Easiest Answer To Cap Problem

I disagree about the clearing waivers part. I think someone takes a chance on him

pretty safe bet Copley can be sent down.

It doesn't really fix the cap issues on the team though. This team is getting really old as well.
I still don't get the decision to sign Oshie till he's 38. They must be praying for LTIR with his concussion issues. The dude already blinks like a crackhead.
They need to start injecting some youth on this team. I think this might be one of the oldest teams in the league this year.

Oshie gave his heart and soul for that Stanley Cup, I wouldn't ding him if he took an early LTIR "retirement" -- that said, he's getting close to healthy from the skull and collarbone issues and has been working out in DC already so don't count the guy out. He's a real hard working guy.

The real PROBLEM on the Capitals is Carlson and Orlov...they are in no way worth $13M between them. They are the most mistake prone defensemen on the team an Carlson phones in his play half the time, especially on the PP. We will also see if Kuzy has a bounce back year or if he's wildly overpaid (a la Alex Semin back in the day).

Don't lay this at Oshie's feet his AAV is pretty decent compared to some other contracts out there, and the length is suspect sure...but anyone can get hurt at any time.

I never said the cap issues is on Oshie, I said I don't get why they signed him till he's 38. I don't care how you flip that, it's a bad contract unless he retires early.

The real problem on this team is there is no youth. You have to balance out those older players with some young fast hungry players who are on the cheap and got some skill.
OV is gonna be 34 this year, he's not a strong skater to say the least. Oshie is gonna be 33, Backstrome is 32, Hags is 31.
Vrana the only guy there under 25, and he's 24 this yer.
Holtby is gonna be 30 and he's gonna want 7-8 years on a contract probably at big money. My god, no. Be paying him till he's 38 too.

This team needs to start injecting it's players from the AHL and hope some of them are good. They can't go out on the ice as one of the oldest teams in the league.
They are probably in the top 8 as far as age. The only one of those teams that is even remotely close to good other than washington is Boston and they are trying like mad to inject youth into the team.

We all know the core of a team is going to age, but you have got to find ways off adding those younger players to the periphery. Washington just hasn't done it. It's one of their biggest cap issues.

Then that's okay. Not the end of the world to lose a backup goalie.