The Capitals still hope to bring in a top-6 forward, but there's a lot of trust in the current group.
The Washington Capitals were somewhat surprised by Nicklas Backstrom's decision to step away from hockey with his hip not responding and him unable to play the type of game he wants to, and now, they're navigating what to do next to help fill the void.
For general manager Brian MacLellan, there's a plan in place, and a lot of it comes from the inside.
On the ice, MacLellan and Spencer Carbery are primarily planning to rely on the youth and other stars to rise to the occasion with more ice time up for grabs.
"I think we have some young players that are breaking through here, hopefully," MacLellan said, citing Connor McMichael's growth and transition to center with Backstrom out of the picture. "There's opportunity to step in and find a role and contribute to the team's success. So I think we'll look internally here for now and give opportunities to our young guys.
That said, MacLellan did say that the search for another top-6 forward hasn't come to an end despite the team being satisfied with the current mix. That has been Washington's target since the offseason, and it remains a top item on the to-do list as time goes on.
"Our goal is still to do that," MacLellan said. "We're still pursuing opportunities that might present that."
Backstrom, who had one assist in eight games, will go on the long-term injured reserve, which opens some cap room for D.C. to work with.
Off the ice, Washington has already addressed the leadership role and vacancy among team captains, as Tom Wilson is now joining the mix of alternate captains and alternating Backstrom's "A" with T.J. Oshie.
"They're both leaders. They approach the game the right way... I just think it's natural for them," MacLellan added. "Oshie has worn the 'A' a lot, and I think it's just a natural progression for Tom to move into that role."