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The Washington Capitals are going to be entering the 2015-16 NHL campaign with a much different looking team than they iced in 2014-15. The team finally has a complete top-six with good forward depth, and will ice a downgraded, but still formidable defensive unit. Braden Holtby will continue to be a beast between the pipes.
The presence of these players will be missed in several aspects. Mike Green was the point man on the first power play unit, and his main job was simply to put the puck in Alex Ovechkin’s wheelhouse. He did well at this job. Troy Brouwer was slotted on that same first power play unit, and was given the responsibilities of taking faceoffs to help setup the 1-3-1, and just generally be a big body in front of the net. Ward was a very valuable penalty killer, and could really slot anywhere on the right side of the lineup at five on five. Eric Fehr did an exceptional job over the past two seasons as the third-line center, a role which he was thrust into simply by need while Adam Oates was still in charge.
Looking at who has departed the team this offseason, it is fair to wonder just how the Capitals plan to utilize their new acquisitions to fill those holes. I’ll be looking at each individual that left the team, and how the Washington Capitals will plan to fill the voids left by those players this year.
Next: Game Over
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Washington Capitals Must Replace Green
We’ll start with probably the hardest player on this list to replace, Mike Green. Green was rightfully a fan favorite, and had been with the team since being drafted by them at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This past season was different in many ways for Green, namely that he was not the featured defenseman under Barry Trotz. John Carlson was given #1 duties and continued his development to validate the belief put in him by the Capitals organization.
Mike Green was put on the third defensive pairing, although we all know that does not mean he is actually a third pairing defenseman. In fact, he pretty clearly is still a capable top-pairing defenseman, and will probably be utilized that way in Detroit. Despite his reduced minutes on all fronts, he still managed to post 45 points, which is by no means a small feat.
Previously here on Stars and Sticks, we looked at how Dmitry Orlovcould be, and will probably have to be, the x-factor for the Capitals to somewhat replace Mike Green. Orlov, with his likely defensive line mate Nate Schmidt, will be tasked with collectively filling that big hole left on the defensive side by Green’s departure. It is worth noting that neither of these two will get anywhere near the amount of power play ice time that Green got, even between the two of them. Green’s 45 points will probably be very close to impossible to replace by the new third-pairing, regardless of who is on it.
That does not mean that they can’t soften the blow, however. Orlov and Schmidt have both been corsi-positive players over their short careers, so the advanced stats are on their side individually. The question will be whether or not they can translate this to playing with each other. Ironically, each of Schmidt and Orlov played much of their time paired with Green over the past couple years.
Now is an appropriate time to look again at Carlson. He took over quarterback duties on the first power play unit this year on several occasions, probably because they wanted to groom him for the role with Green’s looming free agency status. When Carlson struggled feeding the puck to Ovechkin, Green was able to come in and restore order. Carlson is going to have to be more consistent and show continued development, because Green won’t be able to take over anymore. Matt Niskanen is probably more than capable, but the difference will absolutely be felt during down times on the power play. It does not help that Carlson is playing with an advanced stats black hole, so to speak, in Brooks Orpik.
Overall, I do think that the Capitals still have a good shot at being the top power play team again, even without Green. But over the course of a full season, his presence will be missed at some point. Madison Bowey is the most likely of the Capitals’ current defensive prospects to at least come close to replacing Green, but that time will not be this year.
Next: Who fills in for Brouwer?
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Washington Capitals Must Replace Brouwer
Troy Brouwer is an interesting case, because he did play a key role on the power play. Over the past three years, he has the highest 5v4 goals-for rate in the entire league. He was a very well-liked player from the sounds of it, and was even a member of Barry Trotz’s self-appointed leadership group heading into his first season as head coach of the Capitals.
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My opinion is probably shared by many, that Brouwer was forced into a top-six role solely based on need, and the lack of available replacements. Brouwer would have been a very good third-liner while receiving significant time of the man advantage. Despite this, he still managed to top 40 points several times as a Capital; no small feat in its own.
It has been argued, but the man who Brouwer was traded for will more than replace his production. Oshie will not take Brouwer’s spot on the second line, though, and will most likely flank Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Assuming Oshie takes Brouwer’s spot on the power play, you can probably count him as a lock for at least 45 or 50 points. THN released their point projections, and have Oshie even higher than that.
Justin Williams will likely take Brouwer’s second line right wing spot, and he too should probably match Brouwer’s point totals, especially due to the fact he will be playing alongside an improving Evgeny Kuznetsov and either Marcus Johansson or Andre Burakovsky.
Brouwer will not be overly tough to replace. His power play work is what probably got him anywhere near his levels of production, and which is where he was most valuable to the Capitals. Time will tell, but the Capitals have more than one option to replace him.
Next: Not Fehr
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Washington Capitals Must Replace Fehr
Winter Classic hero-turned hated Penguin Eric Fehr will be more difficult to replace than most are imagining right now. Fehr never lived up to his full potential, but was one of the only reliable depth scorers that the Capitals had over the past two seasons. Fehr was probably better suited to play in the top-six over a player like Brouwer, but he played a very vital role on that third line.
The only immediate replacements on the current roster for Fehr’s open position are Brooks Laich, Jay Beagle and Andre Burakovsky. Let me just say that in no way, shape or form should Beagle take Fehr’s old spot. Beagle is what he is: a very hard worker that is an above average fourth-liner and a very valuable penalty killer.
Brooks Laich is very maligned at this point by fans because of several reasons. He is oft-injured, has seen worrying declines in production even while healthy this past season, and because of his monster cap hit. Laich was probably never worth $4.5 million, but he was valued very highly by the organization because he is a good penalty killer, and used to be a fairly reliable offensive threat to a degree. The injuries have derailed his production, though.
Andre Burakovsky is another option mentioned by GM Brian Maclellan. I would really like to see Burakovsky get top-six time with Kuznetsov and Williams, but I just don’t know that is going to happen, at least at first. He would bring a lot of skill to that third line one way or another. I really don’t want to see Burakovsky get stuck into that 3C role long-term when he could very well become a top-line winger. But, is he not the best option for that 3C role currently? That is very debatable, and it is going to be very interesting to see this situation pan out.
It doesn’t sound like Maclellan will be going after any more free agents, so at this point I think the best way of trying to match Fehr’s production would a line of Burakovsky/Johansson-Laich-Wilson. That is obviously dependent on Laich staying healthy, something both he and Fehr have struggled to do. If Laich is able to find some of his old magic, the Capitals will have three very strong lines that pose a threat on every single shift.
Next: One Player, Several Roles
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Washington Capitals Must Replace Ward
Joel Ward could be one of the bigger losses. He played a variety of roles on this team, on top of being one of the most popular players on the team to fans and players alike. Despite the fact that his play will decline in the near future, these are big shoes to fill.
Ward was an important penalty killer and saw time on the second power play unit as well. What made Ward so important was his versatility. Though he saw a bit of a decline statistically after having a career year in 2013-14, Ward was one of the only players who could be trusted to slot in anywhere in the lineup. Trotz made that clear when during the playoffs, Ward found himself opposite of Alex Ovechkin on the wing. This is after an entire season’s worth of shuffling different players in and out of that top line right wing spot. Though Ward fit best on a very tough third line, he could play just about any role.
Wilson is going to have a great chance here in 2014-15. He is still extremely young, and seeing more ice time with better linemates will help him realize the potential that was evident when the Capitals drafted him back in 2012. He is almost certainly going to be playing with either Marcus Johansson or Burakovsky, and whomever the Capitals plug into the 3C hole. Whoever this center is will almost certainly be more capable offensively than Jay Beagle, unless Beagle is the one to fill that spot (which he really, really shouldn’t).
T.J. Oshie will likely take Ward’s spot on the PK, so Wilson won’t be asked to be too much. Oshie or Justin Williams will likely fill Ward’s spot on the second power play as well. A variety of players will have a chance to fill the roles that Ward has left.
Stanislav Galiev, who eats really weird things, will have something to say. He found his game again last season and even made it into the Capitals’ lineup for the first time in his career, scoring his first NHL goal in the process. If Galiev continues to improve and impress, he could find himself permanently in the NHL. Jakub Vrana is a highly skilled prospect who could shine during camp, but likely needs a year or more in Hershey to round out his game to really make an impact in the NHL when he gets there. Overall, this is Wilson’s spot to lose, at this point.
