This offseason has gone just about the worst it could realistically go. It started with Vegas taking Schmidt, then the contracts, then trading Johansson, just a complete nightmare.

The entire issue with our offseason revolves around the Kuznetsov contract, and of course Brooks Orpik. For starters, Brian Maclellan should have had him extended long before now. He, along with everyone else, knew that this offseason was going to be a headache financially. The players he knew he needed back (Burakovsky, Orlov, Kuznetsov) all should have had contracts before the season ended. That would have given him and the rest of his staff more time to develop a better plan. I understand that some of these players wanted to wait in order to improve their value, which they all did as the season progressed. But if they started the conversation, they at least would have had an idea of the asking prices for their RFA's, which would give them a better plan.

Even if the RFA deals aren't done until the offseason, he should have for sure had them done before July 1. That way he can make a couple of transactions to really help us. It's one trade, and one UFA signing. The trade would be trading Brooks Orpik to New Jersey. Many people think that his contract is untradable, but people said the same thing about Dave Bolland. Plus Orpik's contract is only two more years, and he can actually contribute to the Devil's lineup. We still have to offer them a sweetener in order to do it. Vitek Vanecek (an extremely underrated goalie prospect who could be a solid starter, but is expendable because of Samsonov) and Tyler Lewington (defense prospect with third pairing potential) should have been enough to entice the Devils into taking Orpik. Then we sign Brian Campbell to be the same mentor that Brooks Orpik was, but for 4 million dollars cheaper. There's the money that we shipped out with Johansson. This way we save the same amount of money, and improve our team right now without sacrificing too much of our future. Also we keep MOJO, which is even better.

So to wrap it up, the transactions made are


Brooks Orpik
Vitek Vanecek
Tyler Lewington


Future Considerations (or another way to put it, nothing)


Capitals sign Brian Campbell to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract


Real life lineup projections

Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Barber

Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey
Chorney

Holtby
Grubauer


Alternative Offseason Lineup Projection

Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Johansson
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Wilson
Barber

Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Carlson
Campbell-Bowey
Chorney

Holtby
Grubauer


The forward group looks a lot better, and the defense is slightly better with Campbell instead of Orpik. But most importantly, the depth in the forward group is a lot better, plus we got out of Orpik's contract, freeing up enough money to resign Carlson after this season. I do think that entering this offseason, the plan that I just displayed was realistic and executable. Is this a better offseason than the one that actually occurred?

Completely agree. When Orpik signed that contract with Washington, most people believed that he wouldn't be a Capital by the time that contract expired. The fact that Johansson was a cap dump over Orpik doesn't make any sense at all. I understand if they could use a couple extra picks, but I don't think they need them that badly. I think Washington should've tried for Daley in free agency had they moved Orpik, although the money would've been pretty tight.

As a pens fan, I wish we kept Daley. In my opinion he was the Pens best, solid D in the playoffs. I guess his age pushed him out. Plus projecting Letang will play next year in playoffs..

i guess no team wanted orprik, though i though maybe new jersey would have taken him mojo if washington has provided the sweetener. and you still might rid yourselves of orpik if caps want any change to sign carlson next year. but the caps hurt themselves with those signings 7.8m for a kutz? no team would offered nearly as much, so it's not like the caps were in any danger losing him.
campbell isn't leaving chicago. he's made over 50m in nhl salary and if his wife tells him to stay in chicago, they aren't moving for 1.5m.
at the draft, i might be talking stupid, but maybe Ovi should have left unprotected. the caps could have protected schmidt. even if ovi was selected, might have allowed the caps to spend 9.5m in better ways than ovi.