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Top 5 Capitals who won’t return in 2024

By Michael Marzzacco

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nicolas Aube Kubel, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nicolas Aube Kubel, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

#4 Nicolas Aube Kubel

Nicolas Aube Kubel begun the season with the Hershey Bears as guys like Matthew Phillips had a surprising preseason to make the opening night roster. Aube Kubel makes $1.225 million and is an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer.

He has one goal and three assists for four points in 11 games with the Capitals. Phillips is a free agent too but he’s restricted so that means the Caps can have more leverage in discussing a contract extension.

Other forwards that are RFAs include Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, and Beck Malenstyn. It would be foolish to deal McMichael unless the Capitals see some crazy good return but even that would be rare in an ever competitive league.

Malenstyn has impressed me a lot this season and I think his development has progressed. He’s another important forward for their future. Protas is like a bigger but more athletic Mantha. Again this is a young core that’s sprikled in with the veteran core.

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