NHL Free Agency: Wojtek Wolski Gives Capitals Another Shootout Specialist

The Washington Capitals have borrowed a page from the Florida Panthers by signing free-agent winger Wojtek Wolski.  

Desperate to pick up valuable points for last season's playoff push, the division-rival Panthers traded with the New York Rangers to acquire the shootout specialist, a native of Poland who grew up in Toronto. The Panthers were struggling mightily in the shootout and would eventually finish 6-11 in games decided in that manner. They felt Wolski’s special skills would help them earn enough points to qualify for the postseason.  

The Capitals may have the same idea in mind. 

Washington also struggled to make the playoffs, not qualifying until the 81st game of the season.  The Capitals won only four of the eight games that went to shootouts during the 2011-12 season. And with the inevitable departure of shootout star Alexander Semin, the Caps could use some additional firepower.  

Wojtek Wolski will provide just that. 

Despite declining offensive numbers over his seven-year career, the 26-year-old has some of the best hands in the league. As a result, he makes opposing goalies look bad on a regular basis.  

Wolski joins a potent lineup of shootout specialists. Last season, Washington winger Matt Hendricks suddenly emerged as one of the best in the league with his awkward yet effective “Paralyzer” move. 

And at the NHL draft, the Capitals traded with the Dallas Stars for talented but talkative center Mike Ribeiro. The sometimes-controversial Montreal native has slowly been gaining respect throughout the league, and his shootout goals have certainly helped. 

With these three assassins, new head coach Adam Oates has the luxury of holding shootout mainstays Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom until the later rounds, if necessary.

If the 2012-13 Washington Capitals are not able to dispatch their opponents in regulation or overtime, then their own version of Murderers’ Row will have no trouble eliminating their opposition in shootouts.