When Henrik Lundqvist quickly agreed to sign with Washington after being bought out by the Rangers back in October, it looked as if the Capitals had their goaltending tandem in place with the veteran set to work alongside youngster Ilya Samsonov. However, it was revealed last week that his season is over before it even started due to a heart condition.
While several skaters of note have waited to sign new contracts, most of the notable goalie activity in free agency came and went as soon as it opened up so most of the viable options are already gone. Despite that, GM Brian MacLellan indicated to reporters, including J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington, that they’re taking a look at who’s still out there:
We’ll do our due diligence on the guys who are out there. And if we see somebody that fits, that has experience, that’s willing to accept a certain role, we’re open to adding a guy, too. We’re open-minded, but we also like where we’re at.
Veterans Craig Anderson and Jimmy Howard are the most notable remaining unrestricted free agents still on the open market while Cory Schneider technically remains unsigned although he is expected to eventually sign with the Islanders. Of course, they could look to the trade or waiver market as well; several veterans will eventually find themselves on the waiver wire in order to be assigned to taxi squads which would present several other options for Washington to choose from closer to the start of the season.
If MacLellan opts to stick with the status quo, the internal options are Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek. Although Copley was Washington’s backup back in 2018-19, it may be Vanecek’s spot to lose since he served as the backup for them in the bubble after Samsonov was unable to play due to injury. MacLellan certainly seems to believe that Vanecek is ready for an NHL opportunity:
We’re happy with his progress, we’re happy with his experience. The only thing for us is that he hasn’t played much in the NHL. Had a good showing in the bubble in the chance he got in so I think all along we’ve been hopefully trying to get him some games and he hasn’t gotten them and this should be a good opportunity for him to get some games to see where he’s at.
While Washington will be eligible to place Lundqvist on LTIR, his salary for the upcoming season was just $1.5MM which becomes the maximum that they’ll be able to spend to replace him. They also have Michal Kempny heading for LTIR as well. If the Capitals are content going with Vanecek and his $717K cap hit, it would free up a little bit more wiggle room for them to try to add another low-priced veteran skater to the fold or give them enough space to at least recall an extra skater when injuries inevitably arise. While the Caps are looking at options outside the organization, it certainly seems like Samsonov’s backup spot will be Vanecek’s to lose.
Sign both Howard and Anderson if they’re okay going back and forth on taxi squad
seems like a bad idea not to, no?
That’s what I am thinking too
The Capitals need to add another goalie at some level. After Copley, the next two goalies in the system are Zach Fucale & Hunter Shepard. Fucale hasn’t played much in the AHL in recent seasons & Shepard is a rookie. If they don’t sign a vet at the NHL level, they need to add a goalie like JF Berube at the AHL level to deepen their goalie pool.