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Washington Capitals: Potential right wing free agency targets

By Andrew Gillis

UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 01: Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on March 1, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. New York Islanders defeated the New York Islanders 3-1 (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 01: Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on March 1, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. New York Islanders defeated the New York Islanders 3-1 (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Option 1: Brett Connolly

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 10: Washington Capitals right wing Brett Connolly (10) takes a shot in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets on March 10, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 10: Washington Capitals right wing Brett Connolly (10) takes a shot in the third period against the Winnipeg Jets on March 10, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

While everyone would like to see Brett Connolly return to Washington, that’s almost assuredly out of the question at this point.

At 27 years old, Connolly posted a career year in the 2018-19 season with 22 goals and 24 assists and is set for a big payday. MacLellan has said as much of late.

So the in-house option isn’t available to the Capitals, who will have to look outside the organization to fill a role next to Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller.

Option 2: Brandon Pirri

SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 23: Brandon Pirri #73 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks “”in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 23: Brandon Pirri #73 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the San Jose Sharks “”in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 23, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

“Option 2” is quite misleading here, as Brandon Pirri could be a potential steal in this year’s free agency crop.

As Pirri, 28, was sometimes a healthy scratch in Vegas, he’ll undoubtedly be hitting the open market in a few days as Vegas doesn’t have the cap space, or desire, to sign him.

He played in just 31 games last year in Vegas and scored 12 goals and six assists. Over his career, his topped out at 22 goals (in 2014-15 in Florida) and 29 points (in 2015-16 in Florida and Anaheim). While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, the reason Washington should be in on him is because of how he drives play.

In 376 minutes of time on ice last season in Vegas, Pirri posted a 56.69 Corsi percentage, a 58.61 Fenwick percentage and a 57.6 High-Danger percentage. He was on the ice for 59.55 percent of the Golden Knights’ scoring chances and had a 72.41 Goals For percentage. He also had an Expected Goals percentage of 60.44.

In other words, Pirri was an absolute possession monster in Vegas and was an excellent shot suppressor on defense and a superb generator of offense.

While the goal numbers might not be there to grab headlines, his possession numbers — paired with the Capitals best possession forward in Carl Hagelin — should make for a third line that rarely is on the defensive end of the ice.

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