Washington Capitals: Free Agents to Watch in the Stanley Cup
It is finally here hockey fans, the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals! Sadly your Washington Capitals will not be playing. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still watch and perhaps ponder if any future Caps players are on the ice.
It is always fun figuring out what kind of free agents would best fit the Caps. It is easier said than done with their tight salary cap and a big re-signing they hope to get done. Before we get to that bulk of the offseason where we look at free agents from around the league, let’s look at the free agents that are currently competing for the Stanley Cup.
In this post we’ll take a look at four players each, two from the Tampa Bay Lightning and two from the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens took care of the North Division while the Lightning prevailed in the central
In the third round the Lightning defeated the New York Islanders in seven games in a game that only required one shorthanded goal which was practically the first shorty the Islanders allowed all season.
The Canadiens meanwhile defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games winning Game 6 in overtime on a game winning goal from Artturi Lehkonen.
Corey Perry, Montreal Canadiens, 36 years, $750,000
Before we go over why Corey Perry could be a good fit with the Caps, let’s get this first part out of the way as to why he would not. That would be his age. Being on the wrong side of 30 is a discouraging sign. But if the Caps were to add a cheap veteran, Corey Perry could make sense.
In 49 games played in the regular season, Perry scored nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. In the playoffs he has three goals and six assists for nine points.
Pros:
- Perry is a dependable and reliable player and his experience is valuable to any team that he plays for.
- He is one of those players you would love to have on your team as he has a knack for drawing penalties but doesn’t take that many.
- Perry knows how to perform in the playoffs and has won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2007.
Cons:
- His age. Acquiring a 36 year old forward will not help the Caps in their goal to get younger.
- If there’s anybody that’s 36 that the Caps hope to re-sign it’s Alex Ovechkin who turns 36 this September.
- I said it before and I’ll say it again: his age.
Phillip Danault, Montreal Canadiens, 28 years, $3,250,000
The rumors of trading Evgeny Kuznetsov have heated up and if the Caps were to move on from a top six center, they would have to add another one. A cheap option could be Phillip Danault though he isn’t as offensively talented as Kuznetsov.
Still Danault has been outstanding for the Habs as their shutdown center throughout their playoff run. The one issue that may make things complicated is Danault may be looking for more money than the Caps can afford after betting on himself and turning down a $30 million contract extension over six years.
Danault has more of a defensive style than an offensive style which should fit Peter Laviolette’s system but the only way they could have room from him is if they decide to move on from Kuznetsov.
Pros:
- His defense would help the Caps defense improve.
- It is unlikely he will have a cap hit as high as Kuznetsov.
Cons:
- He had only five goals and 19 assists for 24 points. Kuznetsov was bad but was much better offensively.
- Even though his cap hit is less, he will likely be looking for an extension which will likely price his way out of Washington.
Blake Coleman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 29 years, $1,800,000
One cheap option the Caps could potentially add is Blake Coleman who is the same age as Kuznetsov and carries just a $1,800,000 cap hit. Could be a good replacement if the Caps move on though I wouldn’t want to see Kuzy on the Lightning.
In 55 games, Coleman scored 14 goals and added 17 assists for 31 points. In the playoffs, he has a goal and six assists so far. In last year’s run to the Stanley Cup, Coleman had five goals and eight assists for 13 points.
Pros:
- He scored more goals lat season than Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov just had the edge in assists with 20.
- He will be on the right side of 30 when next season starts, so he’s not too old.
- He makes the most out of new environments. He was acquired by the Lightning in a trade in 2020.
- He has the potential to score 20 goals in a full 82 game season
Cons:
- He will turn 30 when the season starts. Not old but not young either.
- He only took seven face-offs so although he is listed as center on Hockey Reference he is more of a winger.
- He might be looking for more money than the Caps could afford.
Barclay Goodrow, Tampa Bay Lightning, 28 years, $925,000
Like Corey Perry, Barclay Goodrow is another good cheap forward option. What makes him better is that he is eight years younger at 28 years old. He can easily play on the bottom six depending on what the Caps need.
He had six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 55 games played. He also has a goal and an assist in the playoffs so far.
Pros:
- He’s physical and isn’t afraid to use his body to deliver checks or block shots. He’ll add more physicality to a team already build with physical forwards like Tom Wilson.
- He’s a great option for the third line in case the Caps lose a bottom six forward in the Seattle expansion draft.
Cons:
- He doesn’t produce much.
Puck drop for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals is at 8 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network. The game will take place in Tampa Bay, a city on an emotional high with the Lightning and Buccaneers winning championships. For Montreal, they are looking to win their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
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Who are your picks and predictions for the Stanley Cup Finals? Let us know in the comments and enjoy the Stanley Cup Finals Caps fans!