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Washington Capitals: 5 players that won’t be back in 2022

By Michael Marzzacco

Ilya Samsonov, Vitek Vanecek, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Ilya Samsonov, Vitek Vanecek, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lars Eller, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Lars Eller, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 Lars Eller

This one is a wild card I know. Looking at the forwards Brett Leason and Daniel Sprong are set to become restricted free agents after the season while Nic Dowd will be an unrestricted free agent. I think the odd man out will be Lars Eller for a variety of reasons.

One is we’ve seen the early development of centers Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre before our eyes. Another factor is Eller’s slow start to the season.

I don’t think Eller gets sent out in the summer. I think he is a part of the conversation at the trade deadline. Evgeny Kuznetsov is off to a torrid start and is well on his way to redeeming himself. Trading Kuzy at this point seems foolish. Of course D.C. would riot if Nicklas Backstrom was traded and that leaves you between Nic Dowd and Lars Eller.

Eller has three assists so far this season. Lars Eller has missed to games but already has a goal. I don’t know, if I had to pick between the two I would re-sign Nic Dowd. He is better on the face off dot. Dowd has won 59.5 percent of his draws while Eller has won 47.8 percent.

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