Understanding what is going on in Washington these days is next to impossible. Clearly the guy in charge has lost the thread and has no idea what he's doing. Incompetence is a tough thing to watch, especially when you can't do anything about it and anyone who can doesn't seem to care.
Saturday was the last straw for me. When the Washington Capitals extended Euvgeny Kuznetsov with an absolutely insane contract, I was perplexed. When they then gave away Marcus Johansson to make it happen, all I had were questions:
Just what are the Capitals thinking, and has Brian MacLellan lost his damn mind?
Kuznetsov is 25 and coming off a 19 goals, 59 point season.
Johansson is 26 and coming off of a 26 goal, 58 point season.
There are no errors in that stat line. You'd think there would be, but no, it's true: the Capitals paid an $8 cap-hit to sign the guy who had a worse year, and gave the guy who had a better year away for nothing. Marcus Johansson outscored Kuznetsov by seven goals, while being 10X the defensive player.
"Hey isn't the arguably better player signed for two more years at half the price we want to give Kuznetsov?"
"Sure is,boss."
"OK, let's trade him to the first team that calls."
"Don't you want me to scour the league and see if anyone will at least pay what the Penguins did to acquire an enforcer?"
At which point it is rumoured that MacLellen kicked his assistant out of his office, laughed manically and then high-fived a life-sized cardboard cutout of Peter Chiarelli.
At 5v5 last season, Marcus Johansson scored 14 goals, 32 points, had 100 shots, 1.75 p/60 and a 53% possession rating.
Kuznetsov, has 15 goals, 40 points, 133 shots 2.10 p/60 and a 51.9% possession rating.
Kuznetsov played on a line with Johansson and Williams, and when he wasn't with at least one of them, his possession rating tanks. Without Williams it doesn't even stay above 50%.
Both Johansson and Williams, however, were able to post better shot metrics when on the ice without Kuznetsov.
So it's plausible that Kuznetsov, while being the most offensively talented player on that line, has difficulty getting the puck. The other two drove possession and now the Captials have an $8 player and neither of the guys who helped make him successful.
Also, his defensive game is brutal, he has trouble even looking interested in games sometimes, and if you factor in the defensive and possession skills of Johansson, it's is conceivable that Johansson is a better player.
When you factor in salaries and opportunity cost, what was once conceivable becomes a reality.
It does not take a rocket scientist (or ex-NHL player for that matter) to see that the Capitals could have kept both Williams and Johansson, for roughly what they're paying Kuznetsov, while then being able to move Kuznetsov for a talented player on an entry-level deal.
(Not saying the Coyotes would do this, but just for example, trading Kuznetsov for Dylan Strome - an NHL ready player on an ELC - is an example of what they should have tried to do).
In that situation you would now have three players for the price of one.
Furthermore, if the Capitals had of exposed Marcus Johansson in the expansion draft, they could have at least kept Nate Schmidt and all they'd be down is a couple draft picks.
In a week that saw the Oilers trade Eberle, and teams sign Russell, Alzner and Giardi, it pains me to say it, but this is the worst move of all.
Brian MacLellan should be relieved of his duties for completely botching the Capitals off-season.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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