Caps Address RFAs

Before the unrestricted free-agent open season starts tomorrow, the Caps did their part to retain their own restricted free agents. Yesterday, the Caps extended qualifying offers to Chris Bourque, Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn, Steve Pinizzotto, Jeff Schultz and Kyle Wilson.

Among that group, Fehr, Gordon, Jurcina, Morrisonn, Pinizzotto and Wilson have arbitration rights, with those hearings scheduled for late July and early August. Players and clubs have the option to elect arbitration by July 5 and 6, respectively. It's possible, although unlikely, that some of those players will not return to the franchise depending on those proceedings.

Fehr and Gordon seem to be locks to return to the Caps. The verdict on Morrisonn, Schultz and Jurcina, while part of the defensive corps, isn't as certain. Morrisonn made about $2 million last year, which he won in arbitration, but clearly regressed in his development. It'll be interesting to see if GM George McPhee tries keeping him at a lower salary.

Jurcina, meanwhile, made just less than $1 million in an up-and-down season. He seems more likely to return because of his salary and gradual improvement over the season. Clearly, there are better options out there -- but the salary cap plays a huge role in those decisions.

Schultz, 22, is still developing and most likely will return because of his salary ($0.65 million) and potential. The same applies to Bourque ($0.525 million), who has excelled in Hershey and might be ready for a shot in the NHL.

The Caps did not extend qualifying offers to Andrew Joudrey, Daren Machesney, Travis Morin and Sasha Pokulok. At one point, Machesney had an outside shot at making the Caps' roster but was surpassed by Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth. Sasha Pokulok was a high pick that never really made it.

This is the first portion of what should be a busy week for the Caps.