Capitals Off-season Underway

After a second round outsting in the playoffs at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens in game 7, the Washington Capitals turn their attention to the off-season. We will preview the upcoming 2016 EHE entry draft as well as the free agent period and other things like who will coach the team.

Yesterday there was a trade announced between the Caps and Avs, going to Colorado is veteran RW Justin Williams and coming back to Washington is C/RW Alexandre Burmistrov and W Matt Nieto. Here are the GM's thoughts on the trade: "We wish Justin the best of luck in Colorado next season." Started GM Mitchell, "Due to his age and contract we felt it would be best to move on and gain some more controlable assets. Burmi has a ton of skill but hasn't really adjusted well to his role and Nieto we feel is a perfect replacement for our 3rd line RW." The team is really rolling the dice with both players as they definately needed a change of scenery.

First up is the draft, where Washington holds 6 picks through 5 rounds. The draft choices are at: 16, 46, 76, 84, 119, 146. The one bright spot to the team failing to move onto the conference finals was their first pick is now 16th overall. We have heard nothing on the trade front, so we assume the GM is content to draft in those positions.

Next up is a look at the free agents, we'll examine the depth chart at each position and identify RFA's who need to re-up and holes that need to be filled through UFA.

Center:

Anze Kopitar $5,500,000 2 yrs

Sean Couturier RFA

Martin Hanzal $2,750,000 1yr

Brian Boyle $1,500,000 2yrs

Total Salary for C: $9,750,000 (Couturier yet to sign)

Left Wing:

Ondrej Palat $3,875,000 2yrs

Benoit Pouliot $1,725,000 2yrs

Anders Lee RFA

Tobias Rieder RFA

Total Salary for LW: $5,600,000 (Two left to sign)

Right Wing:

Loui Eriksson $2,750,000 2yrs

Alexandre Burmistrov $925,000 1yr

Matt Nieto $725,000 1yr

Patrick Dwyer $1,500,000 1yr

Total Salary for RW: $5,900,000

Total Salary for Forwards: $21,250,000

Defence:

Justin Faulk $3,125,000 2yrs

Aaron Ekblad $925,000 2yrs

Zbynyk Michalek $2,000,000 2yrs

Clayton Stoner $750,000 1yr

Nate Prosser $725,000 1yr

Jarred Tinordi $650,000 1yr

Total Salary for D: $8,175,000

Goaltending:

Roberto Luongo $5,250,000 1yr

Andrei Vasilevskiy $925,000 2yrs

Total Salary for G: $6,175,000

Total Team Salary: $35,600,000 with 3 RFA's to sign.

Last season's salary cap was set at $66.1 million and there is reason to believe that number will go up next season. That gives the team a lot of cap space to re-sign RFA's. That also leaves space for the team to upgrade their weaknesses, the first is a glaring need for a top 6 RW, though that could be filled from within by incoming rookie Joonas Donskoi or the versitile Jonathan Marchessault. The next big need is on defence...wow does that D look terrible, hard to believe that got them one goal away from the conference finals last year.

Joining the team next season with the aforementioned Donskoi will be goalie Spencer Martin and Dman Jordan Schmaltz. Donskoi is viewed as the closest to pro ready but if the Capitals roll into next season with that D group maybe Schmaltz should get a look.

Washington and Hershey will both be hiring new coaching staffs, no word on who the front runners are yet as no interviews are allowed to take place yet.

Realistic outlook next season: bubble playoff team, more than likely on the outside looking in. 9th or 10th.