Capitals defense faces questions this summer

The Washington Capitals season could end three ways. They could win the Stanley Cup, they could fall in the playoffs, or they could miss the playoffs altogether. No matter when that final horn on the season will sound, the Caps will head into another interesting offseason.

In particular the defense will be a big storyline. John Carlson is the only remaining defenseman under contract past this season and he’s injured and its unknown when he’ll return.

Everyone else is either an unrestricted free agent or restricted free agent. Per Cap Friendly, let’s list each one. The UFAs are Dmitry Orlov, Nick Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, and Matt Irwin. The RFAs are Alex Alexeyev and Martin Fehervary.

Out of this list the most obvious guy to re sign is Dmitry Orlov. It’ll be tricky as he has a cap hit of $5.1 million. The next blue liner I’d go for is Erik Gustafsson. The Caps got him for $800,000 from the Chicago Blackhawks. He’ll definitely command something in the millions as he’s having one heck of a season with seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points.

When it comes to RFAs like Martin Fehervary and Alex Alexeyev, that’ll be tricky to sign both of them but to extend a qualifying offer to each would be crucial. They’re a big part of the future and could be important in that dreadful rebuild when Alex Ovechkin retires.

From then on I would then try if I was Brian MacLellan to re sign Trevor van Riemsdyk. He’ll command something in the millions as the current cap hit for him is $950,000.

For the Hershey Bears, three defensemen are free agents. Gabriel Carlsson is an RFA while Dylan McIlrath and Bobby Nardella are UFAs.

Whatever time Carlson comes out of long term injured reserve, it would put the Caps in a cap crunch as Carlson makes $8 million a season.