Who adds what?
Joined: Jul. 2017
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Carlson led all defensemen in points through both the regular season an the playoffs. He was 5th on the Caps with 20 points. Kempny was 16th with 5.
Cut Kempny, move Johansen to the AHL, and you're up to 6.4M in cap space for Carlson. Sign Carlson for 7.9, trade Connolly for a late 1st or Buffalo's 2nd, and you're good, except that you have to let Beagle walk to afford a bit more of a raise and a long term contract with Wilson. That leaves you space to get one more heavy hitter, and build on the Caps' biggest strength through these playoffs (four of the top five guys, and two of the top fifteen all time). Can pursue Emelin, Schenn, or Komarov.... but everybody hates Rinaldo. If you signed a forward, I hope you left enough cap space to recall Ness to the press box.
Does that help? Or, of course, if you weren't impressed by the postseason with the 15th most hits all time, the first SCF GWG in Caps history, a two assist performance to eliminate Columbus, or a primary assist to DSP to get the Caps back into game five, let alone smothering defense to hold onto a one goal lead for twelve minutes.... then you could always trade Brooks Orpik for about a 2nd or a 3rd pick. He's pretty old, and even with just one year left at 4.5M, and two Cup rings, teams have to be careful where they spend their cap space.