Caps’ window to win closing
It’s been three weeks since the NHL was forced to shut its doors due to the global spread of the coronavirus.
For Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom, who’s had 11 games postponed so far, it’s felt more like three months. “I actually forgot we were in first spot,” he said on Wednesday. “Thanks for reminding me.”
The Capitals had the best record in the Metropolitan Division.
Their window on remaining one of the best teams in the league could be closing along with the rest of the season.
No team is a perennial favourite. Not in the salary cap world. You only have to look at the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings or the San Jose Sharks to realize there’s an expiration date on competing for a championship.
Rosters are constantly changing, and not always for the better.
Backstrom, who signed a fiveyear, US$46-million contract extension that kicks in next season, knows it.
With the salary cap more than likely remaining the same for next season, he knows his raise means Washington will have less money to re-sign unrestricted free agents, such as goalie Braden Holtby, forward Ilya Kovalchuk and defencemen Radko Gudas and Brenden Dillon. He also knows that a year from now, Alex Ovechkin’s contract will expire and new problems will emerge.
It’s not just the Caps looking at what might have been.
The St. Louis Blues, who own the best record in the West, were looking to repeat as champions. They have the fourth-highest payroll and captain Alex Pietrangelo is heading to free agency in the summer.
The Bruins, who were the best team in the NHL, are facing even more difficult financial problems. Charlie Coyle is getting a $2-million raise next season, and the team also has to re-sign Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk.