Complete Guide to the Washington Capitals' 2015 Offseason

Tom Urtz Jr.May 14, 2015

Van Halen's "Eruption" is an instrumental song that had a studio run time of one minute and 42 seconds. The track features the finger picking styling of axe man Eddie Van Halen, and the song goes up and down all in a matter of 101 seconds if you discount the brief second of dead air.

Alex Ovechkin is the axe man for the Washington Capitals. In Game 5, his band of brothers came within 101 seconds of advancing to the Eastern Conference Final, and all it took was one second before the New York Rangers came alive.

The Rangers were down and out trailing 3-1 in the series, but Chris Kreider channeled his inner Shawn Michaels and sprung up the ice to deliver a meaningful blow that turned the tide of the series. Game 6 followed a similar script, and the final blow came in the form of Sweet Chin Music off the stick of the Rangers' Derek Stepan in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.

This season marks the umpteenth time that Ovechkin has come short of making it to the Eastern Conference Final, but there is a different feeling this time around. Despite the fact that the Capitals took a different route to a familiar end outcome, there is a reason to be positive if you are a supporter of the team.

With that in mind, here is a complete guide to the Capitals' 2015 offseason.

Season Wrap-Up

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Top Performers

Braden Holtby (41-20-10, .923 save percentage and 2.22 GAA) was outstanding this season for Washington. In many ways, he was a major snub for the Vezina Trophy, especially when you consider he appeared in 73 of 82 games. He was the rock of the Capitals, and his playoff performance was one of the best in the history of the NHL. The addition of Mitch Korn as goaltending coach paid off in a big way, and Holtby should be a league-leading netminder for years to come.

Ovechkin had another banner year in which he finished with 53 goals and 81 points—both an improvement from his previous season (51 goals and 79 points). He's a finalist for the Hart Trophy, and his offensive surge in the second half helped propel the Capitals into a playoff spot.

Biggest Disappointments

A number of players on the Caps' roster came through during the regular season, but many of them disappeared in the playoffs.

Nicklas Backstrom ended the playoffs with two assists in his last games. One came in Game 1, and the other in Game 7. He became a non-factor for his team when the going got tough, and this was a major disappointment after he had an amazing regular season.

Mike Green was atrocious during the playoffs, and his probable final game as a Capital was one of his worst. The stud offensive defender tallied two assists in 14 games, and he took back-to-back penalties in Game 7 that led to a Rangers power-play goal. He is a free agent this summer and is unlikely to return to D.C.

Final Assessment

The Capitals ended their season with three straight losses, but better days are coming. A number of youngsters, such as 20-year-old Andre Burakovsky and 22-year-old Evgeny Kuznetsov, have serious potential, and they will only make Washington a stronger team in the coming years.

Biggest Storylines to Follow

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What approach will be taken in contract negotiations with Braden Holtby?

Through 178 games, Holtby had a record of 101-51-18 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.44 GAA. The 25-year-old netminder grew tremendously under Korn, and he looks like the real deal. Washington has the cap space to sign him to an extension that pays him more than a mere servant's wage—$1,850,000 for 2015—but they have the right to be stingy with him as a restricted free agent.

Who will be his backup?

Justin Peters is signed for next season, and Philipp Grubauer is a restricted free agent.

Grubauer is currently tending goal in the AHL playoffs for the Hershey Bears and has looked sharp thus far. He has showed some skills during his brief stint in the NHL, and he appears ready to be a backup.

The decision should be easy based on how poorly Peters played this season, but with Holtby starting so many games, it might be better for Grubauer to remain in the AHL for another season.

Free agency.

This subject will be broached with more detail in the upcoming slides, but this summer is going to be a busy one.

A number of players—unrestricted and restricted—are up for new contracts, and general manager Brian MacLellan can really put his stamp on the roster. Head coach Barry Trotz will likely want to have some input while preparing to enter his second season behind the bench in Washington.

Notable Players Hitting Free Agency

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Mike Green

The 29-year-old defender made $6.083 million yearly from 2012 to 2015 and is hitting a market that is devoid of talent. He is poised to make a serious amount of coin, and it would be surprising to see him re-sign with the Caps.

Joel Ward

The Caps' 34-year-old winger has proved to be a reliable asset in Washington, and his familiarity with Trotz makes him a no-brainer to re-sign. Look for him to sign a multiyear deal in the ballpark of $14 million over three years.

Jay Beagle

The 29-year-old forward had a strong series against the Rangers and is a key bottom-six player for the Caps. He is coming off a contract in which he cost $900,000 against the salary cap and is due for a raise.

Others: F Curtis Glencross, F Eric Fehr and D Tim Gleason

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Top Free-Agent Targets

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The Capitals should look to make some minor tweaks to their roster, partially because they have a number of kids who can step into the picture in the coming years.

1. Drew Stafford

Neither Jason Chimera or Troy Brouwer are ideal second-line right wingers, and the Capitals need to find someone who can shoot the puck.

Drew Stafford will turn 30 in October, and he could be a nice bargain pickup. Between the Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets, he tallied 18 goals and 43 points in 76 games, and he could be a 25-goal scorer alongside Kuznetsov or Backstrom.

2. Justin Williams

The three-time Stanley Cup champion will turn 34 in October, and he'd be a great pickup for the Caps.

He is a 20-goal, 40-point player but could become a 25-goal and 50-point player in Washington. He also is a key playoff performer and someone who'd help add experience to the locker room.

Best Option in the NHL Draft

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Oliver Kylington

The Capitals will pick No. 22 overall at the draft, and there are a number of good players who should be available to select at that time, but one should be highlighted among the rest.

The 6'0", 181-pound defender has a lot of upside and would have the potential to be a very valuable piece of the Capitals' organization. Outside of Madison Bowey, the farm system lacks a smooth-skating, offensive-minded defensive prospect.

There aren't many wingers of note who should be left at this point, and adding a key future player is always a smart move to make.

On NHL.com, Chris Stevenson's prospect evaluation on Kylington had a number of scouts like Goran Stubb, NHL director of European scouting, with some promising reviews of his play:

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He's a talented first-round prospect. He's an excellent, smooth skater. He's an offensive defenseman with excellent vision and playmaking skills. He has very good eye-to-hand coordination, is dangerous on the power play. He has all the tools needed and is a finesse-type player.
"

In theory, he could develop into a smaller and better rounded defenseman than Green, and that's something the Capitals should consider as they prepare for the draft.

Player Who Should Be Put on the Trading Block

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Brooks Laich

Brooks Laich's game has dropped off tremendously in recent years that he has dealt with injury. At 31, he is a bottom-six center, but he is making $4.5 million for the next two seasons.

He isn't a great fit for the roster anymore and could be expendable as youngsters move through the system. It is likely that Laich's downward spiral will continue, and offloading the contract as soon as possible would be an ideal move.

Top Trade Targets

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1. Patrick Sharp

The Capitals were linked to Patrick Sharp at the trade deadline, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, and it wouldn't be odd to see the two teams revisit the situation over the summer. The Chicago Blackhawks need cap space, and the Capitals need another scorer.

Sharp would be an amazing addition to the top six, and the team has enough disposable assets to get a deal done.

2. Nail Yakupov

The Capitals could entertain the thought of taking a chance on the Edmonton Oilers' middling winger this summer because he might find success with a familiar face. Internationally, Yakupov has played well with Kuznetsov, and the Oilers' winger would be a solid fit on the Capitals' second line.

The Oilers are looking to build up their team to be a contender under Peter Chiarelli, and it wouldn't be shocking if Yakupov were dealt in exchange for players who can add depth, character and experience to the roster. It may be a pipe dream, but it's one that would make sense.

Prospects Most Likely to Debut in 2015-16

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Madison Bowey

The Capitals' top defense prospect is likely headed to start with the Hershey Bears of the AHL, but Bowey could make the roster out of training camp. The 6'2", 208-pound defender has some solid physical tools but could use a bit of seasoning to get ready for professional hockey.

Bowey amassed 172 points in 259 regular-season WHL games, and he is a strong player with some serious upside.

Jakub Vrana

The Caps' 19-year-old forward prospect spent three games in the AHL at the end of the season for Hershey, and he recorded five assists. The 5'11", 185-pound winger was the No. 13 overall pick in 2014, and he's a shifty goalscoring winger with a high offensive acumen.

Vrana will start the season with the Hershey Bears, but don't be surprised to see him in the NHL before the end of the 2015-16 campaign.