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Detailed Offseason Plan

Created by: krakowitz
Team: 2022-23 Washington Capitals
Initial Creation Date: May 10, 2022
Published: May 14, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Step 1 - hand Mitch Korn a blank check and bring him back. This guy always seems to get the best out of whatever goalies he has. Do what it takes to bring him back so he can unlock the potential our goalies have.

Step 2 - Free up some money by moving off of Eller and Hagelin (if he doesn't remain on LTIR). McMichael developing into the 3C role will be huge for us, his speed, hands and shot can be a huge offensive boost. I think he has a fair amount of NZ defensive issues he needs to iron out, especially within the context of Lav's system.

Step 3 - Draft high upside forwards and safe, projectable defensemen. I like Ryan Chesley a lot in the first round as a defenseman, but if we go for a forward, it should be for someone with a high ceiling.

Step 4 - Move one of the young goalies and bring in one of Campbell or Varlamov (I'd love Keumper but I think the chances are minimal he leaves Colorado). I know Campbell has had his ups and downs, but I think he's still better and more reliable right now than either of the kids, plus IF he's under Mitch Korn I'd expect he develops more consistent habits. Same thing goes with Samsonov (who I have the Caps keeping here). In the unlikely event that the Jets decide to blow it up, check in on Hellebuyck but I imagine his price will be too high

Step 5 - Add a versatile forward like Nichushkin or Mikheyev to play in the top nine. I think Nichushkin would be a riskier signing, given that he'll demand more money and only has the one big offensive season on his record. You know what you can get with Mikheyev and I like the fit within our forward group. He plays a more North South game which will help us carry the puck through the neutral zone a lot better than we currently do. Also an excellent penalty killer. I wouldn't be completely opposed to signing Trocheck either if we want to reduce Backstrom's role.

Step 6 - Sign Fehervary to an extension very similar to what Chychrun is signed to. Him and Carlson have had their miscues together this year but I think Marty is going to be a key part of our future and him individually looks like a legit top pairing defenseman in the making.

OPTIONAL Step 7 - Signing a solid vet defenseman like Leddy to play on the third pair with TVR. A smooth skater like him would be able to replicate what we wanted to be getting with Justin Schultz this year. I'm also okay with letting Alexeyev/Johansen battling it out for the last spot on defense and adding someone at the deadline if need be.

I think this sets us up in both the short and long term for success. Getting a goaltending improvement is key to trying to get one last run out of this group, but it doesn't lock us into a long term contract if we need to rebuild. There's the opportunities for us to move off of one or both of Orlov or Jensen at the deadline if we aren't in a playoff spot and fully embrace the retool. If some of these contracts are slightly undervalued, there's some money leftover that can go to them. No biggy.
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
2$2,000,000
2$800,000
2$800,000
2$800,000
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
1$2,000,000
4$4,000,000
4$3,750,000
Trades
1.
WSH
  1. 2023 2nd round pick (EDM)
2.
WSH
  1. 2023 3rd round pick (NJD)
  2. 2024 3rd round pick (NJD)
NJD
  1. Vanecek, Vitek [RFA Rights]
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2022
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2023
Logo of the WSH
Logo of the WSH
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the NJD
Logo of the WSH
Logo of the WSH
Logo of the WSH
2024
Logo of the WSH
Logo of the WSH
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Logo of the NJD
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
22$82,500,000$69,360,000$100,000$0$13,140,000
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$9,500,000$9,500,000
LW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 4
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$3,900,000$3,900,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 3
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$5,166,667$5,166,667
RW
M-NTC
UFA - 2
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$1,500,000$1,500,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$9,200,000$9,200,000
C
NMC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$2,850,000$2,850,000
LW, RW
UFA - 2
$3,750,000$3,750,000
LW, RW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$863,333$863,333
LW, C
RFA - 2
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$2,000,000$2,000,000
C, LW
UFA
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$1,300,000$1,300,000
C
UFA - 3
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$5,750,000$5,750,000
RW
M-NTC
UFA - 3
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$1,500,000$1,500,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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$791,667$791,667
LD/RD
RFA - 1
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$8,000,000$8,000,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 4
$4,000,000$4,000,000
G
UFA - 5
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$1,275,000$1,275,000
LD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$2,500,000$2,500,000
RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$2,000,000$2,000,000
G
UFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$863,333$863,333
LD/RD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Washington Capitals
$950,000$950,000
RD
UFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
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$800,000$800,000
LW
UFA - 2
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$2,750,000$2,750,000
LW
UFA - 1
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$800,000$800,000
LD
RFA - 2

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May 15, 2022 at 12:12 a.m.
#1
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Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 630
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I'd love to get Korn back, but he's been talking about retiring since before he joined the Caps. With the Isles I don't think he was even the day-to-day goalie coach, he was the director of goaltending or something and didn't travel with the team. I think he either follows Trotz to wherever he ends up or he calls it quits. Even if they can't get him though, it's time to fire Scott Murray. Anyone's gotta be better than him at this point. I really want to see how Sammy does with another goalie coach before they move on from him.

Anyway, I like everything else. My preference for the new top 9 wing is Trocheck, since he'd be insurance against another Backstrom injury or McMichael struggling (and he can actually win faceoffs), but I wouldn't say no to Mikheyev.
krakowitz liked this.
May 15, 2022 at 2:06 p.m.
#2
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This is a well thought out, realistic plan. I think my one disagreement is that nichuskin is a significantly better player than mikheyev, and is worth the extra ~2.5 million, but both are the exact kind of player the caps need
krakowitz liked this.
May 15, 2022 at 6:35 p.m.
#3
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Quoting: Kalopsia
I'd love to get Korn back, but he's been talking about retiring since before he joined the Caps. With the Isles I don't think he was even the day-to-day goalie coach, he was the director of goaltending or something and didn't travel with the team. I think he either follows Trotz to wherever he ends up or he calls it quits. Even if they can't get him though, it's time to fire Scott Murray. Anyone's gotta be better than him at this point. I really want to see how Sammy does with another goalie coach before they move on from him.

Anyway, I like everything else. My preference for the new top 9 wing is Trocheck, since he'd be insurance against another Backstrom injury or McMichael struggling (and he can actually win faceoffs), but I wouldn't say no to Mikheyev.


After the Backstrom news this morning, it wouldn't surprise me if Trocheck becomes a realistic option. I think making sure McMichael has a spot at center long term is priority one, but if we still move Eller I think Trocheck makes a lot of sense.
May 15, 2022 at 6:37 p.m.
#4
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Quoting: qc14
This is a well thought out, realistic plan. I think my one disagreement is that nichuskin is a significantly better player than mikheyev, and is worth the extra ~2.5 million, but both are the exact kind of player the caps need


I agree that he's a better player, I just question how much of that offensive production he had this year will transfer over to us. Colorado plays such a fast, North South game and I think that helped out his production a lot. I don't think what we'd be getting from him offensively would justify the price tag he'd get.
May 15, 2022 at 7:03 p.m.
#5
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Quoting: krakowitz
After the Backstrom news this morning, it wouldn't surprise me if Trocheck becomes a realistic option. I think making sure McMichael has a spot at center long term is priority one, but if we still move Eller I think Trocheck makes a lot of sense.


I agree about not blocking McMichael, I was imagining Backstrom at 2C, McMichael at 3C, and Trocheck at RW somewhere in the top 9 with the idea that he can shift back to center if someone goes wrong with Nick or Connor. Something like this:

Ovie-Kuz-Wilson
Mantha-Backstrom-Trocheck
Sheary-McMichael-Oshie

Of course if Nick's out all year, Trocheck plus Mikheyev or Nichushkin or even Forsberg makes a lot of sense.
 
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