Evaluating the Caps' Roster

Part two of my off-season look at the Washington Capitals.

There has been plenty of time to reflect on the Caps' elimination, and there's even more time before free agency begins in July. Regardless of whether Bruce Boudreau remains coach, it's imperative that the Caps' roster must adhere to a smart playing style -- and whether GM George McPhee can squeeze everybody under the salary cap.

This off-season most definitely include a significant roster turnover and it'll be up to McPhee to turn the Caps into a team that will reverse course and excel in the playoffs.

Must Keep: Alex Ovechkin (signed until 2020-21), Nicklas Backstrom (signed until 2020), Brooks Laich (UFA now), Marcus Johansson (RFA after 2012-13), Mike Green (RFA after next season), John Carlson (RFA after next season), Karl Alzner (RFA now), and Michal Neuvirth (RFA after 2012-13).

Ovechkin, Backstrom and Green took a lot of heat during the loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the fact is that they're too good at what they do and too young to give up on now. Yes, Green's name has come up in trade rumors, but to send away a defenseman who won't even turn 30 until October 2015 is rediculous. He's still an elite player and should be treated as such. Carlson and Alzner have cemented themselves as the top defensive pairing on the team and Neuvirth has done the same between the pies. Johansson grew a lot during the season and is getting close to being a second-line center. Laich is too versatile, too good in the locker room and too entrenched with the coaching staff to go anywhere.

Positives Outweigh Negatives: Mike Knuble (UFA after next season), Eric Fehr (RFA after next season). Jason Chimera (UFA after next season), Matt Hendricks (UFA after 2012-13), Matt Bradley (UFA now), Boyd Gordon (UFA now), Dennis Wideman (UFA after next season), and John Erskine (UFA after 2012-13).

The harsh reality is that all of these players won't be back, with a near-guarantee that Gordon and Bradley both won't return. As for the others, Knuble continues to defy his age with a strong power game, and Chimera had his moments using his speed as a major weapon. Hendricks earned himself a one-way contract for the first time ever and Erskine had his positive moments. If Wideman can stay healthy, he'll be a top-four defenseman who will most definitely help the Caps next season.

Hasta La Vista: Alex Semin (UFA after next season), Jason Arnott (UFA now), Marco Sturm (UFA now), Tyler Sloan (UFA after next season), Scott Hannan (UFA now), D.J. King (UFA after next season), and Jeff Schultz (UFA after 2013-14).

I've made no secret about Semin's future in D.C. He's too inconsistent, nonchalant and expensive to fit on this team, and his disappearance against the Lightning only illustrated that fact. If the playoff opponent isn't the New York Rangers, Semin is invisible and you can't have somebody making $6.7 million doing that. As for the others, Arnott had his moments but seemed to wear down against the Lightning. Ditto Hannan and Schultz. Sturm just didn't seem to gel most of the season and Sloan's contract extension still befuddles me. King is a waste of cap space.

The Big Question Marks: Braden Holtby (RFA after 2011-12), Semyon Varlamov (RFA now), Tom Poti (UFA until 2012-13),

Holtby might be the best goalie in the organization, but he hasn't had enough time to prove it. Varlamov and Poti just can't stay healthy.