Caps: Free Agency

So, it would seem that the Caps have many more free agents this year than I had thought... That said, a lot of the ones listed on ESPN are minor leaguers or restricted free agents. For those who don't know (and I didn't until about 30 seconds ago), a restricted free agent can get offers from other teams, but their old team has the option of matching the offer (or coming close, depending on the league) and keeping the player. So now you know. Anyway, I'll run through a list of players, starting with unrestricted free agents (UFAs), then restricted free agents (RFAs).

UFAs

Donald Brashear (LW): Donnie really could go anywhere he wanted. However, I think it would be in the Caps best interest to keep the old brawler for a one or two year contract. However, it wouldn't be the biggest loss in the world if he left or retired. While the Caps don't have a direct replacement as a bruiser, the hitting line of Steckel and Bradley can do the work. Also, upcoming Jay Beagle is supposed to be a bit of an enforcer, if not a fighter.
Update: Brashear signed with the NYR with a 2 year contract

Jakub Cutta (D): I've never heard of this guy, so I can't really comment on how badly the Caps organization will need to fight to keep him, if they want to at all.

Sergei Federov (C): He's already gone. He signed a deal with a team in Russia, and will be playing with his brother over there, which was an important factor in his decision to leave the NHL.

Alexandre Giroux (C): I don't know much about him, though he was called up for 12 games this past season and had a decent amount of time on ice, and had one goal and one assist. If he is a still developing center, the Caps could definitely use the depth at this position.

Bryan Helmer (D): He played in 12 games last season. I can't say anything about his performance, and numbers don't tell much for defensemen. This will really be up to the staff to decide his value as compared to their important need for good defenders.

Brent Johnson (G): He would be a valuable backup and mentor to Varlamov and Nueverth. However, he would mostly just be a backup, so it would be hard to give him much of anything, especially since Theodore has one more year on his contract and could fulfill the same role.
Update: Johnson signed a 2-year deal with Pittsburgh. Reportedly, he wasn't very happy about leaving the Caps, particularly to go to the enemy.

Viktor Kozlov (RW): Like Federov, he also has signed with a team in the KHL and has gone home to Russia, though ESPN has been slow to show it.

Staffan Kronwall (D): He was called up for only three games this past season, but he is a young defensemen with pretty good size. Once again, it will be up to the guys in the central office, but he probably will be a valuable asset for the future development of the defense.

Quintin Laing (LW): He only played one game at the NHL level this past season. However, he was a part of the Calder Cup winning Bears and could be a valuable asset for depth. It's up to those with more direct knowledge than me to make that decision though.

Graham Mink (C): Same goes for him as most of the other minor leaguers.

RFAs

Chris Borque (LW): Once again, another minor leaguer, but he is very young (23), and I actually recognize his name, meaning Joe and Craig talked about him a few times.
Update: Has signed a 1 year deal with the Caps

Eric Fehr (RW): Fehr has proven himself worthy of a second or third string winger position at the NHL level, and he is still very young (23), with many years ahead of him. The Caps should definitely do their best to re-sign him.
Update: Fehr has re-signed with the caps for a one year deal.

Boyd Gordon (RW): Like Fehr, Gordon has proven himself and is still young (25). He also plays a valuable role as a scrapper on the hitting line and in short handed situations. He is capable of taking faceoffs and is willing to get in front of the net. The Caps should try to keep him as well.
Update: Gordon has signed a one year deal with the Caps

Andrew Joudrey (C): He's a young centerman in the minors. That's about all I know about him.

Milan Jurchina (D): A young defenseman who was one of the best in the playoffs. Without a doubt someone that the Caps need to keep. He was about the closest thing the Caps have to a shut-down defensemen with his size and physicallity. He also has a good slapshot and usually plays smart, not taking many dumb penalties.

Sami Lepisto (D): A young defender who had a fair share of assists in the few games he was up at the NHL level. Worth keeping for a reasonable price.

Daren Machesney (G): As a young goalie, his strongest argument is as a backup or potentially starter for Hershey.

Travis Morin (C): A young center in the minor leagues. That's all I know.

Shaone Morrisonn (D): A valuable piece of the Caps young defense. Worth keeping around as a stay-at-home defender when you have Mike Green opposite him. Proved himself an asset this past season and short of signing a high-profile defender, should be kept.
Update: has signed a one year deal with the Caps

Steven Pinizzotto (RW): ESPN doesn't even have a picture of this guy. So it's beyond me what should be done with him.
Update: Has signed a 2-year deal with the Caps.

Sasha Polulok (D): A young defender (23) with great size (6'5", 220lbs), should be kept, unless he can't skate, which is doubtful since he's from Canada. Up to the central office though.

Jeff Shultz (D): Once again, a valuable defenseman who has proven himself at this level and worth keeping around.
Update: Has signed a 1-year deal with the Caps

Kyle Wilson (C): A young center... what else can I say?
Update: Signed a 1 year deal with the Caps

Updates: I've highlighted the names of the regular starters from last season up for free agency and added any new info I've had available.

Until next time,

-TES

The Penguins are Stanley Cup Champions

As much as I dislike the Penguins for the obvious reasons of the Ovie-Cindy rivalry, I have to give them the credit they are due. They are the champions of this season. And who said that the winner of the Caps-Pens series would win it all? That's right, this kid.

But in all seriousness, their accomplishment can't be belittled. They did the same thing to the Red Wings that they did to the Caps. They were outplayed, badly, in the first two games that were away, and then took the next two at home. They kept every game close and won each game at home, and the one game away that counted: Game 7.

Enough can't be said about the job Dan Bylsma did in turning this club around. At mid-season, the Pens were actually on the outside looking in at the playoffs. When Bylsma came in, the Pens turned their fortunes around, but still had a bit of a battle to make their way into the playoffs. They were one of the hottest teams at the end of the season, just like the Caps of '08. Unlike the Caps though, they managed to keep their momentum and didn't give up, even when things were looking grim, against the Flyers, Caps, and the Wings. In fact, the only team that they handled decisively was the Hurricanes.

In all, this season's Stanley Cup playoffs were great to watch, full of drama and good storylines: The best team in the NHL got booted in the first round of the playoffs; the Rangers gave a Caps a run for their money and got them down 3-1, and the Caps rallied from down 3-1 to take the series; and the instate rivalry series, Pittsburgh and Phillidelphia went to six, with a couple dramatic OTs. And that was just round 1. Round 2 featured 3 of the 4 matchups going to game 7, and the NHL's dream matchup of Washington and Pittsburgh, Crosby vs. Ovechkin.

By comparison to the previous two rounds, the division finals were pretty boring and one sided.

And then the drama was back with the finals going to 7 and the Penguins winning in the end despite only getting one goal from Crosby all series long.

And now that it's over we get to look forward to free agency in a month or two, and then the new season in October.

Until next time,

-TES