Optimistic view

Created by: qc14

Team: 2022-23 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 6, 2022

Published: Jul. 7, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Legend

Left Handed

Original Team

Waivers Exempt

Right Handed

Position

Trade Clause

Max Perf. Bonus

Expiry Status

Term Remaining

McDavid, Connor

$12,500,000 ( Performance Bonus

$250,000)

NMC

UFA - 5

Description

Obviously BMac said that Backstrom will be back at some point this season and they will try to replace him internally. I do think that this will mean no really big FA forward signings -- Kadri, Gaudreau, Forsberg should all be ruled out. However, there is still a chance that they will make a significant move. It is not like MacLellan is going to come out and publicly say that a franchise legend is done and needs to retire before Backstrom himself does. This statement also looks good for the league in the case of a Kucherov type return for the playoffs -- Backstrom and the Caps both wanted him to come back in time and even planned for it, but it just couldn't work ...

This makes Miller by far the most obvious answer. He will be super cheap for this year, and an extension can wait until after there is more clarity on the Backstrom situation. He also plays wing more than center, so "internal replacements" can get the first crack at the 2c job still. If Backstrom can come back fully, it will leave them in a big bind with Miller either in a position to walk or needing to move / let go one of Orlov, Mantha, Oshie, WIlson next summer. It's risky, but I think a risk they have to take.

This still means they have to go cheaper in goal with someone like Reimer, and limit the only other change to a cheaper defenseman. If Hagelin is good to go, eat the 4th rounder or whatever you need to attach to him to move to AZ.

Lines if/when Backstrom and Wilson are back:

Ovi - Kuzy - Wilson
Miller - McMike - Mantha
Sheary - Backstrom - Oshie
AJF - Dowd - Hath

You're asking a lot of McMichael, Snively, and Protas in this scenario, but it feels like the only option.

Free Agent Signings

RFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Johansen, Lucas	2	$800,000
Samsonov, Ilya	2	$2,250,000
Vanecek, Vitek	2	$1,500,000

UFA		YEARS	CAP HIT
Irwin, Matt		1	$800,000

Trades

WSH

Miller, J.T. ($1,750,000 retained)

VAN

Eller, Lars
Lapierre, Hendrix
2023 1st round pick (WSH)
2023 2nd round pick (WSH)

Additional Details:

I do not want to argue about Miller returns any more. My general feeling is that the most the Caps will part with is 2 out of Lapierre, Iorio, and a 1st. Went with 2023 picks as I don't think a trade happens before the draft tomorrow, and VAN takes a not unreasonable gamble the Caps fall apart and the pick is higher than 20.

WSH

Reimer, James

SJS

2022 3rd round pick (WSH)

WSH

Holl, Justin
2023 4th round pick (TOR)

TOR

Vanecek, Vitek

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2022
2023
2024

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
24	$82,500,000	$71,486,667	$100,000	$82,500	$11,013,333

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Ovechkin, Alex $9,500,000$9,500,000 LW M-NTC, NMC UFA - 4	Kuznetsov, Evgeny $3,900,000$3,900,000 C M-NTC UFA - 3	Sheary, Conor $1,500,000$1,500,000 LW, RW UFA - 1
Miller, J.T. $3,500,000$3,500,000 C, LW, RW UFA - 1	McMichael, Connor $863,333$863,333 LW, C RFA - 2	Mantha, Anthony $2,850,000$2,850,000 LW, RW UFA - 2
Snively, Joe $800,000$800,000 LW UFA - 2	Protas, Aliaksei $789,167$789,167 ($82,500$82K) RW, LW, C UFA - 2	Oshie, T.J. $5,750,000$5,750,000 RW M-NTC UFA - 3
Jonsson-Fjällby, Axel $750,000$750,000 LW UFA - 1	Dowd, Nic $1,300,000$1,300,000 C UFA - 3	Hathaway, Garnet $1,500,000$1,500,000 RW, LW UFA - 1

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Fehérváry, Martin $791,667$791,667 LD/RD RFA - 1	Carlson, John $8,000,000$8,000,000 RD M-NTC UFA - 4
Orlov, Dmitry $1,275,000$1,275,000 LD M-NTC UFA - 1	Jensen, Nick $2,500,000$2,500,000 RD UFA - 1
van Riemsdyk, Trevor $950,000$950,000 RD UFA - 1	Holl, Justin $2,000,000$2,000,000 RD M-NTC UFA - 1	Reimer, James $2,250,000$2,250,000 G M-NTC UFA - 1
		Samsonov, Ilya $2,250,000$2,250,000 G UFA - 1

Scratches	Injured Reserve (IR)	Long Term IR (LTIR)
Leason, Brett $775,000$775,000 RW RFA - 2	Bäckström, Nicklas $9,200,000$9,200,000 C NMC UFA - 3	Hagelin, Carl $2,750,000$2,750,000 LW UFA - 1
Malenstyn, Beck $762,500$762,500 C, LW RFA - 2	Wilson, Tom $5,166,667$5,166,667 RW M-NTC UFA - 2
Johansen, Lucas $800,000$800,000 LD UFA - 2	Alexeyev, Alexander $863,333$863,333 LD/RD RFA - 1
Irwin, Matt $800,000$800,000 LD/RD UFA - 1