The Washington Capitals may have been quiet to start free agency, but they're still a team to keep an eye on as the offseason continues.
Insider Jeff Marek appeared on the Sekeres & Price Show and noted that the Capitals are a team to keep an eye on when it comes to possible moves down the line.
"Washington is a really well-designed team and a really smart team," Marek said. "I think that if there's a team out there that's going to be frisky in the trade market, that may not be a headline-maker right now or we're not expecting to do too much by trading... let's not forget this is Ovi's swan song season most likely in the NHL. I wouldn't be surprised if they go the trade route here."
The Capitals attempted to make a splash to open free agency and went down to the wire with Nikolaj Ehlers, but the Dane ultimately signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. Washington re-signed Anthony Beauvillier after that, but otherwise, has been relatively quiet to open the free agency period.
General manager Chris Patrick said that the team will look to its prospects to potentially fill the vacancies up front, but also said that D.C. would keep an eye on the trade market while a free agency add remains unlikely, but possible.
“We’re at a point where if we’re bringing in a guy just to bring in a guy because he’s played in the NHL before, he’s going to end up blocking one of our younger guys that might end up having a bigger, more positive impact on the team.”
Handful Of Capitals Gearing Up For Summer Hockey, From Dubois To Ovechkin To Hutson
The Washington Capitals are set to see a number of players take the ice this summer, with Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Ovechkin and more skating as part of summer games and exhibitions.
Dubois, along wtih Anthony Beauvillier, are set to play in the Living Sisu Hockey League, a pro 3v3 league up in Montreal.
Meanwhile, Da Beauty League is starting back up, and Ryan Chesley is set to play for Team Element, along with Charlie Lindgren's brother, Ryan. Nick Leivermann, who recently signed a one-year extension with the Hershey Bears, is playing for Team Anderson, where former Capitals forward Travis Boyd is also lacing 'em up.
Speaking of prospects, defenseman Cole Hutson and goaltender Nicholas Kempf, both 2024 draft picks, are set to play for Team USA in the 2025 World Juniors Summer Showcase in late July. Both recently finished skating together at Capitals development camp.
Finally, Alex Ovechkin is back on the ice and skating, as the Capitals captain is gearing up his training and preparing to play in the "Match of the Year" in Russia, a charity All-Star Game between NHL and KHL stars.
Players are expected to make their way back to D.C. in the coming weeks for informal skates, but summer hockey proves to be a great way for them to maintain their conditioning while preparing for the upcoming campaign.
Training camp begins in mid-to-late September.
