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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 3: Joonas Donskoi

SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Joonas Donskoi #27 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Joonas Donskoi #27 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Joonas Donskoi is perhaps one of the more notable names of potential signings for the Capitals. A reason he’s third on this list, though, is that he might have priced himself out of the Capitals range of ~3 million dollars.

He’s coming off a 37-point season, where he scored 14 goals and notched 23 assists in San Jose last season. In four seasons in the NHL, Donskoi has hit 30 points in three seasons and would perhaps even be an upgrade over Connolly in the long run.

Last season, Donskoi had a Corsi percentage of 54.46, a High-Danger chances percentage of 56.05 and Fenwick percentage of 55.18. Donskoi would be yet another offensive-minded forward with skill.

He also had the second-highest Expected Goals percentage on the team with 57.33 percent, meaning he’s another winger who is sharp on both ends of the ice.

Option 4: Corey Perry

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 3: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks battles for the puck against Oscar Fantenberg #3 of the Calgary Flames during the game on April 3, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 3: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks battles for the puck against Oscar Fantenberg #3 of the Calgary Flames during the game on April 3, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

This is by far the most splashy signing the Capitals could realistically make, though the likelihood isn’t favorable.

At 34-years old, Corey Perry is clearly on the downside of his career. He hasn’t scored 30 or more goals since the 2015-16 season and hasn’t been a positive possession player in each of the last two seasons.

But it’s worth noting that the former Hart Trophy winner could try and rekindle some magic in D.C. on the cheaper side of things.

Perry will be paid two million dollars per year for the next four seasons by the Ducks and was due to make 12 million dollars in the next two years on his original deal. With eight million of that on the way from Anaheim in the way of buyout payments, he needs just four million dollars to make back what he would have made at the start.

A two-year, two-million dollar deal might make sense in that regard for the former standout goal-scorer to give the Capitals some pop on their third line.

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