Here is a mature and thoughtful piece on our plans and strategies for the Washington Capitals.
During the lockout, as noted, we really did map out who we had drafted; what our plans would be; how the cap would grow; who we would have to resign; and plot year by year what we would have to do to keep the team together.
Having a true plan with financials and knowing when contracts expire and estimating what the cap will be, etc. etc. is a new science and art form for front offices of NHL teams. To date, we have to get credit for managing this process pretty well. We have cap room. We can keep our team together and we are hopeful we can continue to execute well this off season as outlined in this article. Wish us well and wish us good fortune in keeping the team together. Game on.
If the Caps are going to win next season signing Huet, no matter what he’s asking for, has to be a priority. Last year’s team proved that without a world class goaltender this team, even with its firepower, is .500 at best. You need a goaltender that can steal games. There is no other goaltender on the market, or in the Caps system that can out perform Huet. The Caps were willing to pay Olie in excess of $5.4 million, and Huet is younger than Olie was when he signed his last contract. If the Caps do not sign Huet, and plan to go into the season with Johnson (great back-up) and a youngster, the message being sent to all of us that care about the Caps is going to be to wait a couple more years. No other UFA is even close. If we sign Thibeault, Theodore, Graham, or Emery it will be a long disappointing season. Please sign Huet for at least 3 years for whatever he asking for. If you don’t, by the time our young Russian goaltender is ready (if he ever is) people like Semin and Nylander will be up for contract negotiations.
Game On indeed. Unlike a certain team northwest of here (I won’t mention their name…) the Caps have planned this out well. As I recall, the Caps didn’t jump into the free agent wars two years ago and sign folks like Sergei Gonchar (who is playing well..), Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi, etc. And now they are in the process of buying out some of these guys, and their negotiations with the players are all over the media.
Meanwhile all is quiet here, meaning things are moving right along, presumably. I’ve learned that in negotiations, if there’s no news, progress is being made, especially if both sides want to come to an agreement.