The Capitals have managed their salary cap efficiently for the past decade or so. They have always been willing give their star players big contracts, and do not shy away from paying what the market dictates to keep their most important pieces in place. But, the Caps have been pretty savvy the past few years by signing players to team friendly deals that in hindsight look brilliant.
The front office operates right up against the salary cap every year thanks to the contracts of three pretty important players that are probably grossly underpaid compared to their on-ice production. Whether it's part of the plan, just good luck, or both, those team friendly deals are vital to a hgealthy salary cap sitatution. Teams that wait to long to sign their players will pay more. While teams that sign their young players to long term deals sooner can get some extra breathing under the cap to address other roster issues.
These 3 Capitals' players have the best value contracts on the books, with no. 1 perhaps the best value contract in the entire NHL.
3. Aliaksei Protas
In 2023-24, his first full season in the NHL, Protas scored 29 points in 78 games. The Caps rewarded him with a five year contract worth $3.375 million per year. In the first year of that deal, Big Pro scored 66 points in 76 games, He followed it up with 52 points in 76 games last season. He is a top-six forward with consecutive 52-plus point seasons before he turns 26, and he's getting paid peanuts. This was a smart signing that still has three years left before it expires, at which point Big Pro should get a heft raise. Until then, the Caps will reap the benefits of paying a 60 point player on the roster at below market value.
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