One of the hottest topics surrounding the Washington Capitals this summer is the Seattle expansion draft and whom they’ll protect and expose. For what it’s worth, we had a protection list back in December but a lot has changed. Have no fear, there will be a new one in a few weeks.
But on my new protected list I already got one player circled in a sharpie. That’s T.J. Oshie. I regrettably wrote a piece back in December about how Oshie was likely to be selected in the expansion draft. I hope I eat my words this July.
I’ve completely changed my mind for two reasons. One, Oshie is the heart and soul of this team. But you don’t need me to tell you that. And two, a lot has changed since December. A LOT.
Who would’ve thought protecting Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana sounded smart? I sure wasn’t the only one. Now Vrana isn’t on the team and we’ve got a clear picture of what Kuznetsov is like on and off the ice. Great guy though and a funny personality.
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But this isn’t about the others. This is about Oshie and what he means to this Capitals team. The trade arguably helped fuel the Caps to their eventual Stanley Cup and he became an integral part of the core.
Oshie is well aware of the rumors surrounding the expansion draft but in his exit interview, he was clear about where he belongs. Via Samantha Pell of The Washington Post:
"“I signed an 8-year deal here because this is where I want to spend the rest of my career and retire here … I’ve approached every day since I’ve been here like this is going to be the last team I will ever play for. [People] can make assumptions about what I want to do or what I would like. People bring up the C, that stuff’s not that important to me. This is where I want to be with my buddies, my family, my kids are growing up in schools here, this is where I love to play hockey.”"
Yes he carries a big cap hit. Yes he’s getting up there in age. But as we saw from this last season alone, Oshie deserves to retire a Capital. He had 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points in 53 games. That’s another 20 goal season despite the challenge of a shortened pandemic season.
But if there was one moment that perhaps sealed his fate in Washington, it happened earlier this month. In a spirited affair between the Caps and New York Rangers with a lot of fights going on and a pregame storyline centered around Tom Wilson, it was Oshie who stole the spotlight when he needed it the most.
He lost his dad, Coach, a day ago and missed the previous game to be with his family. He came back in the lineup and scored a hat trick. That wasn’t even the best part.
After the game, the Caps ditched their usual victory song (Live is Life by Opus) and instead played Oshie’s goal song, Country Roads. According to team writer Mike Vogel, players were locking arms and singing along. I wish there was video of it but maybe the Caps release it after we know their protection list and we can all sleep at night knowing the Oshbabe is safe.
And T.J., if you’re reading this and the Caps do indeed protect you, to apologize for my December article I’d like to invite you to two drinks out in Arlington. Bud Lights of course. The first one will be for you and the second one I will chug through my shirt.