Champions have tough off-season ahead
Bringing back coach, top defenceman among team’s key priorities
Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan had just watched his two franchise cornerstones, captain Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, hoist the Stanley Cup together. Roughly 30 minutes later, he was asked the question that every champion gets: Can you do it again next season?
“I would assume we get some confidence out of this, you know?” MacLellan said. “Our young guys are growing. Our older guys are experienced with how to handle the pressure, how to handle tough situations. I see no reason why we can’t keep it going.”
The Capitals’ window for a championship with this core appeared to be shrinking. But now that the team is celebrating its first Stanley Cup, the challenge will be in keeping this group together for a potential repeat. In the afterglow of victory, Washington will have to address the future of its coach as well as several pending unrestricted free agents under salary cap constraints.
This season was the last of Barry Trotz’s four-year deal, and when he didn’t get an extension before the season, both Trotz and Washington’s front office agreed to wait until after the season to address his future. His regular-season resumé includes two Presidents’ Trophies and three division titles. The Capitals advanced to the second round in his first three seasons, and had Washington not gotten past that point this time, the team would have almost certainly moved on.
“If he wants to be back, he’ll be back,” MacLellan said after the Cup-clinching victory in Vegas.
Immediately after the win, Trotz said he “absolutely” sees a future for himself in Washington after spending the season as a lame duck. When the team visited Nationals Park on Saturday with the Cup, Trotz said he has yet to enter into contract talks with the organization because, like his players, he’s been too busy celebrating.
Inexperience was considered this team’s greatest flaw going into the season, but the development of its youth could results in an even better position next year. Centre Evgeny Kuznetsov solidified his status as a core member with 32 points in 24 playoff games, making him the post-season’s top scorer.
Washington’s top free agent priority will be John Carlson, who is expected to receive a significant pay bump after a career season with 15 goals and 53 assists, leading NHL defencemen in scoring. He’s been on a capfriendly contract with an average annual value of roughly $4 million (U.S.) the past six seasons and some project that his next deal will pay twice that.
Even with the salary cap ex- pected to rise to $80 million (U.S.) next season, it could be a tight squeeze for the Capitals. Wilson is a restricted free agent, and after his career season — 14 goals and 21 assists while playing mostly on a line with Ovechkin — he’s earned a raise from his two-year, $4-million bridge deal. Forward Devante SmithPelly, who scored seven playoff goals, is a restricted free agent.
One way the Capitals could clear some cap room is by trading backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer played a career-high 35 NHL games this season, splitting time with Braden Holtby for the last month of the season, when Holtby temporarily lost his top job. The Caps could get a mid- to highround draft pick for Grubauer.