Post by Washington Capitals on May 28, 2023 14:25:24 GMT -6
The first full season for the Caps under the guidance of Jay Williams saw them miss the playoffs for a second straight year. The success for the organization this year lies not in the pro team accomplishments but that of its minor team affiliate Hershey Bears.
The pro team was lead by Nico Hishchier who had a breakout season with the club posting 119 points (46g/73a) in 82 games. The Caps also shipped out a handful of picks with Fabian Lysell (p) to bring in RFA Mitch Marner who posted 16 points in 12 games with the team. GM Jay Williams will obviously make resigning Marner to an extension and has already made it known that he plans to match any offer sheets sent his way. A full season with a top line of Hischier, Marner and Svechnikov will be a significant boost to the teams offense next year.
Expected to move from the Bears to the Caps are forwards Morgan Geekie, Seth Jarvis and Tage Thompson. Jarvis led the Bears with 112 points (46g/66a), while Geekie (98pts) and Thompson (91pts) were 3rd and 5th on the team. These forwards making the jump to the pros will give the Capitals a much improved top 6 group of forwards that will help win game. Cole Sillinger (4th on the Bears in points with 97pts) is expected to play next year in the minors, however; that will depend on what will be seen in training camp next fall. Defensive forward Brock McGinn will test free agency this year.
On defense is where the Capitals look to improve the most next year with Rasmus Sandin, Cal Foot and Ian Mitchell all but guaranteed to make the big club. GM Williams has received a lot of flack for signing aging dman Nick Jensen to an 8M, four year contract in his first off season as GM, although he did post resepctable numbers on a bad Washington team with 66pts and a +/- of +8. He will be looked toward to mentor the young d core in Washington next season. Dmitry Kulikov was not offered and extension and will hit free agency.
Goaltending is where the Caps really need to improve on. Led by a 1-2 tandem of aging tenders Andersen and Bishop, the time to look for a future tender is now. The Caps might have a hidden gem in Pyotr Kochetkov who plans to play for the Hershey squad next season, but for him to make the jump to play pro is probably a few seasons away.
This offseason plans to be a quiet one for the Capitals in not only Free Agency but the Draft as well. The Caps only have five picks (3 6ths and 2 7ths) GM Williams has stated he has no plan to participate in free agency except maybe to pick up some veteran help for the minors.
TRADE RUMORS:
The Capitals are expected to move either one or both of their veteran goaltenders either at the draft or by the trade deadline next season. Other players the Capitals are expected to be moving would be forwards Athanasiou, Mikheyev, Virtanen and defensemen Poolman and Cole.
At the time of printing, the Hershey Bears will be playing their first game against the Colorado Eagles in the Calder Cup Finals. Hershey is 12 and 4 in the playoffs so far and the Eagles are 12 and 5. This looks to be a great matchup as both GM's Jay Williams and Jussi Kalmi have put a lot of work in developing their prospects this season.
The pro team was lead by Nico Hishchier who had a breakout season with the club posting 119 points (46g/73a) in 82 games. The Caps also shipped out a handful of picks with Fabian Lysell (p) to bring in RFA Mitch Marner who posted 16 points in 12 games with the team. GM Jay Williams will obviously make resigning Marner to an extension and has already made it known that he plans to match any offer sheets sent his way. A full season with a top line of Hischier, Marner and Svechnikov will be a significant boost to the teams offense next year.
Expected to move from the Bears to the Caps are forwards Morgan Geekie, Seth Jarvis and Tage Thompson. Jarvis led the Bears with 112 points (46g/66a), while Geekie (98pts) and Thompson (91pts) were 3rd and 5th on the team. These forwards making the jump to the pros will give the Capitals a much improved top 6 group of forwards that will help win game. Cole Sillinger (4th on the Bears in points with 97pts) is expected to play next year in the minors, however; that will depend on what will be seen in training camp next fall. Defensive forward Brock McGinn will test free agency this year.
On defense is where the Capitals look to improve the most next year with Rasmus Sandin, Cal Foot and Ian Mitchell all but guaranteed to make the big club. GM Williams has received a lot of flack for signing aging dman Nick Jensen to an 8M, four year contract in his first off season as GM, although he did post resepctable numbers on a bad Washington team with 66pts and a +/- of +8. He will be looked toward to mentor the young d core in Washington next season. Dmitry Kulikov was not offered and extension and will hit free agency.
Goaltending is where the Caps really need to improve on. Led by a 1-2 tandem of aging tenders Andersen and Bishop, the time to look for a future tender is now. The Caps might have a hidden gem in Pyotr Kochetkov who plans to play for the Hershey squad next season, but for him to make the jump to play pro is probably a few seasons away.
This offseason plans to be a quiet one for the Capitals in not only Free Agency but the Draft as well. The Caps only have five picks (3 6ths and 2 7ths) GM Williams has stated he has no plan to participate in free agency except maybe to pick up some veteran help for the minors.
TRADE RUMORS:
The Capitals are expected to move either one or both of their veteran goaltenders either at the draft or by the trade deadline next season. Other players the Capitals are expected to be moving would be forwards Athanasiou, Mikheyev, Virtanen and defensemen Poolman and Cole.
At the time of printing, the Hershey Bears will be playing their first game against the Colorado Eagles in the Calder Cup Finals. Hershey is 12 and 4 in the playoffs so far and the Eagles are 12 and 5. This looks to be a great matchup as both GM's Jay Williams and Jussi Kalmi have put a lot of work in developing their prospects this season.
