Capitals NHL Free Agency: Qualifying Offers, Who's Coming Back & Who's Not, Names To Watch

Here is everything to know as the Capitals prepare for 2023 NHL Free Agency.

The Washington Capitals got down to business with some qualifying offers on Friday and are preparing with the rest of the league for free agency.

Here is everything to know so far the Capitals look to the market :

Washington issued qualifying offers to the following players:

- Defenseman Martin Fehervary

- Forward Riley Sutter

- Forward Kody Clark

- Forward Henrik Borgstrom

When it comes to the Capitals' unrestricted free agents, Connor Brown, Conor Sheary, Craig Smith and Matt Irwin don't appear to be returning and will hit the market. Carl Hagelin, who is still recovering from hip resurfacing surgery and dealing with partial vision loss and the fallout from a ruptured choroid suffered in practice, is a free agent who is eager to try and continue his career.

Washington is staying in touch with Brown's representatives, but he and his camp want to explore what's out there in free agency. It's the first time the 29-year-old will be a free agent, and he's eager to show what he can do after missing all but three games last season due to a torn ACL. He used that time away to reflect on himself, make improvements to his diet and change the type of player he is and wants to be.

Sheary had been a great pickup for Washington after signing a one-year "prove it" deal in 2020, which turned into three years of him being a high-impact player and being one of the team's most versatile pieces. The 31-year-old is likely to earn a nice contract elsewhere.

Craig Smith played top-6 minutes and provided some depth on the wing after coming over in the Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway trade, but the 33-year-old is a veteran winger who doesn't really fit what the Capitals need going forward.

Matt Irwin is a great locker-room presence and played the most games he has in years after John Carlson's injury and the mid-season sell-off, but with Carlson back full-time, the blue line stacked and Alex Alexeyev ready, there's no room for Irwin to stay in D.C.

Zach Fucale, meanwhile, is signing with the KHL's Traktor for one year. The deal will be worth 50 million rubles, equal to roughly $559,000.

Washington did not extend QOs to Kody Clark and Gabriel Carlsson, and they will become UFAs.

Mike Vecchione, Bobby Nardella, Garrett Pilon, Dylan McIlrath, Hunter Shepard