Top Seven Free Agents

With money tight, the Caps will be responsible in looking at free agents when the signing period starts tomorrow. A center and one or two (defensive) defensemen are at the top of their list. Some possibilities (in order of preference, last year's cap hit in parentheses):

1. Rob Scuderi ($710,000): The 30-year-old defenseman, along with Hal Gill, shut down the Caps' and Detroit Red Wings' attacks during the playoffs and seems on the verge of launching into the stratosphere. There's always a danger in trying to project from a relatively-small body of work, but Scuderi is a plus-32 over the past three seasons.

2. Hal Gill ($2.075 million): It's impossible not to overemphasize what Gill and Scuderi did against the Caps and Wings. Gill is 33, but he's still got some years left and his 6'7" frame helps move opposing players out of the crease -- a definite need for the Caps.

3. Francois Beauchemin ($1.6 million): The reliable minute-eating blueliner missed an extended period of time last season during to a serious injury and was sorely missed by the Anaheim Ducks. When healthy, though, the 29-year-old Beauchemin plays at least 24 minutes a game and does a great job in his own zone.

4. Dennis Seidenberg ($1.2 million): As a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, the 27-year-old, German-born defensemen was one of the most reliable players for the Caps' Southeast Division rivals. He only scored five goals last year, but fulfills the role of a responsible blueliner with playoff experience.

5. Nik Antropov ($2 million): The 6'6" center was relatively quiet after his trade to the New York Rangers, but has the potential to be a force in front of the net. He also scored 21 goals for the Maple Leafs before the trade and enjoyed a solid 2007-08 campaign (26 goals, 30 assists) in Toronto.

6. Mike Cammaleri ($3.3 million): The 27-year-old center might be a little out of the Caps' price range. But if he duplicates what he did last season with the Calgary Flames (39 goals, 43 assists), it would alter the team tremendously. His 2007-08 season with the L.A. Kings (19 goals, 28 assists), although a grave exception out of the last four, might be a cause for concern.

7. Mikael Samuelsson ($1.2 million): The 32-year-old forward launched 257 shots last season, which would have ranked second on the Caps. He's been steadily improving as a member of the Wings and would be a boon to a Caps' attack that needs more of a presence in front of the net.

The red, white and blue also will be looking at trades and will be patient throughout. But if history repeats itself, there should be some kind of announcement before the end of the week.