are losing ground in a Metropolitan Division that has tremendous skill, youth, and speed. It is time they acknowledge their shortcomings with personnel moves that truly address them.
Diane: The short answer, aside from getting younger, is to improve at center. Most of the UFA options are older than Kuznetsov which would defeat the purpose of getting younger. Restricted free agent centers include Pierre Luc Dubois but, as he’s a RFA, he would be expensive to acquire, whether in trade or via offer sheet. Other options include: trading for a center or promoting Connor McMichael. Or the Caps could do the Vegas Golden Knights’ (pre Jack-Eichel) model and acquiring another elite winger so they don’t have to be as strong at center.
For defense, the first order of business would be to sign RFA’s: Fehervary and Alexeyev. The latter seems to have found a home on defense. Overall, with Carlson, Van Riemsdyk, Jensen, and Sandin on contract for next season, if they sign Fehervary and Alexeyev, they’re set on defense. Maybe Lucas Johansen or Gabriel Carlsson could earn the seventh role unless they wish them to earn a spot in the top-six.
To be competitive next season, Washington will need to make some big changes. However they decide to do so will be up to MacLellan and co. After five straight years of failing to get passed the second round since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, tough decisions are on the way. MacLellan will have around two months to make them.