The Beginning of the Future
Time to get down to brass tacks.
Despite the devastating playoff losses that have currently scarred the most recent generation of Caps fans, the reality is that this team is closer to building a winner than ever before.
I say closer because the depth of this team lies solely in their youth. And with that youth comes a lot of high quality talent. Enough of which will go towards continuing to help build the Capitals from within for years to come.
The Caps direct success in drafting NHL caliber players over the last half decade has resulted in a bounty of prospects.
But there comes a time when a team must stop building for the future and begin turning that future into a reality.
That key moment is set to take place this summer as the Capitals franchise readies itself for the final stage in their plan to build a winner.
For those of you who are not quite following my logic, let me reiterate what the Capitals plan has been since the team changed its course 3 years ago when Bruce Boudreau took over.
The youth movement was clearly afoot in DC as Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin were clearly becoming the center of the rebuild, but it wasn't until Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green made it apparent that they were also to become key players in the Capitals future. As a matter of fact, Backstrom and Green have made themselves so important to the Caps success that they have led way to thoughts of possibly parting with Alex Semin. Those thoughts aside, the Caps management quietly found themselves right on track 2 seasons ago when Nick and Mike finally emerged to be the stars they have become.
During the course of their remarkably fast rise to the top, the Caps were also able to quietly develop other key elements in Brooks Laich, Tomas Fleischmann, Eric Fehr and David Steckel. While other players have developed in the Bears/Caps roster over the last 2 years, this upcoming season becomes the year where the next generation of Cap hopefuls make their difference.
As a result of this process of development, and the patience that management has shown with their crop of prospects, the Caps will be able to continue to stock the coffers from within at reasonable (RFA)prices.
Couple that with the announcement by George McPhee that the team will not be re-signing Joe Corvo or Scott Walker, among other UFA's, and it clearly points to the fact that management is set to move forward with the final step in their plan.
Not to mention the fact that, despite not being publicly announced, the Caps will also be moving on from Jose Theodore and turning towards their two young goaltenders in Semyon Varlamov and Michael Neuvirth.
Despite the doubts, both of these goaltenders are elite prospects with high ceilings and great potential. Over the course of the last two seasons, both netminders have matured exponentially and have convinced management that they are ready to carry the Caps, at the very least, as a tandem.
In a plan that mimics what the Montreal Canadiens have achieved with Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, this move will allow the Caps to carry two very young and talented goaltenders at a very minimal cap hit.
That concept alone is an exciting prospect as it means that for less than the cost of Jose Theodore, the Caps will be able to ice an excellent pair of goaltenders in 2010-11.
Beyond the strength of the two young netminders, the cap relief will add a significant ability to upgrade the Capitals where it matters most, on defense.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, the Caps will have three top 4 defenders next season in Mike Green, John Carlson and Karl Alzner, yet they will still be missing a true #2.
If I am judging the information that I have been given correctly, nothing else will matter until the team addresses this need.
By upgrading their top 4 to include a talented, veteran blue-liner, Washington will be able feel much more secure about their overall team-game. Something that was quite evidently lacking during their recent playoff catastrophe.
Things have been relatively quiet on the Caps front lately, and with good reason. The team has most of its long-term "franchise" pieces in place, so it makes sense that they are being patient in their search for the final key elements.
Once that key position of a #2 defender has been addressed, only then will the Caps move on to searching for a new 2nd line center.
In the next few days I will post possible targets for the role of a top 2 defenseman and a 2nd line centerman for the Caps, but for now I will leave you with a set of Capitals questions as we prepare ourselves for the upcoming draft and UFA day on July 1st.
1. Should the Capitals pursue a #2 defender via trade or Free Agency?
2. Who do you think would be the right partner for Mike Green(via trade of UFA)?
3. Are you pleased that the Capitals will be going with a young 2 goalie system?
4. Do you think the Caps need to pursue a veteran goalie to mentor the rookies?
5. Do you think the Caps should have tried to retain Theodore?
6. Should the Capitals trade Alex Semin?
7. If the Caps should trade Semin, who should they pursue in that trade; a defenseman or a centerman?
8. Would you sign any of the following Washington UFA's: Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina, Brendan Morrison or Eric Belanger?
9. Should the Caps keep their 1st round pick or trade it(whether for a player or to move up in the draft)?
10. With Steve Yzerman and Dale Tallon now running teams in the Southeast division, do you feel that the Caps competition just got alot tougher?
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