Team: 2017-18 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 27, 2016

Published: Dec. 27, 2016

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Orpik trade is a salary dump. Similar to the Arizona-Florida trade involving Bolland and Crouse.

If Eller gets taken in expansion, it leaves a pretty big hole at 3rd line center. That leads to the Caps signing Vadim Shipachyov from Russia. He chooses the Caps because of the Russians already on the Caps (Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Orlov), and he played with them all at the World Cup.

Kuznetsov and Burakovsky are both RFAs, so they both get bridge deals since neither of them have proven themselves enough to earn long-term contracts. Also, Caps resign one of their most valuable players in Oshie. Orlov and Schmidt also get new contracts.

But with Orpik being traded and Alzner wanting a big raise, the Caps decide to go a different route with the left side of their defense. Kulikov is a solid two-way defenseman that would make a great pair with Matt Niskanen, and Trevor Daley would make an excellent third pairing defenseman, playing with the rookie Bowey. Schmidt becomes the 7th defenseman, and Chorney gets waived.

That gives Washington a little less than $4 million to spend. They probably won't want Connolly to be an every day player, so they sign Tomas Vanek to a 2 year contract. He gives the Caps the top 9 forwards that they need in order to win a Cup. There won't be very many top 9 forward groups in the league that are better than this one, if any at all.

Also, try to stop that PP. Probably won't happen, so better not take penalties against this team.

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