East Notes: Copley, Wahlstrom, Senators

At first glance, it would certainly be reasonable to think that Pheonix Copley’s three-year, $3.3MM extension that he signed with the Capitals back in February would give him some job security.  However, NBC Sports Washington’s J.J. Regan suggests that this may not be the case.  As Washington looks to trim down their cap issues without making a trade or losing anyone of significance off the roster, swapping out Copley’s $1.1MM AAV for one of their AHL netminders would save them a little bit of space.  He also notes that the Caps will likely want to see their top goalie prospect in Ilya Samsonov get a chance at some point this coming season in order to evaluate his readiness with Braden Holtby’s deal expiring at the end of the season.  Having Copley pass through waivers makes that easier to do.  He may have some stability in terms of his contract but where he plays may ultimately be in the air.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:

• It came as a bit of a surprise when Islanders prospect Oliver Wahlstrom decided to leave Boston College after his freshman year. However, the winger told NHL.com’s Brian Compton that he had some challenges adapting to the lighter college schedule and that he wanted to focus solely on hockey and not be split between the rink and the classroom.  Wahlstrom signed immediately after his season which allowed him to get an early taste of the pros with AHL Bridgeport where he adapted rather well with seven points in ten games between the regular season and playoffs.
• The Senators aren’t expected to name a captain for the upcoming season, notes Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. While Ottawa has a few veteran players left on their roster, almost all of them are on short-term deals which doesn’t make them viable candidates for the role.  Meanwhile, while there is a young core in place, most of them aren’t really experienced enough to take on the extra responsibility just yet.