Washington Capitals Owner Says Caps Will Be Busy and Then Trades Semyon Varlamov

“Ted's Take” is a popular blog written by Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis. Leonsis frequently addresses the fans through the blog and never holds back his feelings on the way one of his team's are playing, or what he feels needs to be done within each organization.

It was in “Ted's Take” that Leonsis gave his somber end-of-the-year feelings in an article titled "Congratulations Tampa Bay," when the Bolts swept the Capitals out of the NHL playoffs.

Leonsis said their role players outplayed our role players. The former AOL senior executive was not bashful in admitting that Tampa's highest-paid players outplayed the Caps' highest-paid players.

In fact, Leonsis said, “their role players outplayed our highest-paid players." He continued by noting that “their goaltending and special teams were better."

He also felt compelled to let embattled Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau know that Tampa “adhered to their coaches' system better than we adhered to our coaches’ system."

He finished by saying that “the wheels fell off for us. No doubt about that."

Leonsis said, "The best course of action for us though is to let a few days pass; be very analytic about what needs to be improved; articulate that plan; and then execute upon it. Clearly we know we have to improve to build a franchise that is as good as our fan base."

Leonsis continued to express his feelings in his blog this week by saying that, “We want to keep some players. We want to sign some players.” He then added that fans should “not be surprised if you see some trades.”

The Caps owner said, “We want to change and improve.”

Continuing and never wavering from that philosophy, Leonsis wrote an article today titled, "The Circle of Life in Sports," in which he talks about how free agency is about adding some players to the lineup and expecting to lose some players as well to free agency. Or, the circle of life in pro sports.

Leonsis also outlined what he expects the Caps to do for the rest of this offseason, as player movement began today at noon with NHL free agency opening.

The Caps are expected to lose five unrestricted free agents: Jason Arnott, Matt Bradley, Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Boyd Gordon. All five hit the open market at noon today.

Washington has an estimated $6.5 million spend under the $64.3 million salary cap after accounting for their contract players’ salaries and qualifying offers for restricted free-agents Karl Alzner, Troy Brouwer and Semyon Varlamov.

Alzner and Brouwer are expected to agree to terms but according to the Washington Post, Varlamov was traded to the Colorodo Avalanche moments ago for Colorado’s first-round pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft along with a second-round selection in either 2012 or 2013. 

Leonsis and GM George McPhee believe that player retention is a big key to any team's success and earlier this week, the Caps did just that by retaining Brooks Laich.

Laich and the Caps agreed to a deal worth $27 million, which will keep the 28-year-old center in Washington for six additional seasons.

The Caps, and Leonsis in particular, have mentioned that trades are an option the Caps will employ to reach their goal of winning that first elusive Stanley Cup.

With Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom seemingly untouchable, Alexander Semin and Mike Green could be dangled this offseason as potential trade prospects. The depth within the organization at the goaltending position could also allow the Caps to use either Michael Neuvirth or Braden Holtby in a potential deal.

Prior to NHL free agency opening today at noon, Leonsis wrote in his blog, "We want to improve our team via the draft free agency and trades. Also via call-ups of some prospects that we think are ready for NHL play. Player retention is also key.”

Leonsis wrote, "I expect we will make several offers today (July 1st) in an attempt to change up our lineup. We have added a key new player via trade already this summer. We have kept a free agent from leaving this summer. We now hope to add some players via free agency and then go into the summer seeking some trades as well."

With that being said, the Capitals appear to be set defensively but are in need of depth on the third and fourth lines. Washington needs a player that is not afraid to get in front of opposing goalies and create havoc. They also need a player that is not afraid to clear out the players in front of the young Caps netminders.

In other words, the Capitals need to add grit and toughness to a roster that got pushed around at times last season. Another playmaker or another 20 to 25-goal scorer would be a welcome addition on the second line.

As we saw this past season, teams can shut down Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin. When Ovechkin is shut down, more often than not, the Caps scored just one or two goals last season. This led to the team scoring 99 fewer goals than the year before.

As a Caps fan, it is comforting to know that Washington has a plan and one that the owner fully supports.

The Caps may not be big swimmers in this year's free-agent waters but come October, it is a good bet that the roster will look much different than it did on the fateful night in early May, when the Lightning used a broom to end Washington's season.