If the NHL' s worst GMs keep giving NJ great players for peanuts, NJ may eventually actually be a fun team to watch. They should put Johansson with Hall, find one more steal, and call it the grand larceny line.

If the NHL' s worst GMs keep giving NJ great players for peanuts, NJ may eventually actually be a fun team to watch. They should put Johansson with Hall, find one more steal, and call it the grand larceny line.
- jrmjames67

Or grand Larsson-y line

"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."

What's the big deal??? $8 isn't that much.

I'm sure there's a reason why he's dumping these players.
These guys aren't complete idiots.
Maybe Kovalchuck is coming to WAS, and he has to clear space.
Discuss.

I'm sure there's a reason why he's dumping these players.
These guys aren't complete idiots.
Maybe Kovalchuck is coming to WAS, and he has to clear space.
Discuss.
- Climuster

If they are getting Kovy, why wouldnt those rights be in part of the deal with the Devils from the get go.

If they are getting Kovy, why wouldnt those rights be in part of the deal with the Devils from the get go.
- DDM-Coga

maybe....
I just threw Kovy's name out there.
there could be another big name that they want to add via trade

Maybe Kovalchuck is coming to WAS, and he has to clear space.
Discuss.

I doubt that seriously. This is also the guy who signed-off (and admits it) that he agreed with the Forsberg/Erat giveaway. These moves are Loonie-tune worthy right now... almost like you'd expect from a first year fantasy league player.

SAD STUFF.

maybe....
I just threw Kovy's name out there.
there could be another big name that they want to add via trade
- Climuster

Get into the Duchene mix, need more dance partners right now

Oshie deal was worse

There is NO MONEY under the cap for a big-time player to join Washington! Capitals have just over $9 million in cap space to sign 5 Forwards, 2 D-men and 1 backup goalie. Oh, and by the way, 2 of the unsigned players are RFAs. Good luck!

There is NO MONEY under the cap for a big-time player to join Washington! Capitals have just over $9 million in cap space to sign 5 Forwards, 2 D-men and 1 backup goalie. Oh, and by the way, 2 of the unsigned players are RFAs. Good luck!
- TommyGTrain

8 ELC's to fill out the roster

Yup. The Capitals best days are behind them. They will slowly sink in the standings over the next few years. An aging Ovechkin and poor management will lead the way down.

Quite frankly it seems to be the Western teams that improved the most in the off season. In particular Calgary, Dallas, and Winnipeg will all finish much higher in the standings in then 2017-2018 season. Overall a lot of talent this year moved to the western conference. Nashville will remain very powerful and will top the standings. Losers there would be the Sharks, Ducks & Canucks. Blackhawks are in a slow decline, and the Blues as well.

In the east, the Leafs look to be the most improved and it will show in the standings. The Rangers gained a bit because of the cheap Shattenkirk contract. I think Ottawa and Montreal will fare at tad worse. So will the Lightning. Islanders, NJ, Florida , Carolina, Detroit all can work on a rebuild.

40th among forwards at 5vs.5 scoring (basically one really solid year there did that), yet now paid like he's top 10 or 15. $8 mil/per, for a guy who looks disinterested half the time out there. Now that he's got his payday i wonder how interested he'll be!?

Wow Tanner is right on this. The Gm just about dismantled the Caps with insane contracts, bad trades and so on. Being a Flyers fan im not unhappy of course but id fire that Gm like yesterday. You dont get many chances to win a cup and the Caps were that close. I know they had Cap issues for the coming season..but surely there was a better way. Now, I dont think they have a shot at all. For cap fans sake ya better hope the teams has alot of buyout money in a few years if they dont go bankrupt.

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.

As a Sabres fan under Tim Murray, I feel for your directionless GM.

It's a three yr contract. I wouldn't call 41-42, well into his forties.
- sparky

Let's be honest, Sparksie:

It's a two-year contract.

Yup. The Capitals best days are behind them. They will slowly sink in the standings over the next few years. An aging Ovechkin and poor management will lead the way down.

Quite frankly it seems to be the Western teams that improved the most in the off season. In particular Calgary, Dallas, and Winnipeg will all finish much higher in the standings in then 2017-2018 season. Overall a lot of talent this year moved to the western conference. Nashville will remain very powerful and will top the standings. Losers there would be the Sharks, Ducks & Canucks. Blackhawks are in a slow decline, and the Blues as well.

In the east, the Leafs look to be the most improved and it will show in the standings. The Rangers gained a bit because of the cheap Shattenkirk contract. I think Ottawa and Montreal will fare at tad worse. So will the Lightning. Islanders, NJ, Florida , Carolina, Detroit all can work on a rebuild.
- jetsnation

Before you pat yourself on the back too much. The Jets goaltending situation is still awful and the Kulikov signing was just stupid. I don't see them growing much at all.

Its a toss up between him, Fletcher, PC and Sakic.

Its a toss up between him, Fletcher, PC and Sakic.
- mnhockeyguy

don't sell Bergevin short. this is a guy whose number 1 center is Philippe Danault and hasn't acquired a single center this offseason.

8 ELC's to fill out the roster
- puckhead17

Good thing they have had alot of high picks then.

Oh wait..

don't sell Bergevin short. this is a guy whose number 1 center is Philippe Danault and hasn't acquired a single center this offseason.
- DoubleDown

I think they'll probably try Galchenyuk in that spot again... unless they trade him.

Mr. Tanner...you sir, are a complete and utter buffoon. I've been a Caps fan for a very long time, and while the decisions GMBM has made have been tough, and unpleasant, so far, I've agreed with every one. Painful decisions? Sure...and I sure do wish the Caps had brought home the Cup to ease the pain of what's happening. But every one has in my opinion been the right one. And if the Caps wanted to buy out Orpik (signing him to a 5 year deal for some long money...that's a decision we can debate) I say that was the right one too.

Does Alzner make the Canadiens a cup-contender? No

Does Williams make the Canes a Playoff-team? ehhh...maybe. contender? no way.

Does Johansson make the Devils a playoff team? not likely.

The Caps went all-in and came up short. that sucks. Tough decisions were on the horizon. Save for not buying out Orpik, they've made the right ones.

Mr. Tanner...you sir, are a complete and utter buffoon. I've been a Caps fan for a very long time, and while the decisions GMBM has made have been tough, and unpleasant, so far, I've agreed with every one. Painful decisions? Sure...and I sure do wish the Caps had brought home the Cup to ease the pain of what's happening. But every one has in my opinion been the right one. And if the Caps wanted to buy out Orpik (signing him to a 5 year deal for some long money...that's a decision we can debate) I say that was the right one too.

Does Alzner make the Canadiens a cup-contender? No

Does Williams make the Canes a Playoff-team? ehhh...maybe. contender? no way.

Does Johansson make the Devils a playoff team? not likely.

The Caps went all-in and came up short. that sucks. Tough decisions were on the horizon. Save for not buying out Orpik, they've made the right ones.
- sfischer

Why start name with name calling? How can you think that just because a player leaves Washington and doesn't make his new team an instant Cup Contender, that the Capitals won't miss that player?

If that's the kind of logic you're working with, at least don't call other people names.

I think they'll probably try Galchenyuk in that spot again... unless they trade him.
- mnhockeyguy

they really have no choice. Galchenyuk's problem though is that he's a (frank)ing bumhole who doesn't even pretend to care about backchecking. which is fine... if you're Tyler Seguin.

Why start name with name calling? How can you think that just because a player leaves Washington and doesn't make his new team an instant Cup Contender, that the Capitals won't miss that player?

If that's the kind of logic you're working with, at least don't call other people names.
- james_tanner1

to be fair that was some of the most polite name calling i have ever seen on this site