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Not like their Japanese Convention rivals, the Washington Capitals performed it protected on the commerce deadline – buying ahead depth in Marcus Johansson and Johan Larsson. Brian MacLellan, it appears, assessed the extent of competitors his Capitals will face within the postseason and concluded that 2021-22 wasn’t the yr to go all-in on one other Stanley Cup chase.
Nonetheless, the temper in D.C. isn’t almost as gloomy because it was a month in the past – when the Caps had been utterly out of kinds and tumbling down the standings. Consequently, a contact of nuance is required when contemplating MacLellan’s conservative method to the commerce deadline.
Whereas he didn’t precisely throw within the towel, he admitted that his staff – although improved of late – nonetheless has loads of work to do down the stretch. In different phrases, the Caps are good – however not ok to warrant setting the long run on hearth for a big-ticket rental.
Washington’s report since Feb. 27 is spectacular. They rank fourth (9-3-1) within the NHL in March, behind solely the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders. Peter Laviolette’s facet is playoff-bound and will but rise into the Metro’s high three as nicely.
Associated: Capitals Nonetheless Aren’t a Severe Contender After the Commerce Deadline
However – and all of us knew this ‘however’ was coming – MacLellan didn’t purchase a top-tier goaltender on the deadline and as an alternative determined to face pat with Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov as his two netminders. His determination to take action creates extra questions than it does solutions – particularly as each goalies are restricted free brokers in the summertime. With that in thoughts, let’s dig into the Capitals’ post-deadline goaltending panorama.
Why Didn’t the Capitals Strengthen in Aim on the Commerce Deadline?
Because the commerce deadline got here into view, every little thing pointed to it being Marc-Andre Fleury or bust for MacLellan on March 21. The 63-year-old had spent months kicking tires on the goalie market in his quest to safe a “important or legit” improve within the crease.
Regardless of placing on a “full-court press” to lure Fleury to the District, buying the reigning Vezina Trophy winner proved to be an not possible process for MacLellan.
Fleury had the ultimate say on his future, and he determined to decide on the Minnesota Wild over the Capitals. There wasn’t a deal to be achieved. MacLellan – it seems – was by no means going to get the man and wasn’t prepared to put money into a Plan B choice.
Apart from 37-year-old Fleury, the Capitals’ commerce goal shortlist within the goalie division was quick, uninspiring, and finally unused. MacLellan might have traded for somebody like Jaroslav Halak – however he didn’t meet Washington’s “important or legit” threshold. Accidents elsewhere additionally performed a task.
Braden Holtby – who was linked with a return to Washington – was positioned on long-term harm reserve (LTIR) by the Dallas Stars final week, beginning a flurry of transactions that noticed Scott Wedgewood dealt to the Texas membership and Karel Vejmelka handed a meaty extension by the Arizona Coyotes. Maybe most significantly, Vanecek has taken management of the crease.
“What he’s achieved right here these days has been nice,” MacLellan stated of Vanecek’s current kind. “He deserves the chance to take the staff into the playoffs. He had an actual good stretch, bought injured there, got here again, and nonetheless performed nicely. We’ve bought a sure consolation stage with how he’s performed and the way he’s maintained it, so we’re snug with the goaltending.”
It’s straightforward to see why MacLellan is proud of the 26-year-old. Amongst netminders who’ve appeared in at the very least 10 video games since New Yr’s Day, Vanecek is tied for eighth in save share (.922) and ranks tenth in goals-against common (2.40). He isn’t having it straightforward in Washington’s web both, as he faces a median of 27.8 photographs per sport behind the Capitals’ so-so defence.
Over the identical interval, Samsonov has delivered an unimpressive .899 save share whereas conceding a median of three.4 targets per sport. He faces an analogous quantity of photographs to Vanecek, averaging 26 per sport for the reason that flip of the yr.
Consequently, Vanecek has possession of the crease – and can attempt to use the rest of the season, plus a possible playoff run, to earn a pay rise and the starter’s job for 2022-23.
What are the Capitals’ Choices in Aim for Subsequent Season?
With Vanecek and Samsonov hitting restricted free company in the summertime, MacLellan has a pair of essential choices to make in web for subsequent season. If Vanecek’s kind continues by way of the tip of the marketing campaign, there’s an excellent likelihood he opens subsequent season because the Capitals’ first alternative in aim. If the long run performs out in that approach, it would mark a exceptional turnaround for the 39th total decide from 2014.
Vanecek began the final offseason as a Seattle Kraken asset. He was left uncovered for the enlargement draft by MacLellan, permitting Seattle GM Ron Francis to comb him off the board. Per week later, he was returned to Washington in alternate for a second-round decide in 2023.
For the Capitals and Kraken, the Vanecek commerce represents a sliding doorways second. Seattle closely invested of their tandem by way of free company, solely to see Phillip Grubauer and Chris Driedger crumble behind a shaky defence. Francis might’ve achieved with a goalie like Vanecek this yr. Washington, in the meantime, is lucky to have reacquired him so cheaply – and will but place their belief in him for the years to return.
Samsonov’s case for an extension at Capital One Area is shakier. The 22nd total decide from 2015 hasn’t delivered on his promise, upholding a .904 save share over the primary 80 appearances of his NHL profession.
The Russian’s play this season is especially regarding to the group. He was the goalie of Washington’s future simply final summer season, anticipated to grab management of the blue paint in 2021-22, and is now enjoying second fiddle to the netminder left uncovered within the enlargement draft.
Though Samsonov undoubtedly has a future within the NHL, it doubtless isn’t in D.C. – which leaves him prone to being traded, or left unqualified, this summer season. Nonetheless, there aren’t many choices obtainable to MacLellan if he hopes to maneuver on from Samsonov through free company. The Capitals’ pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie shortlist might look a bit of like this:
Goalie | 2021-22 SV% | 2021-22 GAA | Age | 2021-22 AAV |
Marc-Andre Fleury | .908 | 2.95 | 37 | $7 million |
Darcy Kuemper | .923 | 2.40 | 32 | $4.5 million |
Braden Holtby | .913 | 2.78 | 32 | $2 million |
Jack Campbell | .914 | 2.65 | 30 | $1.165 million |
Ville Husso | .926 | 2.34 | 27 | $750,000 |
In different phrases, the marketplace for UFA goaltenders this coming offseason is skinny – that means the Caps might decide to restructure their tandem through commerce. All bets are off in that state of affairs, as MacLellan might transfer for anybody and at any value.
This brings us again to the place we began. MacLellan’s determination to not strengthen in aim as soon as Fleury turned unavailable has created extra questions than solutions for his entrance workplace. Though Vanecek is at the moment performing impressively, the goalie drawback hasn’t gone away in D.C. He has merely kicked the can down the highway.
Luke is an award-winning sports activities journalist from the UK, who covers the Washington Capitals for THW. He’s a current graduate from the College of Warwick and is at the moment learning a postgraduate diploma in Newspaper Journalism at Metropolis, College of London. To remain up-to-date with Luke’s work, you will discover his tweets through @LukeJames_32.
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