After a lackluster season for the Capitals, general manager Brian MacLellan has his work cut out for him this summer.
After a disappointing season saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the Washington Capitals are headed for change this summer. But how much change is enough?
General manager Brian MacLellan somewhat outlined a plan for the team this summer and placed more emphasis on the forward lines.
On the defensive side, the team is mostly happy with its blue line, especially after Rasmus Sandin's breakout following his acquisition and the promising development of prospects in the system.
Ultimately, MacLellan's goal is to make the roster faster and stronger while revamping the top-6.
And for GMBM, nothing's off the table.
"We'll examine what we think we can get done -- trades, free agents and put decisions [regarding pending UFAs] in that group," MacLellan said.
The team has several options, whether it's bringing back the likes of Connor Brown, picking up some free agents or exploring the trade route.
When it comes to the best move, though, it may consist of the Capitals doing something they haven't really done in recent years: make a big splash.
Washington is in a strange spot. There's a lot of uncertainty for some big names, as Evgeny Kuznetsov and the team appear to be headed for a divorce, Anthony Mantha's lack of success in D.C. has led to his name appearing in conversations and MacLellan wants Nicklas Backstrom to make a decision about his career with neither on the same page about his play following hip resurfacing surgery.
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Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin is entering the third year of his five-year deal that's likely to be his last -- pending he breaks Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record in that span (I don't think he hangs 'em up without passing The Great One), T.J. Oshie's injury struggles have raised questions and the core is aging.
Then, there are the likes of pending UFAs Conor Sheary, Craig Smith and Matt Irwin, all of who are more than likely not coming back.
While the team's prospects are promising, with Connor McMichael finding his game down with the Hershey Bears, Ivan Miroshnichenko coming overseas next year and Ethen Frank likely to make a push for a spot next season after a star-studded rookie campaign in the AHL, there's still the name for an experienced top-6 player in D.C., especially if Kuznetsov and Backstrom don't return.
At the end of the day, Washington wants to remain a contender. In order to do that, MacLellan will have to get busy this summer and bring in some big names to help.
One name going around is William Nylander. The 27-year-old is coming off a 40-goal, 87-point campaign and was one of the Toronto Maple Leafs' best forwards, but the team may be looking to move on from him or another big forward again falling apart in the playoffs.
It would involve giving up some big pieces -- likely Kuznetsov. Mantha, a couple of prospects and picks -- but perhaps a shakeup is something the Capitals need. After all, the Florida Panthers did it with Matthew Tkachuk coming in and Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar going the other way, and it worked tremendously in Florida's favor.
Other names potentially on the trade market include Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele, who could also fill some possible future holes in the roster. Alex DeBrincat's name is also out there, though he'd be expensive, and it'd take a lot of work to get his $9 million qualifying offer to fit.
Then, there are a number of pending free-agent forwards to watch, including Tyler Bertuzzi, who had 30 points in 50 games this past season but scored 30 goals back in 2021-22. J.T. Compher and Max Domi are other names that could fit. And then, another solution -- and an easy one -- would be bringing back Brown.
The only names off the table up front, in my opinion, are Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, Sonny Milano and Tom Wilson. While his name has come up in speculation, he has remained adamant about re-signing and staying in D.C. for his career. So unless neither side can come to terms on an agreement, don't expect him to move.
Ultimately, there are going to be some tough decisions to make, but fortunately, there's quite a bit to work with this summer.