The Capitals picked up two veterans and, all in all, had a decent start to NHL Free Agency.
The Washington Capitals got down to business to open NHL Free Agency at noon, making headlines with two notable pickups in Max Pacioretty and Joel Edmundson while also saying goodbye to a handful of UFAs, re-signing Hunter Shepard to a two-year deal and inking Pierrick Dubé to an entry-level contract.
There's still work for the Capitals to do, but looking back at Day 1, it was a solid start.
Washington started off by acquiring blueliner Joel Edmundson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for 2024 third-round and seventh-round selections. Montreal is also retaining part of his salary.
Some critics questioned the deal, wondering why Edmundson was being brought in with the blue line pretty much stacked. However, the 30-year-old does have a bit to offer.
Like the Erik Gustafsson signing last season, he can fight for a full-time role in the lineup or even be a solid seventh defenseman. The team needs someone to fill that role, with Matt Irwin departing for the Vancouver Cnaucks.
Having Edmundson will also allow for Vincent Iorio and other young fringe defensemen to get playing time down in Hershey rather than stay up at the NHL level only to watch from the press box.
Edmundson will have to go up against Alex Alexeyev for a full-time spot, but he brings a lot to the table. The 6-foot-5, 221-pound defenseman can log heavy minutes, loves to lay the body and thrives in a shutdown role. He's fearless when it comes to battling for the puck or blocking shots, and though he's not a point producer, he has a good first pass and can move the puck well.
Soon after, the Capitals signed Max Pacioretty to a one-year, $2 million deal that carries an extra $2 million in bonus salary if he plays at least 20 games. The deal received some mixed reviews given his age and Washington's intention to get younger this offseason, as well as the fact that the 34-year-old is coming off an injury-riddled season that saw him play just five games and tear his right Achilles tendon twice in a span of just under six months.
It's a strong signing for the Capitals, though, and it has the potential to be a steal. It's a low-risk, high-reward situation where Pacioretty, if he stays healthy, can take on top-6 minutes. He has showcased his impressive goal-scoring ability for the entirety of his esteemed career, and the only thing holding him back now is his injury history.
Otherwise, the team got a proven scorer and contributor who can take on a power play role and doesn't have a high cap hit. And, if it doesn't work out, there's no long-term commitment. Pacioretty, though, is confident his tenure in D.C. will play out well, and he said his recovery is going well and that he should be ready to play shortly after the start of the regular season.
"I'm still the player I once was... to be able to come to a team that I feel can have a very good year [with] and that I can contribute to and personally show that I'm capable of playing this game at the level I once was, for me, I feel blessed that I have this opportunity."
READ MORE ON THE HOCKEY NEWS: Max Pacioretty Opens Up About Injuries, New Start WIth Capitals & Proving He's Still A Star
Still, there could be more coming down the pipeline. MacLellan had said after the draft he wanted to continue to change up the top-6, and there are reports that the Nashville Predators had conversations regarding Evgeny Kuznetsov's availability. Where that goes remains to be seen.
Overall, it was a solid start with minimal risks involved, and it's likely that there's more change ahead -- and there should be more work coming for a team that just failed to make the postseason for the first time in nine years and has a new head coach.