The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Washington Capitals once again got bounced from the playoffs before Memorial Day, leaving the DC faithful to wonder how a team with the best sniper in the world can consistently struggle to find postseason success. I've always maintained that the idea of being clutch or choking in the playoffs is largely an effect of luck and circumstance, but as the sample size of Caps failures increases I am left to wonder if that's just wishful thinking on my part.
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| More like "FAN OF THE DECADE". |
The season wasn't a total loss. New head coach Adam Oates started off on the wrong foot (2-8-1) but after some lineup juggling he righted the ship and led Washington to its fifth division title in six years. Alexander Ovechkin's transition from left wing to right wing also took a while to get settled, but it resulted in Ovie's third Hart Memorial Trophy and third Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. Despite another year of playoff futility, it's important to remember that the major contributors still have plenty of good hockey in front of them. Brooks Laich is the elder statesman at 30 years old, Mike Green and Ovechkin are 28, and Nicklas Backstrom is 26. Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, and Marcus Johansson are younger still. The point is Washington still has a lot of juice left in the tank to make a substantial run at the Stanley Cup Finals.
Before I get underway, I'll offer the same public service announcement I did
last season: Please check out the following websites for a much more informed and detailed account of the Capitals and hockey in general.
-- Front Office --
In his quest to build a contender in Washington, general manager George McPhee has never shied away from trimming the fat off the 50-man roster. Following the lockout, he waived Roman Hamrlik after it was evident the aging defenseman was out of shape and ineffective, and the New York Rangers did the Caps a solid by claiming him. He chose not to sign projects like Mattias Sjogren and Steffen Soberg, and has taken a lot of NCAA prospects recently in order to add a few years to their signing window. Now in the midst of training camp, the Caps have 46 players under NHL contracts, which gives them a little room to sign cheap free agents or make NHL-level trades over the course of the season.
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| "Yay! I still have a job!" |
To his credit, McPhee has resisted the urge to blow up the core roster despite six straight early playoff exits. The biggest loss, allowing Alexander Semin to leave via unrestricted free agency, was necessary due to the uncertain nature of the salary cap under the new collective bargaining agreement. McPhee was able to acquire Mike Ribeiro to fill the scoring void left by Semin, and hopefully Mikhail Grabovski (or eventually Tom Wilson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, or Andre Burakovsky) will do the same. But keeping Ovechkin, Backstrom, Green, Laich, and more recently Carlson and Alzner together indicates that he will never hit the panic button and do something to harm the team's long-term fortunes. McPhee's one historic weakness may have been to solidify the goalie position, as the post-Olaf Kolzig era has seen its share of hits and misses. But with Holtby now solidly in control of the starter's job, the whole roster may have the stability needed for a deep playoff run.
We'll get to the coaches and the players after the jump...
-- Coaching --
As I said before, it took a little while for Adam Oates to make a positive impression on Washington's record. But once he and his team felt comfortable, they played with the balanced approach that is needed to succeed. Gone is the high-octane Bruce Boudreau offense and the punishing defense of Dale Hunter Hockey©. Oates and his staff we able to establish consistent scoring while not being a pushover defensively. But once again, they faltered in the playoffs. Perhaps it was the team's relative inexperience with the system or simply exhaustion after the furious pace required just to make the postseason. This season (and hopefully postseason) should be a much more accurate indicator of Oates's coaching ability.
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| Adam Oates attains total consciousness. |
There are some minor changes to the coaching staff this year. Blaine Forsythe, the longtime Caps video coach and scout, is now an assistant coach. He takes the place of Tim Hunter. Calle Johansson returns to round out the in-game bench for Oates. But the biggest change is Olaf Kolzig replacing Dave Prior as head goaltender coach. Kolzig, who still has
his player page active on the official team website, is one of the most popular and recognizable Capitals ever to put on the uniform. He acted as the associate coach in charge of minor league affiliate goalies before this promotion, and combining Holtby's talents with Kolzig's knowledge has me believeing the sky's the limit quality goaltending in DC.
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| *swoon* ^_^ |
And now, on to the players!
-- Players Entering the Off-season Under Contract -- (2013-14 salary cap number)
Forwards
LW/RW Alex Ovechkin ($9.538M) - Last year, I focused on two aspects of Ovechkin's 2011-12 season -- his point totals were way down, and with him as captain the Caps failed to achieve any postseason success. Consider one of those things a non-issue (although not the one I'd prefer). Ovie regained his scoring touch, leading the league in goals for the third time in his career and going back above a point-per-game pace on the lockout-shortened season. But it was hardly a smooth year, as Oates moved Ovechkin from his familiar left wing position to right wing, and as a result he struggled through much of the team's first four weeks. Questions arose about his conditioning (again) and the team's ability to play Oates's system without having the luxury of a normal training camp and preseason. Oates tried juggling Ovie's linemates with hilarious(ly bad) consequences. Then on February 23rd, Ovie scored a hat trick and an assist against New Jersey, including one goal on the power play. A short time later, he was reunited with Backstrom at even strength, and from then on it was pretty much vintage Alex. Speaking of the power play, once it clicked, it was all gravy. Ovie's 16 goals with the extra man were more than any of the past three seasons (in 48 games no less), accounting for half of his season total, and that helped the Caps finish first in the league at 26.8% effectiveness. Ovie finished the year by earning the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, and while a few of the Crosbiites and even a few rogue Toewsians think it was undeserved, the general consensus is Ovechkin is once again a superstar. As for the playoffs... welp.
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| Come on, Winnipeg! It's preseason and we're not even division rivals anymore! |
C Nicklas Backstrom ($6.7M) - After the 2009-10 season in which he scored 33G 68A, I had visions of Backstrom performing at an MVP-level for many, many years. But this season marked the third straight that his goals per game was underwhelming (although a low shooting percentage in '13 still gives me hope for a rebound), and I may have to settle for him simply being one of the best distributors in the game. Nick actually led the team in even strength points with 30, and as mentioned above helped Ovechkin get on track. He also looked comfortable with Johansson on his left wing at even strength and playing the low triangle on the power play with Brouwer and Ribeiro. Last year I called Backstrom the real MVP of the Caps, only to have Ovechkin win the Hart. Shows how much I know. But in truth, I don't think Ovie returns to form without Backstrom. He's a true top-line center, and at a reasonable salary cap hit for seven more seasons, Backstrom is here to stay. I couldn't be happier.
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| My favorite centerman in my favorite uniform. |
C/LW Brooks Laich ($4.5M) - It was a lost season for Brooksie in 2013. He was humming right along in the Swiss league during the lockout, but upon returning to Washington he had a nagging groin injury that limited him to just nine NHL games. He missed the entire playoff series with the New York Rangers, and in a series where a little extra physicality and scoring in the dirty areas can be the difference, he was sorely missed. When healthy, Laich's all-around game adds exactly the kind of play the Capitals need to succeed in the Eastern Conference. When he's playing hurt or out of the lineup, the lack of quality replacements for him among the top nine forwards becomes apparent. The team feels confident Laich will be back to full strength for the start of the season, as evidenced by McPhee saying that
he will be the second line's center. And even though the Caps recently signed Mikhail Grabovski to fill that spot, the expectation is that Laich will be healthy and productive come October. Get well soon, Brooksie, and if any of you lady-types out there think about assaulting his groin area, please consult the team doctor first.
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| Season checklist: fewer suits, more goals. |
LW/RW Martin Erat ($4.5M) - Speaking of only playing nine games for the Caps, Erat arrived in DC after the trade that sent last summer's top draft pick Filip Forsberg to Nashville. He scored a whopping three points and never seemed comfortable in the lineup, and that continued into the playoffs where he was held off the scoresheet in all four games for which he dressed. His season ended three games before the rest of the Caps, as he suffered a dislocated elbow (fucking OUCH) in game four, but he's been healthy in training camp and should be good to go on the second line. It will be interesting to see how Oates deploys Erat moving forward, considering he's a left-handed shooter but has traditionally played right wing. To be honest, I haven't seen a ton of Erat's play in Nashville, but what I have seen is solid, and everything I read about him says he's a bona fide top-six forward. Since Ribeiro was not re-signed, it will fall to Erat to pick up much of the playmaking slack, especially with the extra man.
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| We definitely know his mouth guard game is strong. |
RW Troy Brouwer ($3.667M) - With Laich sidelined for much of the season, Brouwer took over his role as the top gritty, lunch pail forward. He responded with his best individual NHL season, shooting the puck more, with a higher shooting percentage no less, and racking up the hits while staying out of the penalty box. Once the top line had assembled like a giant, goal-scoring Voltron, Brouwer settled in nicely with Ribeiro on the second line, cycling between left wingers with mixed results. While last season may have represented Brouwer's ceiling as far as offensive efficiency goes, he doesn't need to put up a ton of points to have value. The pay raise he earned with a three-year, $11 million contract extension is a worthy investment.
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| Troy Brouwer is the Most Interesting Grinder in the World. |
RW Joel Ward ($3.0M) - Ward had a solid if unspectacular year, with 8G 12A on the shortened season, good enough for eighth on the team in points. His production may have been even better had he not skated alongside Chimera for most of the year (more on him later). It's tough to evaluate Ward, given that he's a defensive forward with a big price tag, and expectations for his play can be all over the map. After being the focal point of both playoff series last summer (for better and then for worse) Ward had another good postseason, co-leading the team with four points against the Rangers. Halfway through his big contract, Ward-o will once again settle in on the bottom six next season.
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| McPhee also signed his reflection to a four-year deal. |
LW Jason Chimera ($1.75M) - After a surprising 20 goals in 2011-12, Chimmer went way past "regression to the mean" and square into the "replacement level" abyss with his worst professional season in a decade. It would be easy to look at his three goals on 92 shots and think it was simply bad luck, but Stonehands had pretty bad peripherals too. His possession numbers were terrible, and he was also third on the team in PIMs, sending a bad shorthanded unit on the ice far too often. It's always nice when a grinder has a season like Chimera's 2011-12, but when they fall back to the earth with a thud like this, it gets me right in the feels. Looking forward, I would take 80 or so games of third line mediocrity in a heartbeat.
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| Remember when this was a thing? |
RW Eric Fehr ($1.5M) - It always seems as if Fehr is capable of having a breakout season. Maybe it's his first-round draft pick pedigree, or his imposing size, or his feature on
24/7 showcasing his incredibly attractive wife. But here he is again, plodding along on the third line and doing more to help the Caps than hurt them. Signed for another two seasons at a reasonable cap hit, he's a valuable addition to the team in his current role, but it seems a shame not to give him top six minutes or serious power play time one of these years. As he'll be 28 years old when the season starts, the prime of his career may be drawing to a close sooner rather than later. In training camp, Oates has tinkered with Fehr by
moving him to center for training camp and the preseason, and given his size and on-ice awareness it just might pay off.
C Mathieu Perreault ($1.05M) - Like Fehr, Perreault displays flashes of being able to put up big offensive numbers. And like Ward, he may have had he not been saddled with lugging around Chimera all season. Perreault's NHL career has always been an uphill battle -- generously listed at 5'10", he's no one's idea of a prototypical center. But his skill set suggests he can be a playmaking forward, responsible defensively, and serviceable at faceoffs. He still needs to produce consistently to solidify his hold on the third-line center job and get power play time, but perhaps with some more seasoning under Oates he will do just that.
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| I still don't like shootouts, but if they produce awesome celebrations like this, I'll take 'em. |
C Jay Beagle ($900k) - Snoopy's points per game jumped from 0.12 two seasons ago to a whopping 0.17 in 2013, which by his standards is an offensive explosion. In all fairness, his job is to shut down the other guys, both at even strength and shorthanded. The problem with that is the Caps were 17th in 5-on-5 goals against, and the penalty kill was fourth worst in the league, so as one of the primary checking forwards (along with Hendricks) his time on ice was nothing to write home about. He does have good size, and continues to display an excellent faceoff winning percentage, but Beags will need to send a few more pucks into his opponent's net and keep a few more out of his own if he wants to stick as an everyday NHL center. His AHL résumé suggests that he can chip in a bit more offensively, but with 153 NHL games now under his belt, the time to prove it is now.
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| They better give BG forums credit for that bit. |
LW Aaron Volpatti ($575k) - Volpatti was one of 27 skaters to register a point for the Caps in the 2013 season. And that's about all I can say about him. An old-school tough guy, Volpatti didn't do much of anything in Washington, dressing for 17 games, skating for just over nine minutes per contest, getting into one fight (in his first game as a Cap, and
it was ugly) and scoring zero goals and one assist. After the D.J. King debacle, you would think McPhee would have learned his lesson -- since the days of Craig Berube and Chris Simon, enforcers don't usually work out well for the Caps. But he claimed Volpatti off waivers from Vancouver in February and then re-signed him to a two-year, one-way contract in April. While Hendricks was not re-signed, McPhee
pointed to Volpatti's presence as someone who can pick up the lost minutes. Of course, Hendricks essentially stole King's job in the first place, so who knows what will happen come October.
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| This is probably his reaction face to hearing, "Suit up, Aaron, you're playing tonight." |
Defensemen
Mike Green ($6.083M) - With questions about durability and production in the post-Boudreau era, Green largely held up his end of the bargain on the three-year contract he signed last summer. He missed time between mid-February and the end of March with minor injuries, but he led the team in average time on ice, and his 12 goals in 35 games was tops among all NHL defensemen. Furthermore, only four of his goals were on the power play, as he opted to set up Ovechkin more often than not while a man up, and he was able to score more at even strength. His defensive metrics were also strong, as he faced tough competition and held up in his own end fairly well. We may never see 80+ games in a season from Green again, but when he's right, he's among the best blueliners in the world. As
Peerless pointed out on Japers' Rink, he continues to be an impact player for the Caps.
John Carlson ($3.967M) - Just before the season should have started last year, the Caps signed Carlson to a big six-year deal. I would say year one of the contract is a success, as Carlson played all 55 games, set career highs in goals per game, points per game, shots per game, and was the only Cap to skate over two minutes a game on both special teams units. With strong peripheral numbers to back up what scouts have said, Carlson is fast becoming one of the best defensemen in the NHL. Much like his teammates, Carlson's season started out a bit bumpy, which caused Oates to split him up from his longtime defensive partner in Alzner. He ended the season skating mostly with Erskine, who didn't do him any favors in terms of possession, but the two did seem to work well together for much of the regular season. Only 23 years old, Carlson should continue to improve and be a building block for the Caps defensive corps.
Jeff Schultz ($2.875M) - There's just no sugarcoating it -- 2013 was a terrible year for Sarge. He couldn't keep pucks out of his own end or his own net, he couldn't stay out of the penalty box, and eventually he couldn't stay on the ice as Oates decided to make him a healthy scratch for every game after March 31st. With the team's preference to have three left-handed and three right-handed shooters on the blueline, once Erskine and Hillen were both healthy and with Orlov waiting in the wings, Schultz was the odd man out on the left side. After the season, he publicly requested a trade, but after not finding any dance partners McPhee had no choice but to buy out the last year of his contract. The Los Angeles Kings signed Double Nickel to a one-year, $700,000 deal. Good luck in the tougher conference, buddy.
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| haha oh wow |
John Erskine ($1.963M) - Between Orlov and Hillen's injuries and Schultz's ineffectiveness, Erskine was pressed into top-four duty for most of the season, skating over 18 minutes per game. More importantly, he skated 2:07 per game shorthanded, third among Caps D-men. The new role seemed to suit him well, as he stayed out of the penalty box himself, with the only ERSKINE SMASH! moments being two fighting majors and when he earned a three-game suspension for elbowing Wayne Simmonds. And while the results were better than expected, having Erskine in the top four means something else has gone horribly wrong with your roster construction. Erskine is better deployed as a third-pairing defenseman, adding some occasional sandpaper on the back end while not hurting the team defensively. Let's hope McPhee and Oates remember this in the coming weeks and months.
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| "ERSKINE... SMASH?" Seriously, he's like a character in a Farrelly Brothers movie. |
Dmitry Orlov ($900k two-way) - Coming off a fine rookie season, expectations were high for Orlov. But he suffered a concussion while playing for Hershey during the lockout, and when he returned to DC he dressed for just five games in March. There's no telling how he'll play moving forward or how Oates will utilize him, and it should make for one of the more interesting story lines for final cuts in training camp. A two-way defenseman, he's never really put up huge numbers in the pro ranks, with his big coming-out party being the 2011 World Junior Championship where he posted 1G 8A in 7 games. But the fact that he's held his own in both the AHL and NHL should indicate that he's ready for regular duty from here on out. A full season in Washington and maybe some work with the second power play unit should be just what the doctor ordered for Orlov.
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| I know, Dima. I'm sorry. I don't want you in the AHL either. |
Jack Hillen ($700k) - Hillen was an unheralded defenseman who cut his teeth in the NHL with the New York Islanders, and after a year of third-pairing-dom in Nashville, he was snatched up by the Caps on the cheap. In the season opener, he hurt his shoulder and would miss half the season on injured reserve. When he did play, Hillen did what he always has -- skated with good agility and puck skills but lacking in physicality. He's an inexpensive depth option for a team that needs it, and McPhee doubled down on Hillen by signing him to a two-year extension in April. If he begins to take more and more minutes from Erskine, so much the better.
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| Y'know, you can smile when you celebrate a goal, man. |
Steven Oleksy ($542k two-way) - This year's out-of-nowhere player was definitely Oleksy. When he was signed in March, he was an undrafted 27-year-old career minor leaguer with 2 goals in 55 AHL games on the season. But he was thrust into the big league lineup due to a shortage of right-handed shots on the Caps blueline, and made a splash with a goal, three assists, and a fighting major in his first five games. Things cooled off from there, but he did provide some stability by skating just a hair over 17 minutes per game and seeing considerable shorthanded time. It's not hard to envision him and Hillen making up a cheap and effective third pairing, but it remains to be seen if the small sample size of 35 NHL games is just a minor blip or the emergence of a late bloomer. Either way, what a nice surprise the Hershey hockey factory gave the Caps once again.
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| Cindarella boy, outta nowhe-AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH oh God dude your face! |
Goaltenders
Michal Neuvirth ($2.5M) - After a rough 2011-12, Neuvy received a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, saying that he would compete with playoff hero Braden Holtby for the starting gig. Unfortunately both he and Holts got off to slow starts, with the team losing five of Neuvirth's first six starts and allowing three or more goals in all those losses. After February 5th, Holtby once again established himself as the starter, and Neuvy suffered from an illness that caused the Caps to recall Philipp Grubauer to wear the baseball cap. Unfortunately Michal only got six more starts the rest of the season. The good news is he played well after being relegated to the backup role, going 3-1-1 with good goals against and save percentage numbers. Wanting to hang on to his "other" young goalie asset, McPhee signed Neuvirth to a two-year, $5 million contract extension that will take him into unrestricted free agency in 2015. If he can't stake a claim to the starting job in DC, he will remain a valuable trade piece should the Caps choose to use it.
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| I swear, Neuvy looks like a villain from anime or something. |
Braden Holtby ($1.85M) - The Holtbeast once again proved that he's the goalie of the present for Washington. He hasn't always put up sparkling numbers in Hershey before last season, but during the lockout he played there and was dominant. After some rough starts for the big club in January, he took hold of the starting gig by Valentine's Day and never looked back. He was especially good when the Caps needed him down the stretch, as he backstopped the team to 27 points in his last 16 regular season starts. That dominance translated to four of the seven playoff games, but unfortunately the Caps only won three of them. The other contests were not pretty, as Holts allowed 13 goals in those three games while the Rangers advanced to the next round. Minimizing those types of games should come with age and experience, but the good news is all signs point to Holtby being the heir apparent to Olie Kolzig in DC.
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| Get out of Holtby's crease, Moen! Uh, sorry Hillen, you were just sort of in the way. |
-- Restricted Free Agents -- (2012-13 salary cap number)
D Karl Alzner ($1.285M) - With how Oates chooses to use his defensemen, Alzner is incredibly valuable. Carlson and Green are both right-handed, and Alzner is the only lefty among the top three guys. He skated significant minutes with both -- his usual running mate Carlson to start the season, then shifting to Green when the team struggled. He played well with both, stabilizing the blueline by skating over 20 minutes a night, blocking shots, and staying out of the penalty box. His offensive game is still nonexistent at the NHL level, but that's not why he's in the lineup. He's very respected around the league, which is why when McPhee signed him to a four-year, $11.2 million contract extension on July 10th, a multitude of hockey people claimed McPhee was using mind control or wizardry on Alzner's agent. Regardless, he's here until 2017 at a very reasonable cap hit.
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| Bros for life, Caps for life (I hope). |
C/LW Marcus Johansson ($900k) - I expected the Capitals to do two things this off-season; re-sign Johansson, and bring in another top forward. At the onset of the free agent signing period, the team stayed silent. The dog days of summer dragged on. Finally, the Grabovski signing took care of the latter, and two weeks later MoJo got his deal done. Initally tabbed with pivot duties as a prospect and early in his pro career, Johansson really found his stride at left wing with Backstrom and Ovechkin (who wouldn't?). His point totals and possession numbers are trending in the right direction, and the theory is he will once again be given top line duties. Johansson's deal is for two years and $4 million, which makes him a very reasonable top-six forward. It will also keep him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2015. It will be interesting to see if management ever tries to move him back to center, and whether or not his next contract will be a long-term deal like Carlson's team-friendly contract.
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| For some reason MoJo is trying to look like deranged millionaire John Hodgman. |
D Tomas Kundratek ($817k) - In last year's piece, I commented that I hope Tomas got to keep the sweater from his 5 NHL games that season, a tongue-in-cheek remark saying that he didn't factor into the team's long-term plans. Then he went and showed me up by playing very well in Hershey and getting into 25 games with the Caps, and averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per game. He came in with a reputation as an offensive defenseman, and he scored 1G 6A with the Caps, all with under a minute of power play time per game. A leg injury knocked him out of commission in mid-March, and an overcrowded blueline relegated him to Hershey for the rest of the season, but he was firmly in the mix for a permanent job in training camp. As such, McPhee took no chances with his future and signed him to a two-year, $1.1 million contract, which interestingly enough is one-way in the first year and two-way in the second. If I were a betting man (and I am) due to his offensive upside I would wager on Kundratek coming in ahead of Oleksy on the depth chart come April. That will have to wait though, as the Caps waived him at the end of training camp and he should report to Hershey.
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| I'm sorry I doubted you, now stop staring at me! Stop it! |
-- Unrestriced Free Agents -- (2012-13 salary cap number)
C Mike Ribeiro ($5.0M) - Well, it was fun while it lasted. One year of Ribeiro's services cost the Caps Cody Eakin and a second-round pick. And when the season began, Ribs put up points in bunches, effectively pricing himself out of DC and into a fat free agent contract. Doing most of his damage on the power play, Ribs eventually settled into the second line with Brouwer and whichever left wing wasn't in Oates's doghouse, where he was merely average. His 20.6% shooting percentage also might indicate that his goal scoring was inflated due to luck, although his playmaking ability is clearly evident. He also struggled to control his emotions, as his outbursts cost the team in crucial situations with misconduct penalties. Seeking a boost to their offense, the Phoenix Coyotes gave Ribeiro a four-year, $22 million contract, where he and Antoine Vermette will be centers 1A and 1B in the desert.
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| At the press conference, the Phoenix Coyotes fans went wild for Ribs. Both of them. |
D Tom Poti ($2.875M) - This off-season, it seems like the one thing no one wants to touch is veteran defensemen. Tom Gilbert, Ryan Whitney, Tomas Kaberle, Filip Kuba, Toni Lydman, Ian White, Hal Gill... the list of NHL-caliber players sitting by the phone goes on and on. Ron Hainsey only has a job because Joni Pitkanen is out for the season. So it's no surprise to me that Poti is still available, given his recent injury history. If he's healthy, any team can have an experienced two-way blueliner, but the risk of his legs giving out on him is no doubt scaring off some of his potential suitors. Here's hoping he lands on his feet somewhere.
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| Days gone by... |
RW Joey Crabb ($900k) - When he signed his one-year deal last year, I noted that Crabb wasn't your typical fourth-line chugger. His game is offense, and the Caps have sorely needed some goal scoring at the end of their bench for quite a while. Unfortunately, Crabb never found his groove in DC, scoring only two goals and nary an assist in 26 games. In his defense, he never really got a chance, as he skated a career low 9:25 per game. In March he cleared waivers and was sent to Hershey, where he put up a point per game because of course he did. In baseball, these types of players are called "quad-A", indicating they're too good for the high minors (AAA) but stretched at the big league level. The Caps don't care what you call him, as he wasn't offered another deal and Florida signed him to a two-year, $1.2 million contract.
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| I barely even got to use CRABB PEOPLE V.v.V |
LW/C Matt Hendricks ($850k) - All good things must come to an end, and Hendricks's time in Washington is no exception. Many described him as the heart-and-soul guy in the locker room, the grinder who gives 110% every game and every shift. His story about how he was picked up off the scrap heap from the Colorado organization is almost as inspiring as his off-the-ice work with military veterans. But hockey is a game of goals (and of dollars) and Hendy is getting more expensive as his production declines. His first year in DC, Hendricks put up a respectable 9G 16A in 77 regular season games, but since then he's scored 10G 9A in 154 regular and postseason games, which is pretty bad even for a fourth-liner. He takes too many penalties, and isn't especially good at killing off shorthanded situations. McPhee said he gave Hendricks his best possible offer at the trade deadline, and Hendy decided to test the free agent waters. It was a good financial move on his part, as the Nashville Predators quickly signed him to a four-year, $7.4 million deal. If there's anywhere his skill set and personality will play, it's Smashville. Godspeed, Hendy. This Caps fan is still rooting for you.
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| I'll be missing you... |
LW Wojtek Wolski ($600k) - Wolski was signed on a low-risk deal that provided him with a chance to restart his NHL career. Despite his best efforts and some good peripheral numbers, he never put up points consistently for Washington, and was a healthy scratch for much of the second half of the season. A low shooting percentage and some bad luck on the power play might have accounted for the lack of production, but with so little invested in him and the Caps playoff chances hanging in the balance, McPhee and Oates didn't have the time or patience to let him get on track. After the season, Wolski inked a deal with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in Russia's KHL.
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| Strong possession numbers? Nope, sorry, can't play. We have to get Chimmer in the lineup. |
-- NHL Prospects -- (2013-14 contract status)
Forwards
RW Evgeny Kuznetsov (unsigned) - The 21-year-old Kuzya is once again beginning his season in the KHL. The contract he signed last year and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are too much of a draw for the talented youngster. So there will be no contract rumors or training camp invites for the top Caps prospect. As for his performance, it was more of the same as he racked up 19G 25A in 51 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk.
Re-aggravating a shoulder injury might derail him for a few months, but that's Traktor and Team Russia's problem right now. (Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay...)
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| I don't know much about the KHL, but that logo is awesome. |
RW Tom Wilson ($1.294M two-way) - After being one of the two first-round picks last year, the story on Wilson was projection. He hadn't yet put up big numbers in junior hockey, but his big frame and physical play had all the makings of a true power forward. Last season his offensive production jumped up a notch, and he scored 23G 35A in 48 regular season games for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. He then went on to have a great playoff season across three levels, including a 12-game tear for Plymouth, followed by his first three NHL games against the Rangers, and finally his first AHL action in Hershey's playoff series that included his first professional goal. Still only 19 years old, Wilson will almost certainly return to Plymouth for one more year, but he's looked good in the preseason and is making it tough for McPhee to send him back to juniors. It's becoming easier to see Wilson as a physical presence among the top-six forwards sometime in 2014 and beyond.
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| You think I'm not playing for Plymouth in my NHL 14 Live the Life mode? I love this guy. |
LW Stanislav Galiev ($661k two-way) - Last year I said that if Galiev acclimated himself to Hershey quickly, there could be room for him on the big league roster. Unfortunately, Stas absolutely pancaked in the AHL, and had to be shipped to the ECHL's Reading Royals. Once there, he produced like a first-line player with 23G 24A in 46 games. But at some point Galiev will need to make the jump to the tougher leagues. He does have youth on his side, and after being cut at Caps training camp he hopes to impress at Hershey's training camp in the coming weeks.
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| Get up, kid, it's a contact sport. |
RW Riley Barber (unsigned) - A sixth-round pick last year, Barber had a breakout season. He impressed during his freshman year at the Miami (Ohio) University with 15G 24A in 40 games there, and made an impact on Team USA at the World Junior Championship. Last year I commented that Barber might be headed for enforcer-dom, as is customary for late picks. By showcasing his scoring touch, Barber has recast himself as a two-way forward with top-nine potential. He'll return to Miami this season, after which he may sign a contract and test the waters in Hershey.
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| The only good thing in Ohio right now, possibly ever. |
C Michael Latta ($786k two-way) - Latta, acquired with Martin Erat in the Filip Forsberg trade, instantly becomes a focal point of Hershey's center plans. While his primary assets are defense and sandpaper, he has a decent offensive game. His 10G 28A 198PIM in 76 AHL games last season tells you all you need to know. Although he has plenty of AHL experience, he attended development camp for one day to familiarize himself with the system and meet the coaching staff. With Grabovski signed and a few wings with experience at center on the roster, Latta will likely spend all year in Hershey. But with Matt Hendricks gone, Jay Beagle struggling to contribute any offense at all, and Aaron Volpatti fundamentally Aaron Volpatti, there may be an opening for Latta in the near future.
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| There are worse places to call home than Chocolate City. |
LW Chandler Stephenson (unsigned) - Stephenson has a lot of offense to his game, and he picked up his production last season to the tune of 14G 31A in 46 games for the WHL's Regina Pats. The organization thinks pretty highly of him, as he received invites to both development camp in July and rookie camp a few weeks ago. He even got a brief look at Caps training camp, but he's young enough to return to Regina, which he will certainly do since he remains unsigned. His draft rights expire next summer, so to say this is a big year for Stephenson is an understatement.
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| A Caps prospect playing against a Caps-esque uniformed team? Head asplode. |
C Caleb Herbert (unsigned) - One of many NCAA prospects in the Caps stable, Herbert is a two-way forward who struggled in his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. His 6G 19A in 35 games won't get anyone excited, and the entire team struggled defensively. It will be important to monitor him this year and determine if he was just along for the team's bumpy ride or if his skills aren't progressing as he gets older. As it is, his ceiling at the NHL level could be a fourth-line center.
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| He may be a long shot, but at least he CRASHES THE NET! |
C Thomas DiPauli (unsigned) - As a freshman on a stacked Notre Dame team, DiPauli didn't get a lot of opportunity to showcase his talents. But he projects as an energy forward with some scoring upside. He's definitely a long-term prospect, and he will have up to three more seasons in South Bend before the Caps have to make any decisions about his future.
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| I said it before and I'll say it again, I love the helmets. |
RW Austin Wuthrich (unsigned) - Another Golden Domer, Wuthrich is used primarily in defensive situations. He has good size and projects to be a fourth-line grinder, but when that's best-case scenario, any slips along the way could cost him a shot at an entry-level deal. One year older than DiPauli, he'll play alongside him for Notre Dame again this season.
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| A real gritty, high-motor, energy, lunch pail, well you know the rest. |
LW/C Nicolas Deschamps ($726k two-way) - Acquired in a trade that sent defenseman Kevin Marshall to the Toronto organization, Deschamps is an AHL veteran with little upside. He landed in Hershey last season, and chipped in a little on offense. He'll look to improve upon his pedestrian numbers by learning head coach Mike Haviland's system in Hershey with a full training camp this season. Given how thin the Caps are at left wing, he could have an opportunity with the big club at some point this season.
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| What is it with low-upside forwards from Toronto that McPhee loves so much? |
RW Garrett Mitchell ($588k two-way) - Always noted for his energy and forechecking, Mitchell began to find the score sheet a little more often last season by contributing 15G 15A in 70 games for Hershey. If he can continue the trend, he could begin to see more ice time in offensive situations. He's a long shot at a roster spot in the NHL, but he's definitely the type of player coaches love to bring up when they need more effort and toughness.
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| Slow but steady improvement could have Mitchell trading brown for red, which is always an upgrade. |
Defensemen
Cameron Schilling ($1.775M two-way) - An undrafted free agent, Schilling signed an AHL contract after his four years at Miami (Ohio) University and slotted right into Hershey's lineup. He then signed a two-way NHL contract and spent most of the season with the Bears, though he did get called up to dress for one game with the Caps. He is merely average at moving the puck and offensive awareness, but he makes up for it with good defensive play and at 6'2" he has an NHL-ready body. A left-handed shot, he's got a way to go before leapfrogging Orlov, Hillen, or Erskine for a spot with the Caps, but he'll get plenty of ice time in Hershey to improve his skills and gain experience.
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| Welcome to the (sort of) big leagues. |
Connor Carrick (unsigned) - In his first year in Canada's junior ranks, Carrick improved greatly as the season went on for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. He put up plenty of offense by scoring 12G 32A in 68 games from the blueline, and earned the assistant captain's "A" for his leadership and defensive play. He really shined during the junior playoffs, with 2G 16A in 15 postseason contests. Both Adam Oates and junior teammate Tom Wilson had
plenty of good things to say about his work ethic and his talent. With some openings along the right side of the Caps blueline, there's opportunity available to Carrick should he continue to improve. Due to
a loophole in the CHL's agreement with the NHL, Carrick could actually play in Hershey or Reading this season.
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The only bad thing about playing for Plymouth in NHL 14 is knocking Carrick out of the top pairing.  |
Nate Schmidt ($1.35M two-way) - Like Schilling, Schmidt is a college product who went undrafted but signed a free agent contract with the Caps. After an unremarkable freshman season at the University of Minnesota, Schmidt exploded with 73 points in 83 games during his sophomore and junior years. After he signed, he reported to Hershey for 13 regular and postseason games, with mixed results. A classic puck-moving defenseman, he'll get some power play time for the Bears and could get a look from the Caps before the season is over.
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| "Whatcha doin' there?" "Nothin', jus' watchin' the Gophers there." |
Patrick Wey ($900k two-way) - Wey is a big, stay-at-home defenseman who spent four years at Boston College. He was drafted in the fourth round back in 2009, and just signed a two-year entry level deal. Wey should find a home on Hershey's blueline, where a thumb injury prevented him from playing at the end of last season. During his collegiate career, he's had trouble staying 100% healthy but has avoided major injury. Should the grind of an AHL season be too much for Wey, he could report to the ECHL's Reading Royals.
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| The "Eagles" motif could have worked with the old blue-and-black jerseys. |
Christian Djoos (unsigned) - McPhee took a flyer on Djoos in the seventh round of last year's draft. The skinny defenseman held his own last season in the Swedish Hockey League (formerly Swedish Elite League) playing for Brynas and honing his skills as an offensive weapon and power play point. Any projection for him making the jump to the NHL must include added bulk for the physicality of North American hockey, but the son of former NHLer Par Djoos knows what it takes to get here. He certainly seems to have more upside and a brighter future than your typical seventh-rounder.
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| Give him a month of North American food, he'll put on a few pounds in no time. |
Garrett Haar (unsigned) - Another prospect who got looks at all three Caps camps, Haar has some obstacles to overcome this season. First, he was declared academically ineligible at Western Michigan University, and left the NCAA ranks to join the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL. Second, he missed major time last year with a back injury. He'll need to get healthy and keep his focus to remain on the Caps radar.
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| At his age, I would have chosen hockey over studying too. |
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer ($607k two-way) - Grubauer played well across three levels last season, mostly in Hershey where he put up great numbers (15-9-2, 2.25 GAA, .919 save%) especially for a 21-year-old. A fourth-round pick three years ago, Grubauer has developed quickly and should get the larger split of the starts in Hershey with career AHLer David Leggio. Should McPhee decide to move Neuvirth, it will mean a vote of confidence in Grubauer's readiness for the big leagues. In the Goalie Guild's latest report, Grubauer slots in as their #25 goalie prospect.
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| Holtby may have Kolzig's demeanor, but Grubauer has Kolzig's German-ness. |
Sergey Kostenko (unsigned) - Kostenko attended development camp, looking for a new contract from either Washington or Hershey. He didn't get one. Where he goes from here is still up in the air, but he's not a factor in the Caps plans at present. Returning to the ECHL or going home to Russia are probably his best bets right now.
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| Orlov and Kostenko in happier times. |
Brandon Anderson ($549k two-way) - An undrafted free agent, it seems like Anderson has been around forever. He got his first taste of pro hockey in Reading last season, and with Grubauer and Leggio ticketed for Hershey he'll likely return there again this year. Even in juniors Anderson has never posted a GAA under three or a save percentage north of .900, so he's still more projection than production at this point. With two more seasons left on his entry-level contract, he has some time to continue his development.
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| Not many NHL goalies toil for years in the ECHL, but the Caps see something in him and that's good enough for me. |
-- The Draft --
After taking two high-upside forwards in the first round of last year's draft, McPhee parlayed most of his mid-round picks this year into an extra second-round pick, and secured three more high-end prospects. Washington has graduated a fair number of its prospects to the pro ranks in recent years, and dealt a few more for NHL-level talent. Time will tell if this year's crop will provide as much fruit, but early returns are encouraging.
All six draft picks attended the Caps development camp in July.
LW Andre Burakovsky (1.23, 23rd overall) - McPhee does love his Swedes, doesn't he? Hockey's Future characterized Burakovsky as a high-risk, high-reward prospect. But with the 23rd overall pick, the Caps were able to secure the 13th best draft prospect according to Hockey Prospectus's Corey Pronman, and NHL Central Scouting's 6th best international skater in the draft. A very agile skater and offensive playmaker, Burakovsky struggled to produce against tough competition in Sweden's lower professional league. But he's always shined in international play, and should continue to get stronger and more responsible defensively to complement his flashy offense. At the urging of McPhee, he'll report to the Erie Otters in Canada's OHL. McPhee also signed him to a three-year entry-level deal worth almost $2.5 million at the NHL level. He attended rookie camp and Caps training camp, but is almost certainly a few years away from contributing.
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| At least it's better than Kuzya's peek-a-boo shot. |
D Madison Bowey (2.23, 53rd overall) - A strong and smooth-skating defenseman, Bowey is also bringing along some offensive game with 12G 18A in 69 games for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets last season. Ranked as the 23rd overall prospect by Pronman, there are "kinks" to his game like choosing to gamble on offensive rushes and defensive positioning, but there is a ton of upside here. McPhee's quotes to the press suggest he's very high on Bowey and sees him as a potential top-four defenseman. Along with Burakovsky, he also attended both rookie camp and training camp, but is returning to the junior ranks.
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| Either the draft picks are getting younger or I'm just a bitter old man. (Spoiler alert: It's the latter.) |
LW Zach Sanford (2.31, 61st overall) - The pick McPhee acquired for their third- and two fourth-round picks, Sanford is big power forward prospect. He played last season in the Eastern Junior Hockey League, a U.S. junior circuit founded only 20 years ago and rarely producing NHL talent. For a second-round pick, he's a bit of a reach according to the rankings (110th by Pronman, 60th North American skater by Central Scouting). The Caps are betting that Sanford's 6'3" frame will develop into a physical presence on the ice, as he's already put up good offensive numbers. His development will continue next season for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL, and eventually the college ranks as he has committed to Boston College.
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| George, you can let go of him now. George? ... Uh, George? |
D Blake Heinrich (5.23, 144th overall) - Just above Sanford on Pronman's list is Heinrich, a current USHL product who plays with a bit of an edge. Not a big defenseman, he still managed to rack up 110 PIMs in 42 games. Continuing the recent trend of the Caps having NCAA players in the system, Heinrich will join Caleb Herbert and play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth this season. NHL teams aren't littered with undersized scrappers, especially on the blueline, so Heinrich is a long shot to impact the roster.
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Bah, you funky kids, with your hats and your be-bop music!  |
C Brian Pinho (6.23, 174th overall) - Yet another U.S. product, Pinho is a star Massachusetts prep school player who scored 12G 24A in 21 games last season. He's played in the U.S. National Development camp in recent summers, and will play in the USHL this season with a future commitment to Providence College. Possessing good size and skill in high school only gets you so far, and Pinho will have to continue growing his two-way game over the next few years to land on the Caps (or Bears for that matter) radar.
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| Scoring goals only gets harder from here on out. |
D Tyler Lewington (7.23, 204th overall) - It's always nice to pluck a player on some prospect lists (149th by Pronman, 66th N.A. skater by Central Scouting) at the end of the draft. Lewington, another defenseman noted for his toughness and penalty minutes, is an enforcer for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. With good size and an increased role at Medicine Hat, he could begin to improve upon his offensive and defensive game. According to Hockey's Future, he impressed at the scouting combine with top marks on most of the strength and weight lifting exercises, and he showed off his skills in rookie camp and even got a brief look in training camp.
-- Off-season Acquisitions -- (2013-14 salary cap number)
D David Kolomatis ($550k two-way) - Kolomatis is a right-handed defenseman who spent his last four years with Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. He's been the model of consistency in the minors, and is purely for organizational depth and is almost certainly Hershey-bound. He would fill a hole for the Bears created by Kundratek and Oleksy both possibly making the Caps roster.
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| I wish the LA Kings would use purple as much as the Monarchs do. |
RW Brandon Segal ($550k two-way) - Another org guy, Segal's had a little NHL experience (103 games) in his ten professional seasons. He will also fill a spot on Hershey's roster, as most of the Caps' right wing prospects are in junior or college hockey. Not a top-end AHL scorer, he will be counted upon for two-way responsibilities.
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| I had to double-check to make sure this wasn't Rick Nash. Looks just like him... |
C Mikhail Grabovski ($3.0M) - On August 22nd, McPhee finally made his big move of the off-season by signing Grabovski to a one-year deal. Grabbo was jettisoned by the new Toronto regime for
being too good at puck possession his rocky relationship with head coach Randy Carlyle. Under the old leadership of general manager Brian Burke and head coach Ron Wilson, Grabovski was a very good two-way center. But after Carlyle switched to a more defensive system, his production fell off. New G.M. Dave Nonis couldn't find a trade partner, and Toronto used one of their compliance buyouts to get out from under the last four years of a five-year, $27.5 million contract. Grabovski-to-DC rumors swirled all summer, but McPhee played the waiting game and probably saved a few years and some cash on the deal. Grabbo should slot into Mike Ribeiro's old spot, both on the power play and as second-line center, very nicely. As with Ribeiro, he will likely play well enough to earn they money he deserves at his next destination.
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| He may be from Belarus, but that's close enough to Russia that I bet RMNB is going to love this guy. |
-- Projected Depth Chart --
LW: Johansson, Erat, Chimera, Volpatti, Galiev
C: Backstrom, Grabovski, Laich, Perreault, Beagle
RW: Ovechkin, Brouwer, Fehr, Ward, Wilson
LD: Alzner, Orlov, Erskine, Hillen, Schilling
RD: Green, Carlson, Oleksy, Kundratek, Carrick
G: Holtby, Neuvirth, Grubauer
-- Conclusion --
The most important off-season change for the Washington Capitals may be one that has nothing to do with personnel. The NHL approved realignment and released the division names back in July, and the Caps are now a proud member of the Metropolitan Division. The only other holdover from the old Southeast is Carolina, and Washington will have to re-familiarize themselves with old Patrick Division rivals New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and both New York teams. Finally, the NHL added Columbus to the Metro, because it's masochistic like that. During their run of success in the Southeast, many critics of the Caps pointed to a weak strength of schedule. Now, no one can claim they're not playing against the best in the league week in and week out. Realignment also means that there are 16 teams in the Eastern Conference, and only 14 in the West. Playoff teams are selected based on the top three in each division, plus two wild card spots for the highest point totals among non-top three teams in each conference. With the Penguins and Rangers once again looking strong, it will be difficult for the Caps to claim a place among the top three teams in the Metro or one of the wild card spots.
In last year's piece, I said that the team's strength should be defense. Unfortunately, Roman Hamrlik came back from the lockout as a shadow of his former self, and defensive breakdowns led to the Caps being below average at allowing goals. It seems their success under Hunter really was his system, and the learning curve under Oates was too steep for them in the lockout-shortened season. I also remarked that the team was thin at right wing, but following Ovechkin's shift to that side, now it is left wing that seems weak. Considering Chimera's awful season last year, there isn't much to like after Erat and Johansson. Traditionally Laich has played left wing when not at center, but I like him much better at 3C, and counting on his health might be risky. If Tom Wilson is able to make the team and contribute, it could allow one of Brouwer, Fehr, Ward, or even Wilson himself to play the left side. Defense also favors the right side, as Green and Carlson are both right-handed. There's plenty of upside after Alzner on the port side, but sorting out who to deploy in what situations will be up to Oates, Calle Johansson, and Blaine Forsythe. The one constant this season should be Holtby, as he's earned the starting gig for two straight years. He should continue to improve, and Neuvirth is still a valuable backup. I like Neuvy to get around 30-35 starts this season, and the two should form one of the better goaltending duos in the league.
Another big factor this season is the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. There will be a two-week break in the schedule come February, when a handful of Caps will represent their countries in the best hockey tournament in the world. The biggest impact the Olympics will have on the Caps is what top propsect Evgeny Kuznetsov chooses to do after its completion. If he finally signs a deal to play in North America, it immediately gives the Caps roster a jolt of offense and another top forward to match with Ovie and Backstrom.
All in all, I'm really looking forward to this season. A full training camp under Oates, seeing what Mikhail Grabovski can do in an offensive system, old division rivals back in the mix, the Olympic break, and finally the Stanley Cup playoffs all have me very excited to get this thing underway. Now let's drop the puck already!
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