Re-tooling at its finest and lucking into getting 2nd OA

Team: 2023-24 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 20, 2023

Published: Apr. 21, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Caps get lucky and get 2nd OA where they obviously pick Fantilli. Their future heir to Backstrom.

This team may not make a lot of noise next season, but there's some serious skill added and could potentially compete the year after if the Backstrom/Oshie situation gets sorted out.

- Offersheet Lafreniere, I doubt the Rangers would be able to match that caphit without seriously damaging their roster elsewhere. They're in win-now mode and might want to give it a shot at re-signing Kane or Tarasenko as well and matching this offer sheets pretty much eliminates any chance of that.

- Devils probably won't have a roster spot for Holtz next season and hasn't put all the pieces together yet at the NHL level. He still has a lethal shot and good vision but needs to add a little more muscle and speed. NJD get two picks back to make up for what they traded away at the deadline.

- Colorado get their no.2 center at 6M for 2 years. Newhook has talent but haven't been able to claim him spot yet. He is currently 4C in the playoffs and has mostly played wing this season. He has a high ceiling worth betting on. Trading Kuznetsov also opens up a spot for McMichael at center. Colorado also trades down 8-15 picks to #40 at the draft.

Hanifin would fit perfect next to Carlson, Fehervary is solid defensively but doesn’t project to add as much offense as Hanifin. Mantha at 3,8M does seem like a good fit in Calgary’s top-6 and will be playing for his next contract. If he fits CGY can re-sign him, if he doesn’t he might be worth a pretty decent pick at the TDL. The picks are to even out the value.

1.

2.

3.