Following the end of the draft today, Capitals GM Chris Patrick met with the media (video link) and provided updates on several players. While not going out and confirming that the team won’t be tendering Alexander Alexeyev a qualifying offer on Monday, he stated that the team is “going to be as helpful as we can to him to get him the best opportunity to play in the NHL next year.” Alexeyev was limited to just eight games during the regular season with Washington and with their addition of Declan Chisholm earlier today, it’s harder to see a pathway to playing time if he remains with the Capitals. Knowing that a qualifying offer would also carry arbitration rights, the likeliest outcome is that he’s cut loose.
More from Patrick’s presser:
- Patrick indicated that he’s spoken to almost all of Washington’s pending unrestricted free agents, a list that includes forwards Anthony Beauvillier, Andrew Mangiapane, Lars Eller, and Taylor Raddysh. He added that he’s still talking to some of them so it’s not a guarantee that all of them will ultimately hit the open market on Tuesday. The Caps currently have a little over $9MM in cap space for next season, per PuckPedia.
- When asked about defenseman Martin Fehervary, Patrick stated that the blueliner is doing great in his recovery from meniscus surgery and is pretty much at the point where he can begin his normal offseason training routine. That would suggest that the 25-year-old will be ready to participate in training camp. Fehervary played in all but one game during the regular season but wasn’t able to suit up in the playoffs due to the surgery.
- Newcomer Justin Sourdif signed earlier today, inking a two-year deal. The trade earlier this week to acquire him raised some eyebrows given that the cost was a second-round pick plus a sixth for a player who only had four NHL appearances under his belt in three years. Patrick noted that there was another suitor for Sourdif’s services that had a second-rounder on the table, one that was slightly better than Washington’s, requiring them to offer up the extra draft choice to make sure they got him.
The Caps got Zitoed . I am sure there was another team offering a second for Sourdiff therefore requiring an additional sixth. Master class by Mr. Zito regardless of what Sourdiff does in Washington.
Speaking of the Alexeyev situation, I read an insider report earlier today after the Chisolm trade, And the author had stated that Chisholm will likely be headed to the minors because of Alexeyev being the Caps 7th defensemen. Most of the time I think socalled insiders are nothing more than overpaid, Click bait, Entertainers.