Follow @james_tanner123 The Washington Capitals didn't do a thing to try to make their team better yesterday.
The Penguins got better, the Flyers and Jackets at least tried to get better, and the Capitals..........did nothing.
Then, they went out and got the result their GM deserved, losing 5-1 to the Blue Jackets, while the Flyers overtook them for first place.
I want them to do well, but Brian MacLellan does not deserve to be in first place.
It is amazing to me that a team that tore itself apart to sign two players, which has (arguably) the three best players in its franchise history in their primes, and which has one of the greatest players of all-time nearing the end of his, wouldn't make moves to try and win.
Who gives a _____ about draft picks or the future? Don't get me wrong, when the time is right, you gotta tear it down, but no one ever accomplished anything hedging their bets while afraid to take risks.
To my mind, you either let Oshie walk and start having a hard conversation about Ovechkin and Backstrom, or you sign everyone and go for it. You are either a young team hording picks, or you're an old team going for it. Jesus. How do you get a job in the NHL and not understand this?
The Caps are up against the salary cap, which limited their moves. But are you telling me that no team could be convinced to accept a payment to clear some salary? The Penguins skirted the cap by being creative, intelligent and daring. Adjectives no one has ever used to describe Brian 'play it safe, but simultaneously short-sighted' MacLellan.
Nick Shore went to the Flames for a seventh round pick. He makes the league minimum and is 10 x the player Jay Beagle is. Mike Green didn't even get traded. He would have helped, and couldn't have cost too much. And even if he did, he'd make the team so much better it'd be worth it.
The lack of creativity in creating cap space is just as concerning as the lack of movement. The Capitals are in first place (or were) with a flawed roster. But also a talented one, one that could, if the team had any ability to identify any of the scores of quality, cheap talent available, could have been improved.
The Canucks traded a 26 year old career minor league for Brandon Leipsic, a fast, talented, cheap player who could have easily taken a job from any of the multiple AHL players the Capitals are forced to play.
I could go on and on. What a frustrating day. The team was in first place. Do something.
What a joke.
Not like this hasn't been obvious for a while now, but the Capitals need a new GM.