The Washington Capitals have been chosen for the primary time for the fourth consecutive time in Might. The workforce hasn’t gained a playoff collection since successful the Stanley Cup in 2018. Large modifications appeared inevitable this summer time because of accidents and among the workforce’s glorious prospects in 2021-22. Brian MacLellan stated the workforce wanted an “injection of youth”. That made sense.
The Capitals have been one of many oldest groups within the NHL final season, an issue that confirmed at instances within the workforce’s pace and sturdiness all year long. A number of prospects, together with the quickly creating Connor McMichael heart, appeared poised for a daily function within the NHL, particularly with Nicklas Backstrom out for the lengthy haul. Joe Snively, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Brett Leason additionally appeared able to being NHL gamers subsequent season.
Quick-forward a couple of months, GM Brian MacLellan’s selections in free company seemingly broke from Brian MacLellan’s phrases in Might and early July.
Let’s recap.
Might 15 – Brian MacLellan at Capital Breakdown Day
By means of the historical past of RMNB: Brian MacLellan says Capitals’ first offseason choice shall be his aim.
MacLellan thinks the Capitals will get youthful: “I believe we’d like an injection of youth,” after not successful a playoff collection since their Stanley Cup season in 2018.
“We have misplaced within the first around the final 4 years,” he stated. “We’re going to discover modifications. I do not suppose something is off the desk. We’re going to speak to completely different groups and monitor the buying and selling market. We’ll determine free brokers. We now have to unravel our goalkeeper scenario”.
July 6: Brian MacLellan earlier than the NHL Draft
By means of the historical past of RMNB: Capitals anticipate Nicklas Backstrom to return subsequent season, plan to fill his absence internally.
“The wage cap is the wage cap,” MacLellan stated. “We now have to plan for Nick to come back again sooner or later. What we are able to do is give alternatives to our younger individuals. We now have some younger guys: McMichael, we anticipate him to take the subsequent step; Lapierre, we’ll see the place he’s; Protas is coming in and we anticipate him to take the subsequent leap, and go just a little bit from there. It isn’t like we are able to signal a $9.5 million participant. We’re anticipating Nick coming again sooner or later. Till that wears off, we plan for it to come back again.”
July 20: Brian MacLellan after free company
That brings us to in the present day.
The Capitals acquired or traded eight completely different gamers final week, together with forwards. dylan strome (2 C), connor brown (prime six of the wing), marcus johanson (decrease six), and Henrik Borgstrom (heart/eave depth); defenders erik gustafson (decrease pairing) and Matt Irwin (depth); and goalkeepers darcy kumper Y Charlie Lindgren.
The strikes put the Capitals $6.32 million over the wage cap. The NHL permits groups to have a most of 10 p.c throughout the offseason.
Capitals’ projected roster now seems to be one thing like this. It appears possible that McMichael shall be out of the lineup. Our listing has AJF within the fourth row, however Borgstrom may take him out.
Cap Pleasant tasks that the Capitals would be the second-oldest workforce within the NHL subsequent season behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. The mixed age of the workforce, based on our math, is about the identical as final yr.
Primarily based on present projected 20-man rosters, these are the oldest groups within the NHL (utilizing common age).
1.Pittsburgh – 30.0
2.Washington – 29.7
3. Tampa Bay – 29.1
4. St. Louis – 28.8
5. New York Islanders – 28.6
6.Toronto – 28.1
7. Las Vegas – 28.0
8.Dallas-27.7
9. San Jose – 27.6— CapFriendly depth charts (@CF_DepthCharts) July 19, 2022
On Wednesday, MacLellan set the stage for McMichael and the opposite prospects to spend the yr at Hershey.
“It is a aggressive scenario,” MacLellan stated. “I do not suppose we will get there guaranteeing spots for younger guys within the lineup. I believe, you realize, it’s important to earn it to some extent. I believe Connor will come and be higher than he was final yr and it is going to be ‘how can we develop him higher’ and ‘how will we do one of the best for our lineup.’ Whether or not we play him heart, whether or not we play him on the wing, whether or not we play him increased up the lineup or decrease down the lineup, he will have a shot at every part. If he performs properly, it is going to be a troublesome choice for the coaches.”
MacLellan added that “our want has been so as to add some younger gamers to our lineup. I believe including Connor Brown at 28 and Dylan Strome at 25 works for my considering: (Strome) shall be a undertaking for us, we are able to get extra out of him. And together with Lucas, he is younger, McMichael, Lapierre and Protas, I believe we have got some good younger guys within the pipeline that we’re creating and he makes some fascinating selections as we go ahead right here.”
The strikes the Capitals made throughout the offseason, together with changing their two younger goalies, signify an enormous change, nevertheless it’s debatable whether or not the workforce actually injected any youth into their roster. We’ll see if the outcomes this season are completely different.