Pool Outlook for Washington

In Washington, it really seemed like things were coming together, as they had the best goal scorer in the league and the second best goalie in their ranks.  They were definitely poised to be up for a pretty good playoff run.  Unfortunately, the Capitals ran into an even stronger team in the Metropolitan Division, as the New York Rangers were able to dispatch of the Capitals in seven game this year.

Expectation levels were a mixed bag, since they were under new management and operating with a new bench boss, so no one was quite sure what to expect.  Once the team started to string some wins together, expectations rose very quickly and they were meeting those same expectations, as they emerged, until the Rangers had their say.

With everything that was new in place, I would think that this season was somewhat of a success for Washington and now the management team has something to tinker with and build upon in the coming off-season, as they try to improve their playoff finish next season.

The Capitals are usually a very important team at the hockey pool draft, since they have a number of the league's biggest stars and a fairly decent supporting cast.  This season, 11 Capitals players were taken in the draft this year, but some of those players didn't have as great of regular season success as I may have projected, which had shown in the number of players actively picking up points in the pool from Washington, as only 10 remained and one player was picked up through the Waiver Drafts.  Hard to argue with that top end talent though.

In the year of the goalie, it says a lot about Braden Holtby when he finishes 2nd in pool scoring.  Holtby finished ahead of the Rocket Richard Trophy winner from his own team, thanks to 41 wins and 102 points.  Holtby was the busiest goalie in the NHL, leading the league in minutes played and was picking up 1.44 points for every 60 minutes he played, which was an awfully good rate of scoring, given how much he played.  It was that kind of play that helped the Capitals carry on through the Islanders and the Rangers in the playoffs...

It may not have been a banner year for points, but Alex Ovechkin was still scoring goals this year, hence the trophy reference above, as he led the league with 53 goals in 81 games this year and his 81 points had him ranked 12th overall in pool scoring.  In total, the Capitals finished with eight pool worthy forwards, including two in the top 10, including Ovechkin and the other being Nicklas Backstrom, who had 78 points in 82 games.  They were one of the fiercest tandems in the NHL last season.  Marcus Johansson, Troy Brouwer, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Curtis Glencross, Joel Ward and Eric Fehr rounded out the forward group, showing just how much depth helped Holtby with his 41 wins.

John Carlson was a top 10 defender, Mike Green was a top 20 defender, while Matt Niskanen and Karl Alzner were also considered to be pool-worthy in 2015, which made for a very reasonable core group of blueliners that could have done you some good on your pool team, if you didn't already have them.  Brooks Orpik also gets a slight nod, as he was ranked just outside the top 92 this year, down in 99th place.  When Orpik is getting points, you know there are lots to be had.

If you were looking for goaltending beyond Holtby, you are likely a glutton for punishment in your pools.  There wasn't very much to be had, as Justin Peters only played in 12 games for the Capitals, earning a 3-6-1 record.

2016 Pool Outlook

The first look at the Capitals off-season roster suggests that there is a lot of work to be done in the US capital, before they can look for any more success in the 2016 season.  From a poolie standpoint, a few of the big pieces are still in place and there should be little worry that a few more will be looked after before they become too much of an issue.  If there is one thing to be said about Capitals management, they do a pretty good job of keeping their squad as a haven for hockey pool picks.

Depending on the direction taken with some of the impending free agents (see below), the Capitals may have some options with some of their young players coming into next season.  Stanislav Galiev saw a little bit of time at the end of the regular season for the Capitals and there are reports that the 2010 3rd rounder is finally coming around.  2014 1st round pick, Jakub Vrana, may be a little too green for the coaching staff, so it might be early for him and it might be a bit too early for Madison Bowey, the standout defenseman coming out of Kelowna.  These three may get their looks, but Galiev, at this point, may have the best shot at being a freshman in the league.

Free Agency and the Salary Cap

Of course, the Capitals don't have everyone signed and ready to go, but they do have the bulk of it done and it does look somewhat cost efficient.  They have 26 cap hits registered, which would make a full squad, plus one, and their cap hit for the total is $58.7 million, leaving them ample room to take care of most of their key free agents.

With that being said, their restricted free agents will prove to be very costly, especially with goaltender Braden Holtby in need of a new deal, while both Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov each need new deals as well.

As for unrestricted free agents, Mike Green is on the radar for a lot of teams, if he makes it to July 1st, while forwards Joel Ward and Curtis Glencross will also hit the open market, if they are not taken care of beforehand.

Needs at the 2015 Entry Draft

The Capitals have their 1st round pick in this year's draft and they will be picking in the 22nd spot this year.  They have been rounding out their stocks nicely, not over-drafting one position over the other and getting some okay results from them, even if they have to be patient with many of them.  I think the Capitals management has some real flexibility with what they can do with their pick, which can find the best player to fit the mould in Washington.  I can see the Capitals eye Evgeny Svechnikov in June.  Washington has a lot of power with the Russians and if they can continue to persuade some of the younger players to come along, they should be a very fast and skilled team.

What I Said Last Year, At This Time...

I think the Capitals have everything in place that they'll need to improve and make it back into the playoffs. They have plenty of elite talent up front, they have a coach that can make good defensemen into better ones and even if the team stays with Holtby, they should be fairly sound in net. Rumours are abound that the goaltending may change, but if it does, there is a good chance they could improve there too, but I would still be confident in Holtby. I'm looking to the Capitals to have a solid Summer, make a couple more key moves and then deliver in the 2015 season. With Trotz at the helm, a good playoff run doesn't sound like a crazy idea.

I really wish someone called me crazy about this one.  Holtby rewarded my confidence in him with an amazing season and the team excelled and he helped lead his team well into the playoffs, just short of a Conference Finals appearance.  I think that's a fairly good prediction, given what had happened with the Capitals this Spring.

For 2016, it all begins in the off-season and the potential Holtby deal, which may be tough to get done with a cap-friendly number.  Saying that, the other RFA's will play a big factor as to what kind of depth the team can afford afterwards as well.  If the team's reasonably green management can get everything done with some hometown discounts, goes out and picks the best of what they can from the free agent market, this team is definitely going the right way for a deeper playoff appearance.  It's a lot of ifs and buts, but that's the nature of the beast.  The Capitals will be playoff bound, they should still have plenty of scoring, but their off-season dictates how far they get.