With the Feb. 28 trading deadline rapidly approaching (believe it or not), it's time for a quick look at the roster -- keeping in mind the Caps' new playing style, the salary cap and the somewhat-imposing list of pending free agents.
Must Keep: Alex Ovechkin (signed until 2020-21), Nicklas Backstrom (signed until 2020), Brooks Laich (UFA after this season), Eric Fehr (RFA after next season), Marcus Johansson (RFA after 2012-13), Mike Green (RFA after next season), John Carlson (RFA after next season), Karl Alzner (RFA after this season), Semyon Varlamov (RFA after this season), and Michal Neuvirth (RFA after 2012-13).
Some of the people on this list (Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, Alzner, Green and the goalies) go without saying. Laich is too versatile, too good in the locker room and too entrenched with the coaching staff to go anywhere. Fehr seems to be coming into his own, and Johansson is young and has a bright future ahead.
Positives Outweigh Negatives: Mike Knuble (UFA after this season), Tom Poti (UFA until 2012-13), Jason Chimera (UFA after next season), David Steckel (UFA after 2012-13), Matt Hendricks (UFA after this season), Mathieu Perreault (RFA after this season), Matt Bradley (UFA after this season), Scott Hannan (UFA after this season), John Erskine (UFA after 2012-13), and Jeff Schultz (UFA after 2013-14).
Knuble has been a good addition and would be worth keeping on a modest one-year deal. Poti, if he can stay healthy, is a good elder statesman of a defensive corps that's getting younger. Ditto Erskine. (Never though I'd ever write that.) Hendricks, Perreault, Chimera, and Bradley are ideal parts of the team's new playing style. Hannan is thriving with Green, and he's got a few years left. Schultz, interestingly enough, is the only player signed for the 2012-13 season other than Backstrom and Ovechkin.
Hasta La Vista: Alex Semin (UFA after this season), Tyler Sloan (UFA after next season), Michael Nylander (yes, he's still on the payroll; UFA after this season), D.J. King (UFA after next season), and Brian Willsie (UFA after this season)
I've made no secret about Semin's future in D.C. He's too inconsistent, nonchalant and expensive to fit on this team, if they want to start achieving greater things for a long period of time. The rest of the people on this list need no further explanation.
The Big Question Marks: Braden Holtby (RFA after 2011-12) and Jay Beagle (RFA after next season).
Holtby is a solid No. 3 in the goalie race right now and Beagle has been good and filling holes where needed.
January 10, 2011
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1 stormer(s) wrote:
Just going to put it out there, what about semin for Okposo? He had fifty points last season and is only twenty-two.
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