With the focus in the nation’s capital on taking another step forward in the 2024-25 season, the Washington Capitals will need to improve in a couple of areas. While they are trying to integrate more young talent into the NHL roster, the team will need to go outside of the organization for some help after seeing three defensemen miss time in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and is still in search of at least another top-six forward. NoVa Caps does their semi-annual Capitals’ trade tiers:
** NOTE: Any player who played an NHL game this past season is included
Untouchable
- LW Alex Ovechkin (two years left on contract, $9.5 million cap hit) — While Ovechkin, who will turn 39 just prior to training camp in the fall, saw his goal total (31) go down, it was expected to at some point, and he improved in the second half of the campaign. Ovechkin will open next season 42 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL-record 894 goals, and it just would not be right to see him do it anywhere else.
- C Dylan Strome (four, $5 million cap hit) — The 27-year-old was arguably the most consistent Capital in 2023-24, when he ranked second on the team in goals (27) and led it in points (67) while playing in all 82 games for the first time in his career. He set career highs in goals for the third straight season and points for the second. With the team thin down the middle, Strome is staying put.
- RW Tom Wilson (seven, $6.5 million cap hit) — In his first full season after tearing his ACL, the 30-year-old saw his production decrease from the past few seasons as he finished with 18 goals and 35 points in 74 games. However, Wilson is viewed by many as the franchise’s next captain and provides a mix of leadership, physicality, and scoring that not many players can offer. His long-term contract extension that he signed last August will kick in.
Staying put
- C Connor McMichael (pending restricted free agent) — The 23-year-old impressed this past season, finishing with 18 goals (tied for third on the team) and 33 points (fifth) in a career-high 80 games. The Capitals may need another top-six center to continue to compete next season, but that is not a knock on McMichael, who won the Calder Cup with the AHL’s Hershey Bears in 2023 and could command around a $3 million cap hit on a bridge deal this summer.
- RW T.J. Oshie (one, $5.75 million cap hit) — The 37-year-old could retire due to continuous back issues but wants to play the final year of his contract. After a slow start to the campaign, Oshie finished with 12 goals and 25 points in 52 games but gives the locker room a lot of energy and leadership. If Oshie continues to play, the Capitals will keep him since he is too important in the locker room.
- C Aliaksei Protas (five, $3.375 million cap hit) — The 23-year-old’s production dipped after a strong start to the season with only three goals and 11 points over his final 45 games, but he shattered his career highs in assists (23), points (29), and games played (78). The team thinks highly of Protas, who added two assists in the postseason, as shown by the contract extension he signed in January and will look for him to take another step in his development next season.
- C Hendrix Lapierre (one, $863,333 cap hit) — The 22-year-old established himself as an everyday NHL player this season as he notched eight goals and 22 points in 51 regular-season games in addition to the goal and assist he earned in the postseason during his first full season. Despite getting sent down to AHL Hershey for five weeks in mid-January, Lapierre scored six goals and 16 points in 27 NHL games (0.59 points per game) from January 18 onwards, fifth on the roster excluding Anthony Mantha and Evgeny Kuznetsov (who were both traded in early March). He took a huge step in just over half of a season and will compete for top-six ice time in the fall.
- LW Ivan Miroschnichenko (two, $950,000 cap hit) — The 20-year-old impressed in his first pro season in North America with two goals and six points in 21 NHL regular-season games in addition to the nine goals and 25 points he stacked up in 47 AHL games. Miroschnichenko, the 20th overall pick in 2022, remained with the Capitals after getting recalled in late February and made his postseason debut. He could be pencilled in for a spot in Washington’s top-nine forward group entering training camp in September.
- D Martin Fehervary (two, $2.675 million cap hit) — The 24-year-old finished this past season with three goals, 16 points, a -7 rating, .4727 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4809 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4927 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 19:38 per game (third among Capitals defensemen), including 1:42 on the penalty kill (third). Fehervary was one of the best Capitals in the postseason with a team-leading two goals, co-leading three points, and earning a .4062 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, cementing his role as one of the team’s best shutdown blueliners.
- D Rasmus Sandin (five, $4.6 million cap hit) — The 24-year-old, who signed a contract extension two months ago, did not pick up where he left off to finish the 2022-23 season after getting acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs as he posted three goals, 23 points, a -13 rating, .4612 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4606 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .47 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 68 regular-season games, where he averaged 21:07 per game (second), including 1:24 on the power play (second). He appeared in only one first-round game due to injury and it was apparent that the Capitals missed Sandin as they allowed 11 goals over the three games he missed. Washington needs to continue making acquisitions similar to Sandin, Strome, and Sonny Milano they made last season, and keep them around as well.
Preferably staying
- LW Sonny Milano (two, $1.9 million cap hit) — The 27-year-old set a career high in goals (15) despite being limited to 49 games due to injury. He shined after a slow start to the campaign, earning 12 goals and 16 points in his final 28. Milano has one of the best value contracts on the team and showed how coveted he is after returning from injury.
- LW Beck Malenstyn (pending RFA) — The 26-year-old established himself as a full-time NHL player in 2023-24, posting six goals, 21 points, and a .4091 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in a checking-line role. Malenstyn reportedly received some interest leading up to the trade deadline, but he is in line for a raise, and it is doubtful that Washington would move him.
- D Alexander Alexeyev (one, $825,000 cap hit) — The 24-year-old played a career-high 39 games this season, posting a goal, three points, -8 rating, .4674 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4996 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .514 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 13:42 per game (ninth), including 28 seconds on the penalty kill (sixth). The 31st overall pick from 2018 took a big step late in the season and could see a bigger role next season.
- RW Pierrick Dube (one, $870,000 cap hit) — The 23-year-old appeared in three NHL games and was a top player for Hershey with 28 goals and 48 points in 66 AHL outings during his first season in the organization.
- D Vinny Iorio (two, $814,167 cap hit) — The 21-year-old, who was selected 55th overall in 2021, skated in six NHL games this past season, recording a .4467 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage while averaging just 9:50 per game. Iorio, who made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 against the New York Rangers, also notched four goals, 14 points, and a +26 rating in 60 AHL contests.
- G Hunter Shepard (one, $775,000 cap hit) — The 28-year-old went 27-4-3 with a .929 save percentage, 1.76 goals-against average, and five shutouts in 34 AHL games in addition to 2-1-1 with an .894 save percentage and 3.19 goals-against average in four NHL outings during the regular season. Shepard backstopped Hershey to the Calder Cup in 2022-23.
Would take a great offer
- G Charlie Lindgren (one, $1.1 million cap hit) — Yes, the 30-year-old was arguably Washington’s best player this past season, going 25-16-7 with a .911 save percentage, 2.67 goals-against average, and six shutouts. However, Washington is close to a rebuild and Lindgren has just 110 career regular-season games of experience, making it possible that the team sells high, especially with the very team-friendly cap hit if teams inquire. Lindgren, who reportedly received interest at the NHL Trade Deadline, also fell back to Earth in the postseason, posting an .864 save percentage and 3.58 goals-against average.
- D John Carlson (two, $8 million cap hit) — The 34-year-old saw a dip in his offensive production with 10 goals and 52 points in 82 games, where he averaged a league-high 25:54 per game (including 3:22 on the power play to lead Capitals blueliners and 2:46 on the penalty kill, which tied Nick Jensen for the most) and tallied a .4752 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4876 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4953 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage. Carlson’s high salary and defensive deficiencies may make him worth listening to offers on, but it is doubtful that he is going anywhere.
- D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (two, $3 million cap hit) — While averaging 18:40 per game (fifth among Capitals defensemen), including 1:35 on the penalty kill (fourth), the 32-year-old recorded 14 assists, a -7 rating, .4674 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5049 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4964 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 70 games. With four right-handed defensemen on the NHL roster next season, Van Riemsdyk’s job may not be fully set in ink, but his lower cap hit should keep him in Washington.
- C Michael Sgarbossa (one, $775,000 cap hit) — The 31-year-old was not asked an awful lot of this past season but delivered when he was, posting four goals, seven points, and a .511 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 25 NHL games. Sgarbossa also notched 36 assists and 43 points in 44 AHL games.
- D Ethan Bear (one, $2.0625 million cap hit) — After missing six months due to offseason shoulder surgery, the 26-year-old tallied a goal, four points, -5 rating, .4537 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4089 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4181 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 24 games over his first season in Washington. While Bear’s performance was disappointing, it would make sense to give him a full offseason of training before making a decision whether to keep or cut. He also did not play from March 14 onwards after entering the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program.
Would take calls and listen on
- G Darcy Kuemper (three, $5.25 million cap hit) — The 34-year-old’s campaign (13-14-3, .890 save percentage, 3.31 goals-against average, one shutout) was disappointing as he lost the starting job, but Washington paid Kuemper, whose five shutouts on 2022-23 were tied for second in the NHL, a lot of money to be the starter just two summers ago. There have been reports that the team could be looking to move him, but it would make sense to start the season with him on the roster with his track record and Lindgren’s inexperience and make a decision on his future in Washington around the holidays. With that being said, it would be a good bet that the Capitals would listen if someone made a fair offer for Kuemper this summer.
On the block
- C Nic Dowd (one, $1.3 million cap hit) — The 33-year-old, who tallied 12 goals, 22 points, a .481 faceoff-winning percentage, and .4212 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 64 games, garnered interest at the trade deadline, but his value was lower than Washington had hoped for due to injury. Dowd, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season and is known as the team’s best shutdown forward, is on a very team-friendly contract and may be someone that the Capitals would be open to moving if he could fetch a first-round pick with a rebuild nearing.
- D Nick Jensen (two, $4.05 million cap hit) — Jensen, who will turn 34 on September 21, finished the season with a goal, 14 points, -9 rating, .4467 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4449 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4632 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage while averaging 19:48 per game (fourth). After the team signed Bear, it makes sense for Washington to part with Jensen, the team’s third-highest paid defenseman who received some interest at the trade deadline, to clear space under the salary cap.
- D Hardy Haman Aktell (one, $870,000 cap hit) — The 25-year-old appeared in six NHL games, notching an assist and 52.71% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, before getting sent to the AHL for the remainder of the year, where he tallied two goals, 11 points, and a +3 rating in 55 contests.
- D Dylan McIlrath (one, $775,000 cap hit) — The 32-year-old skated in three NHL regular-season games, recording a helper, and all four Stanley Cup Playoff games due to injuries on Washington’s blueline. McIlrath earned three goals, nine points, and a +6 rating in 68 AHL games.
UFA
- LW Max Pacioretty — After returning from his second Achilles tear in as many years in January, the 35-year-old finished with four goals and 23 points in 47 games. Pacioretty added one assist in the postseason.
- RW Nicolas Aube-Kubel — Following clearing waivers in October, the 27-year-old recorded six goals, 16 points, and a .4178 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 60 regular-season games. Aube-Kubel was a healthy scratch once in the postseason, hinting that he will most likely not return.
- RW Matthew Philipps — The 26-year-old scored a goal and five points in 31 NHL games (28 coming in Washington) and three goals and six points in nine AHL games after getting claimed off of waivers from Pittsburgh in February. Philipps just played one game with the Capitals after February 8.
- LW Joe Snively — The 28-year-old tallied 45 assists and 59 points in 69 AHL games and appeared in three NHL contests this season after playing in 12 during each of the previous two seasons.
- D Lucas Johansen — The 2016 first-round pick notched two goals, 12 points, and a +18 rating in 22 NHL games in addition to one assist and .2959 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in six NHL games. Johansen appeared in two Stanley Cup Playoff games with three defensemen missing time in the first round.
IR
- C Nicklas Backstrom (one, $9.2 million cap hit) — Although Backstrom traveled with the Capitals on their last road trip, he is unlikely to play again due to an ongoing hip injury. He underwent a left hip resurfacing procedure on June 1, 2022, and last played on October 29.
By Harrison Brown
