Now that over two weeks into July, the majority of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed. Although this is the case, there are still some players who are looking for their new homes.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
After spending last season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, Evgeny Kuznetsov is eyeing a return to the NHL. The 33-year-old put together a solid year overseas with the KHL club, posting 12 goals, 25 assists, and 37 points, and a plus-13 rating in 39 games. Yet, he still remains without a contract.
Given Kuznetsov's past NHL success, there certainly could be a team out there willing to sign him to a one-year, prove-it deal before the season gets here. In 723 games over 11 seasons with the Caps, he recorded 171 goals and 568 points.
Jakub Vrana
Jakub Vrana is another notable former Capital who is still a free agent at this stage of the summer. The 29-year-old winger split this past season between the Capitals and Nashville Predators, where he had nine goals and 14 points in 39 games. In 26 games with the Capitals in 2024-25 before being claimed off waivers by the Predators, he had seven goals, 11 points, and a plus-6 rating.
Teams in need of some depth scoring could consider taking a shot on a two-time 20-goal scorer like Vrana. In 310 games over two stints and six seasons with the Capitals, Vrana recorded 83 goals and 168 points.
The Capitals Will Keep Looking At Options To Add Skill Up Front, But Who Fits That Bill?
After missing out on Nikolaj Ehlers at the start of free agency, the Washington Capitals said they will keep their eye on the trade market and other options as they look to add some more skill to the forward group.
But exactly what kind of player are they looking for?
For most of the regular season, Washington had no problem scoring goals, with offense coming easy and Alex Ovechkin still humming at the age of 39. But toward the end of the year, goals were harder to come by, and ultimately in the playoffs, the lack of secondary offense and play-driving from D.C. led to another early playoff exit.
That being the case, there are multiple options out there for the Capitals.
First off, the team remains focused on bringing in young talent as it prepares for the future without Ovechkin while establishing a new core to play with the team's rising prospects in Ryan Leonard and Andrew Cristall, among others. That's why Justin Sourdif, a 24-year-old with upside, was high on their radar these past few years.
Still, there has to be a lot of potential and upside there, and there are options, whether it be work-in-progress players like Yegor Chinakhov — who requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets — or more established young scorers.
Washington also remains focused on hard-working, high-character players, which has been the consistent goal for the team over the years.
Ultimately, the Capitals have the rest of the offseason to ponder their options, but they're not going to bring in a name just for the sake of bringing in a name. So, if no players fit what they're looking for, D.C. will just let who they have in the system make the jump — and that may be the best option going forward.
