The Capitals spent this offseason trying to fix what went wrong in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when they were eliminated by the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round after holding a 3-1 series lead.
Since selecting Alex Ovechkin with the first pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Washington has been one win from advancing to the Eastern Conference Final three times (2009, 2012, 2015), but the Capitals haven't been able to earn that victory. Ovechkin turns 30 on Sept. 17, so the time for Washington is now.
Ovechkin scored 53 goals last season to become the sixth player in NHL history with six 50-goal seasons. With Ovechkin able to produce at an elite level, the onus is on general manager Brian MacLellan to help the Capitals make the most of Ovechkin's prime. MacLellan was vocal about wanting to upgrade Washington's top six forwards after the Capitals were eliminated, then he added Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie seven weeks later. Williams, who signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract July 1, has won the Stanley Cup three times, twice with the Los Angeles Kings, including in 2014 when he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, and once with the Carolina Hurricanes. His 14 points (seven goals) in Game 7 are the most in NHL history. Perhaps more important to the Capitals, Williams' teams are 7-0.
The Capitals acquired Oshie on July 2 in a trade with the St. Louis Blues for forward Troy Brouwer, goalie prospect Pheonix Copley and a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. Either Oshie or Williams could play on the top line with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. With slightly more than $20 million in salary-cap space entering the offseason, the Capitals re-signed goalie Braden Holtby and forwards Jay Beagle and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Holtby's five-year, $30.5 million contract, reached following a July 23 arbitration hearing, cemented his place as the franchise goalie. Holtby, who was 41-20-10 with a 2.22 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and nine shutouts in 73 regular-season games, then had a 1.71 GAA and .944 save percentage in 13 playoff games.
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer, primed for an NHL role, signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract June 15. He's the top candidate to back up Holtby.
The Capitals gave Beagle a three-year, $5.25 million contract, and Kuznetsov signed a two-year, $6 million contract. Forward Marcus Johansson was awarded a one-year, $3.75 million contract following a July 29 arbitration hearing.
Defenseman Mike Green became a free agent for the first time and signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, where he likely will fill a top-four role and get prime power-play minutes.
The Capitals will continue with John Carlson, Brooks Orpik, Matt Niskanen and Karl Alzner as their top four defensemen. Veteran unrestricted free agent forwards Joel Ward and Eric Fehr found themselves playing elsewhere in part because of Washington's salary-cap constraints. Fehr signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ward signed with the San Jose Sharks for three years. Defenseman John Erskine, who missed all of last season recovering from neck surgery, was not offered a contract and is a UFA.
The departures of Brouwer, Fehr and Ward, who were three of Washington's top six penalty-killing forwards in recent seasons, mean there will be shorthanded minutes to replace. With $530,705 in remaining cap space it's unlikely the Capitals will make any more additions to the roster.Nicklas Backstrom had arthroscopic surgery on his hip May 27, and his recovery was estimated at five months. He said the injury had been bothering him since November. General manager Brian MacLellan said in July that Backstrom had started skating, which was a positive sign, but it's possible he will be sidelined beyond training camp. Last season, Backstrom played 82 games for the fifth time in his NHL career, led the League with 60 assists, and finished sixth with 78 points. Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who switched to center last season, is an option to play on the top line with Alex Ovechkin if Backstrom isn't ready. He played most of last season on the second line between Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer, and his adaptability could be an advantage. Johansson will probably stay as a wing, though he has played center in the NHL. Andre Burakovsky could take Kuznetsov's place on the second line if Backstrom is unable to play for a significant period of time.
The Capitals have more than a few options to play third-line center. Jay Beagle and Brooks Laich have filled that role, and either could reprise it if coach Barry Trotz decides he'd prefer the line to be more defense-oriented. If Trotz wants more offense, he could use Burakovsky or Kuznetsov there. Trotz may decide to leave the position open for specific matchups. That would leave Michael Latta as fourth-line center, where he was last season.
It's hard to foresee a scenario where Philipp Grubauer isn't backing up Braden Holtby this season, but MacLellan said Justin Peters will be given a fair chance to compete with Grubauer for the job at training camp. The Capitals signed Grubauer to a two-year, $1.5 million, one-way contract June 15. He has appeared in 20 NHL games with the Capitals, with a 2.44 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Peters started nine games last season, with a 3.25 GAA and .881 save percentage. When Holtby was unavailable to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round, Grubauer was recalled from Hershey, and Peters backed him up. Peters had knee surgery Aug. 11 but is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp.
In Barry Trotz's first season as coach of the Capitals, he got them back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after they missed the year before. This season, there are many reasons to believe they'll be a legitimate contender to win Stanley Cup.
Braden Holtby (25) was a workhorse in net for the Capitals last season, and the Capitals gave him a five-year, $30.5 million contract expecting he will replicate that success. Holtby set NHL career highs in wins (41), shutouts (nine), games played (73), goals-against average (2.22) and save percentage (.923); made a Capitals-record 1,887 saves; and tied their records for wins, shutouts and games played.
The addition of forwards Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie complete a skilled top six that includes Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson. An obvious upside of Williams, who signed as a free agent from the Los Angeles Kings, is his record in Game 7, where the Capitals have struggled. Williams has won all seven Game 7s he's played; Washington's record is 5-9 since 1987. There's no indication which line either will play on, but Oshie could excel with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Compared to Troy Brouwer, who went to the St. Louis Blues in the trade for Oshie, the wing is considered an upgrade at even strength.
Defenseman Mike Green's departure marked the end of an era for the Capitals, but mainstays Karl Alzner and John Carlson are under contract for $6.7 million combined until 2017, when Alzner can become an unrestricted free agent. Last season, Carlson played top-pair minutes with partner Brooks Orpik, saw time on the top power-play unit, and scored an NHL career-high 55 points. His role is likely to increase in Green's absence. Alzner, known for being a stay-at-home defenseman, was asked to contribute more in the offensive zone and responded with an NHL career-high five goals and 21 points.
Alex Ovechkin has scored at least 32 goals in each of his 10 NHL seasons, and with 53 last season became the sixth player in NHL history to have at least six 50-goal seasons. He also passed Peter Bondra on the Capitals' all-time points list. He'll turn 30 before the season starts, and though conventional wisdom says he's past his prime, Ovechkin played some of the best hockey of his career. Under Trotz, he improved his play in the defensive zone and is probably the most well-rounded version of himself we've yet to see.
The Capitals bulked up their prospect pool by selecting goaltender Ilya Samsonov in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, a surprising move considering how deep they are at the position. Several prospects, notably Jakub Vrana and Madison Bowey, will play for Hershey of the American Hockey League this season, on what could be the youngest Bears team in 10 years. Young talent in the AHL means the Capitals will have options for recalls.
Jakub Vrana, RW
How acquired: 1st round (No. 13), 2014 NHL Draft
Last season: Hershey, AHL: 3 GP, 0-5-5; Linköpings HC, Swedish Hockey League: 44 GP, 12-12-24
Vrana, 19, scored six points (two goals) in 10 Calder Cup games with Hershey after his season in Sweden and represented the Czech Republic at the 2015 World Junior Championship, scoring two goals with an assist in five games.
Vrana (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) is known for his skating and goal-scoring.
Madison Bowey, D
How acquired: 2nd round (No. 53), 2013 NHL Draft
Last season: Kelowna, WHL: 58 GP, 17-43-60
Bowey, 20, has been compared to Capitals defenseman John Carlson, and they are hoping he turns out to be that type of player. A right-handed shot, Bowey is the next generation of offensively skilled defensemen drafted by Washington. The captain for Kelowna, which won the Western Hockey League championship, and the league leader among defensemen in playoff points (19), Bowey (6-foot-1, 195), is mirroring Carlson's career path.
Stanislav Galiev, RW
How acquired: 3rd round (No. 86), 2010 NHL Draft
Last season: Capitals: 2 GP, 1-0-1; Hershey, AHL: 67 GP, 25-20-45
After scoring a career-high 25 goals for Hershey last season, Galiev, 23, signed a two-year, $1.15 million contract July 1. He played two NHL games in 2014-15 and is expected to make the Capitals roster out of training camp. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound forward is known for his scoring ability and puck-handling skills. He impressed coaches with his improvement over the past year and would likely fit in as the Capitals' fourth-line right wing.
Connor Carrick, D
How acquired: 5th round (No. 137), 2012 NHL Draft
Last season: Hershey, AHL: 73 GP, 8-34-42
Carrick, a right-shot defenseman, played 34 NHL games in 2013-14 but wasn't quite ready. After spending last season with Hershey, Carrick (5-foot-11, 185) looks better prepared to play NHL minutes. The 21-year-old will be among several defensemen competing for an NHL roster spot at training camp, and if he doesn't win one, he will be at the top of the list for recalls from Hershey.
Ilya Samsonov, G
How acquired: 1st round (No. 22), 2015 NHL Draft
Last season: Stalnye Lisy, MHL: 18 GP, 2.66 GAA, .908 SV%
Samsonov is expected to be a backup for Metallurg in the Kontinental Hockey League after a successful junior season with Stalyne Lisy. There's no rush to bring him to North America; the Capitals have enough goaltending depth to allow the 18-year-old to play out his contract in Russia. Ranked the top European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, Samsonov (6-foot-3, 200) is known for his imposing size, puck-tracking skill and quick reflexes.
Predicted Lines
8 Ovechkin - 19 Backstrom - 77 Oshie
90 Johansson - 92 Kuznetsov - 14 Williams
65 Burakovsky - 83 Beagle - 21 Laich
25 Chimera - 46 Latta - 43 Wilson
44 Orpik - 74 Carlson
27 Alzner - 2 Niskanen
81 Orlov - 88 Schmidt
70 Holtby - 35 Peters
No comments:
Post a Comment