Équipe: 2017-18 Capitals de Washington

Date de création initiale: 30 avr. 2017

Publié: 30 avr. 2017

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Caps should not resign Alzner. This frees up the $ needed to sign Oshie (could pay him up to $6.4M if necessary) and Kuzn and also allows caps to protect Lars Eller from expansion draft. To resign Oshie, Kuzn, Orlov, and Schmidt, caps MUST buyout Orpik. Grubaeur will be lost to expansion draft (or maybe Beagle) in my scenario. The defense will be weaker with no Alzner or Orpik but Orlov and Schmidt have improved a ton this year and give the caps mobile defense needed in today's NHL. Caps have had no problem putting Orlov against Leaf's and Pen's best forwards and Orlov has only made great defensive and offensive plays. Obviously do not keep Shattenkirk. No Williams as well, but Tom Wilson and Burakovsky continue to improve. Unfortunately not enough $ to lock up Burakovsky or Kuzy super long term but it's worth it to use the $ for Oshie and make another run.

Caps don't have many trade-able assets (draft picks or top-tier prospects), so I don't think they should, or will make any big moves, especially given how the Shattenkirk deal turned out. Any players with reasonable contracts (Burakovsky, Orlov, Carlson) that other teams would want, Caps would not be willing to trade. Biggest weakness will be 3rd defensive pairing. I don't know if Hunwick will actually be available. Caps will need to sign a defenseman price range $1M-$1.8M for 3rd pairing. Anyways, this team could still easily be competitive for a cup with this roster. But knowing the Caps, they will resign Alzner and keep Orpik thus losing Oshie and Eller. They will then be a wildcard at best.