Capitals Keep It Going

Don’t re-sign Orpik!!!! Also Wilson and bowey probably get more money.

I doubt Orpik gets that much money, and Bowey will want close to 1 mil on a bridge deal. Wilson will also definitely get more money and 5 + years more likely, since both sides want a long term extension. I'm not sure what you're doing with Zucker either, he just came off a 30-goal season and is an RFA for the Wild, he's getting a contract at least doubling that money and if we want him we'll have to trade for him.

I'm fine with Orpik at 1M, for one year. 2M is like.... that means he gets a raise for having talked the team into overpaying him in the first place. Kind of ridiculous.

If Wilson is happy at Kempny money, awesome. That's super team-friendly, but my guess is that the team agrees to overpay him for his potential, his good defense, and how well he works with their top line guys, and lands somewhere around 3M times 7 years. He's a 24 year old who broke out for 31 points, so 2.5M is certainly within the realm of reason, but he's also the guy who played on the top line and helped cycle pucks and create space around the net so that Ovechkin could get up closer to 50 goals than the year before. I happen to disagree with Caps fans who claim that getting the puck out of the corners or clogging up the crease are unique skill sets, but they are somewhat valuable. I think he gets somewhere between 3x7 and 3.5x7......

And don't give up just because Jason Zucker would cost a ton in trade. There's one born every minute.

Some interesting UFA options include DeMelo, Franson, a couple goalies, Maroon, Nash.... there's a couple guys left. With Wilson declining arbitration, the team probably has an idea of where things are headed with him, and whether they can afford to sign a few. Ideally, yes, I would. I think they could use a depth right defenseman. I doubt that DeMelo or Franson want to be thought of that way, but it's a chance to join a contender and possibly even push for a spot in the lineup with a strong training camp.

I mean, in the playoffs this Spring, Orpik was amazing. Nothing wrong with having him back. But he was set to earn 4.5M. Colorado's buyout pays him 3M? If he was really counting on making that extra 1.5 million dollars this year, it would be a grand gesture to sign him for 1.5.... but 2 implies that he has other offers.... which is surprising after he was traded at negative value and cleared waivers.

I think the Caps can add as much snarl and scoring to their lineup with Maroon or Nash as with Orpik, but I don't know what the asking prices are with either. I suspect that Maroon is below 2M at this point in the summer, as well. Anthony Duclair just signed for 650k, and on here at least, people see him as having a much higher ceiling than Maroon. I see Nash as losing a step, but maybe having one more run in him? Who knows. Columbus fans wanted to see him back and the team signed Riley Nash, possibly trolling them.