Capitals Re-Tool

Team: 2022-23 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: May 16, 2022

Published: May 16, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Intro:
-General Manager Brian MacLellan stated in his post season press conference that the team doesn't need to get faster, but they do need to get younger. I feel like he was hinting at a lot of solutions within the organization from players in Hershey. He also specifically stated that McMichael and Fehervary roles will continue to get bigger, and ideally would like to see McMichael play center for them.

Trades:
-The only trade I am making is shipping long time third line center, Lars Eller to the Wild in exchange for draft picks. Caps are constantly trading away picks, and I would like to see them replenish that a bit. Lars is also getting up there in age, and doesn't look like a 3rd line center on an elite team anymore (which the Capitals still want to be). I think the Caps get out from his contract, and this move will also create some space for some youth to be injected into the lineup.

RFA Signings:
-I brought back a lot of youth that the Capitals have in their organization, but the most noteworthy being Samsonov AND Vanecek. Now, I think most people would think that they will only be bringing one of them back. But, Brian said he liked both of their games this year, and that they are both young goalies that just need to learn how to be more consistent. He also did not completely dismiss the idea that both would be back next year, so for the sake of this roster, I want to keep them both around on bridge deals.

UFA Signings:
-Every off-season, fans want their teams to go out and make huge splashes in the free agent market. I don't see the Capitals being able to attract, or pay for a very highly sought after free agent such as Forsberg (I see the nostalgia of finally bringing him to Washington after trading him for Martin Erat... the trade still haunts me).

-I think a very realistic possibility is bringing in Andrew Copp. The Capitals were rumored to be interested in acquiring him at the deadline last year, and this could be another shot at getting him without giving up assets. Copp is an excellent two-way player which the Capitals need more of. Copp is in the prime of his career right now at the age of 27, and will be looking for a good pay day after his last season with Winnipeg and the New York Rangers post trade deadline (53 points in 72 games). With Backstrom potentially retiring, or getting surgery (I put him on LTIR for now), the Capitals will have some money to spend, and could afford a player like Copp. Copp is good in the faceoff dot (something the Caps need), good defensively, provides energy with physical play and is a good compliment to skill players evidenced by his time in Winnipeg and New York where he flanked players like Kyle Connor, Mark Schiefele, Pierre Luc Dubios, and Artemi Panarin.

-The next player I signed was Troy Stecher. I was very impressed with his play this post season with the LA Kings when they played the Oilers (at the time I'm writing this, the Oilers have already won in 7 games). Stetcher brought new energy to the team from the back end with his physical play, and his offense. The Capitals could use a shifty defenceman like Stecher who can help provide a spark. I have him paired with TVR as the third pairing, and I think that could be a very reliable pairing for head coach Peter Laviolette.

-The final UFA signed by the Capitals is veteran goalie Mikko Koskinen. GM Brian MacLellan didn't beat around the bush when he said he is hoping to bring in a more veteran goaltender. He mentioned he would explore trade options as well as UFA because he wasn't convinced that there would be a UFA that they liked available because there was only a couple that they liked as a whole. I have them bringing back both Samsonov and Vanecek, so it doesn't make a ton of sense financially to bring in a goalie that would garner a large contract. It also doesn't make much sense to make a trade to bring someone in who could end up being their 3rd option come playoff time next year. So Koskinen makes sense to me. He has some experience in Edmonton, but I believe with a better defensive core around him, he could have more upside than he showed with the Oilers.

Youth Movement:
-The main thing I wanted to do with this roster reconstruct, is inject youth into this aging lineup.
-The forward group is highlighted by the pickup of Copp, but that is not the only noteworthy move made here. Connor McMichael saw very limited ice time in the short post season run this past year. I have said it in the past and I'll say it again, in the salary cap era, you need young players on rookie deals playing like they are more valuable than that. Laviolette should at least give McMichael a shot at a top 6 role this season, and I think he will (especially with Backstrom looking like he'll be on LTIR or retired). I also have made room for Hendrix Lapierre with the moving of Lars Eller. Lapierre looked great to start last season and seemed to have developed a bit of chemistry with TJ Oshie, which is why I have started them together. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is another young piece who should find his way onto the opening night roster. With Carl Hagelin on LTIR as well, AJF is essentially a younger version of him, with potentially more offensive ability. Aliaksei Protas, and Joe Snivley I believe will be the players in the press box for Laviolette to start the 2022/23 season. Protas and Snivley have both shown the ability to play up and down in the lineup, and that is very valuable to have, which is why they make the roster over some other players in Hershey.
-On defense, I believe that the solution to the youth issue is a mostly internal one. Martin Fehervary's minutes will continue to climb on the top pair with John Carlson. But I think that next year is the year we see Alex Alexeyev finally make an impact at the NHL level. Between TVR, Troy Stecher, and Alexeyev, I think the Capitals have a legitimate trio of defenders that can play on their bottom pair. I do also think that Alexeyev has the potential to move up this lineup with solid play as well. I didn't disrupt the Orlov - Jensen pair as they were Washington's most consistent pairing last season. But, that could change in the new year too which could open up a spot for Alexeyev.

Overall:
-I think this team has a capability to compete again. Ovechkin has shown he is still an elite goal scorer, and with injuries to many key players this playoffs, they still managed to take the Presidents Trophy winning Florida Panthers to 6 games, and even looked like the better team for some moments in the series. With the injection of youth, adding some good two-way, energy providing players in free agency like Copp and Stecher, and adding a more veteran goalie in Koskinen, the Capitals should be a team that looks to compete in 2022/23.