Top 3 things that the Capitals need to fix for 2022

#2 Defense

This may get me crucified by other Caps fans. Maybe not, though. It’s time to part ways with John Carlson. He’s too much of a Mike Green. And we need more defenders than offensive guys. We’ve got plenty of offensive weapons already.

The defense should already look different with the inevitable departures of Justin Schultz, Michal Kempny and Matt Irwin. Losing Schultz would give the Caps more wiggle room with the salary cap as his four million cap hit comes off the books.

After the Caps won the Stanley Cup in 2018 many players got the big bucks. One of the players who got the biggest bucks was John Carlson. He makes eight million a year. His contract doesn’t run out until 2026-27.

By then, the Caps may already be in a legitimate rebuild saying goodbye to one of their longtime and greatest team captains ever in Alex Ovechkin. Parting ways with both Schultz and Carlson this summer would give the Caps 12 million in cap space just from those departures alone. They could use that 12 million to try and keep the window open even if it’s only by a little bit.

The Caps could not only use a forward with that money but find a young defenseman to complement Martin Fehervary.