Gazing Into The Future

The Washington Capitals are currently clinging to the last playoff spot and have many teams clawing at their heels to get in. With the team tight up against the cap we don't expect GM Mitchell to be doing much at the trade deadline. So today we will be looking into our crystal ball and detailing what's ahead next year for the team.

One important aspect of sim hockey is player re-rates from year to year, which is mostly based on their NHL counterparts from the previous season. That means we can see how players are fairing this year in the NHL and get an idea of who is due for better ratings and whose ratings will slide. This is all guess work and there is still lots of season left to be played, so take my best guesses with a grain of salt. *Stats as of 04/21/2018

Likely headed for better ratings:

C Anze Kopitar:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 76GP 12G 40A 52P 28PIM -10

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 82GP 35G 57A 92P 20PIM +21

Kopitar has already eclipsed his goal and point total from last year and should soon pass his assist total as well. It's been a big turn-a-round year for Anze and his ratings next year will reflect that.

C Sean Couturier:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 66GP 14G 20A 34P 33PIM +12

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 82GP 31G 45A 76P 31PIM +34

Oh boy, this has been a year for Couturier to remember. The big center came into the league with high expectations and according to some was viewed as a disappointment offensively. Well this year Couts finally got a shot in the top 6 in Philly and has put up a PPG season to date. He should have much better ratings across the board.

G Andrei Vasilevskiy:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 50GP 2.61GAA .917SV% 2SO 23W 17L 7T

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 65GP 2.26GAA .925SV% 7SO 44W 17L 3T

Vasilevskiy is currently considered the front runner for the Vezina trophy this year and his numbers back up that claim. I will predict Andrei has the biggest improvement from this season to next for the Capitals.

Likely headed for worse ratings:

LW Ondrej Palat:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 75GP 17G 35A 52P 39PIM +8

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 56GP 11G 24A 35P 6PIM +16

Palat was trending the wrong way offensively this year prior to a likely season ending injury. I suspect his ratings will take a bit of a dive in some offensive categories as well as a poor DU rating.

LW/RW Tobias Rieder:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 80GP 16G 18A 34P 6PIM -8

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 78GP 12G 13A 25P 6PIM -12

Although it's early yet, It's looking like Rieder won't match or better his goal total from last year. I've been waiting for him to reach top 6 winger ratings in the sim and it looks like I'll continue my wait into next year.

D Jay Bouwmeester:

2016-2017 NHL Stats: 81GP 1G 14A 15P 28PIM +6

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 35GP 2G 5A 7P 16PIM +5

His stats don't jump out as much worse considering the games played, so the last half of the season will be telling for how Jaybo re-rates. He's definately not trending upward at the moment. 

What else is in store for the Washington Capitals next year? Well, let's take a look at what rookies will be making pro debuts next year. Most will be long shots to make the pro roster but that is a call best left to the coaching staff in prospect & training camps in the summer.

D Victor Mete:

2017-2018 NHL Stats: 44GP 0G 7A 7P 4PIM +3

Mete surprised many when he made the Habs out of camp this year. He should have a good shot at making the Caps pro roster with the veteran UFA's currently on the back end.

C Julius Nattinen:

2017-2018 AHL Stats: 55GP 4G 8A 12P 10PIM +1

He hasn't lit up the score board in his first pro season in North America, but that's not what was expected of him. He's been playing mostly bottom 6 minutes and adjusting to the smaller ice. He still reminds me of Mikko Koivu but that is a lofty expectation to put on him. 3rd line C is his upside still.

C/RW Nicolas Roy:

2017-2018 AHL Stats: 70GP 11G 27A 38P 37PIM +3

Roy has looked good so far in his first season as a pro, one concern though is his lack of consistancy. He'll have a multi point night and look poised to be a top 6 player, then he'll disappear and go scoreless in his next few games. He should be given a bigger role in the AHL next year though.

C/W Nathan Noel:

2017-2018 AHL Stats: 17GP 1G 0A 1P 18PIM -2

Noel was a top pick in the Q draft and had lofty expectations when he started his junior career. He didn't show progression from an offensive standpoint and will now try to work his way through the minors. After starting the year injured, he played fairly well in the ECHL and is now suiting up in the AHL. Here's hoping he can stick.