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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on whether the Washington Capitals’ window to win has closed.
Todd Cordell
I don’t think so. The Capitals should be able to contend for at least a couple more years if their decision making is sound.
John Carlson, although overrated defensively, might win the Norris this year. Alex Ovechkin scored 48 goals in 68 games. Nicklas Backstrom averaged nearly a point per game. Jakub Vrana is one of the game’s most efficient at 5v5. Ilya Samsonov looks like he’s going to be a high-end goaltender for a long time. The core pieces are in place. They just have to support them properly.
I think moving on from Todd Reirden was a step in the right direction. So, too, would letting Braden Holtby walk in free agency. He was once excellent but his best days have long passed. Among the 48 most used goaltenders in the league, Holtby ranked 44th in 5v5 save percentage this season. He looked even worse by Goals Saved Above Average, slotting 46th – ahead of only Martin Jones and Mike Smith – with a -14.70 GSAA.
Even an average backup could provide as much, or more, than Holtby gave the Capitals this year and for ~$4.5 million less.
Walking away from Radko Gudas would clear another $2.345 million for improvements.
The Caps don’t have the money to go on a spending spree, however, they have enough to make competitive offers to players who might want to play for a top team.
A stout defender like Dylan DeMelo, for example, could probably be had for ~$2.5-3 million per and he could help stabilize the back end.
This is just an example but replacing Holtby and Gudas with, say, Anton Khudobin and DeMelo would provide upgrades in goal and on defense while still cutting money for an improvement elsewhere.
If they make smart decisions around the edges, the Capitals should be able to make another run or two before their older stars really slow down.
James Tanner
In the sense of "are they a top team that will compete for the President's Trophy and the Cup every year for a while" the Capitals "window" is no longer open. But it was closed before they won their Cup with a very average team that was nowhere close to the dominant version the team was icing a decade ago. In the NHL the BEST team rarely wins,and any team with a decent goalie and a little firepower can go all the way. The Caps still have Carlson, Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and will replace Holtby with Samsonov. They won't be the class of the east anymore - haven't been for a while - but they could still be good enough to win a second Cup if they get lucky.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com
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