Washington Capitals Will Try To Bring Back Barry Trotz
Heading into the playoffs, there was a lot of talk of how Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz could be one of the biggest names on the free agent market this summer. Trotz is in the final year of his career with the Capitals, and has notoriously failed in the postseason despite excellent regular season records. Well, Trotz and the Capitals are failures no more in the playoffs after securing their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and GM Brian MacLellan today told media including Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press that the team will try to get an extension done with their head coach. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com adds that Trotz wants to come back and has already begun talking about a new contract.
Trotz, 55, already sits fifth on the all-time wins list among NHL coaches, but had a history of coming up short in the playoffs. While he still has a 55-58 record in the postseason, the Stanley Cup victory ensures that he’ll go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport when he decides to retire. Should he come back with the Capitals—or anyone else for that matter—next season, he’ll likely pass Al Arbour for fourth on the wins list and would pull close to Ken Hitchcock with another 50-win season. That expertise though would make him highly sought after on the open market, to the point where other teams may fire the incumbent to get him behind the bench.
The most interesting destination of course would be the New York Islanders, who recently fired head coach Doug Weight after just a single season on the job. While the New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes have already hired their replacements, several other coaches will enter the year on the hot seat. Trotz could be a potential replacement for any one of them, but only if the Capitals let him become a free agent this summer. While it sounds like they’ll try their best to extend him, you never know how negotiations will go. Should Trotz demand a contract similar to the ones given to Mike Babcock in Toronto or Joel Quenneville in Chicago, perhaps the Capitals decide that money could be better spent elsewhere.
After all, it wasn’t so long ago that the team was considering moving on from Trotz. Many believed that had he failed to accomplish the feat of winning a Stanley Cup this season—even if that meant losing game seven of the finals—he would not be returning to the team next year. Perhaps that will still happen, or Trotz will welcome a new challenge in a new city.
Jay Beagle Hopes To Return To Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are fresh off the first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history, but before long they’ll need to start dealing with pressing offseason issues. Though John Carlson is at the top of that chart, there are several other key players headed for unrestricted free agency. One of those players is Jay Beagle, who while not an offensive force was a huge faceoff man and defensive presence for the Capitals throughout the playoffs. Beagle made his intentions clear today to media including Tarik El-Bashir of NBC Sports, saying that he wanted to return and calling Washington “home.”
Beagle, 32, registered 22 points in 79 games this season but won a career-high 58.5% of his faceoffs and logged more than two and a half minutes of short-handed ice time on a nightly basis. Those numbers easily led all Capitals forwards, and he improved to better than 60% on the draw in his 23 playoff contests. With the firepower that the team has up front in players like Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov, they could afford to have a defensive specialist like Beagle further down in the lineup.
Whether they can afford him going forward though is another question. Beagle is coming off the final season of a three-year deal that paid him $1.75MM annually, and with the Capitals trying to squeeze every last dollar out of the roster in order to retain John Carlson this summer, Beagle may have to take a pay cut to stay with the club. Paying a fourth-line center more than $2MM seems out of the question for the Capitals going forward, a total he could likely secure on the open market after his successful playoff run.
Washington heads into the offseason with somewhere around $16MM in cap space depending on where the upper-limit lands, but with new contracts needed for Tom Wilson, Philipp Grubauer, Devante Smith-Pelly and other restricted free agents, as well as a likely $7-8MM price tag on Carlson there isn’t much left in the vault. Even if Grubauer is moved to another team as GM Brian MacLellan hinted at today, the team still has a cap crunch coming and hard decisions to make. Beagle may want to stick around, but there might not be enough money to go around.
Erik Karlsson Not Likely To Get Moved To Vegas
With their season wrapping up much more quietly than the Washington Capitals, the Vegas Golden Knights will now look to continue their success next season. Due to the failed trade deadline move to acquire Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson many months ago, many people believe that Vegas general manager George McPhee will try to rekindle those trade talks.
The move would make quite a bit of sense since Vegas’ defense struggled against Washington during their Stanley Cup run as the Capitals dominated the neutral zone throughout the finals. And while the Golden Knights have many quality top-four defensemen, what the team is truly lacking is a No. 1 defenseman, which showed against Washington. However, Elliotte Friedman suggests a deal for Karlsson might be unlikely this offseason in his 31 Thoughts segment.
Friedman writes the main reason the original Karlsson trade collapsed was Ottawa’s insistence on Vegas including 2017 first-round pick Cody Glass, the team’s top prospect. The 19-year-old center, who was the sixth-overall pick in last year’s draft, potted 37 goals and 102 points for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Vegas didn’t want to include him, despite the fact that 13th overall pick Nick Suzuki, also a center, tallied 42 goals and 100 points for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack.
The team isn’t ready to deplete it’s prospect pool. They would rather move picks such as when they traded their 2018 first-rounder, a 2019 second rounder and a 2021 third-rounder to get a player like Tomas Tatar. They already know what they have in Glass and Suzuki even if it takes another year for them to step into their lineup. However, despite having six picks in the first three rounds last year (three first-rounders), the team is still building its prospect pool for the future and with just one pick in the first three rounds this year (not in the first round), the team isn’t going to build it up a whole lot this year.
Friedman suggests that a better move for the Golden Knights would be to steal away John Carlson from Washington (McPhee drafted him back in 2008). Considering the amount of cap space Vegas has, that would be the best way to bring in veteran talent.
While many people believe that bringing in Karlsson, who has been unhappy with Ottawa’s ownership, is the better course of action, trading one (or more) of their top prospects and likely taking on the bloated contract of winger Bobby Ryan for another four years at $7.25MM will quickly destroy both their cap flexibility and cut into their small, but solid prospect pool. Vegas will have at least $28MM in cap room, so why not just spend some of it on Carlson and keep their prospects?
John Carlson Could Seek $8MM In Free Agency
A strong showing in the playoffs could push Capitals defenseman John Carlson’s asking price to or above $8MM per season, TSN’s Bob McKenzie suggested during an appearance on TSN 1260 (audio link). That would put his next deal in line with the reported extension offer that the Coyotes have given Oliver Ekman-Larsson (eight years and $66MM).
While that would more than double Carlson’s previous cap hit, he has certainly made a case for that type of money. He led all NHL defenders in points with 68 during the regular season while averaging a career-high 24:47 per night. He followed that up with a near-identical showing in the playoffs, averaging the same points-per-game rate (0.83) and logged even more ice time at 25:38 per game. That type of performance puts him in the discussion as a legitimate number one defender and with a weak free agent market, the Capitals will have to find a way to fit in another sizable contract if they want to bring him back for 2018-19 and beyond.
Trotz Will Have Leverage Against Capitals In Contract Negotiations
Barry Trotz couldn’t be in a better position for a free agent.
The 2018-19 Stanley Cup Champion-winning coach accomplished that feat on an expiring contract and now becomes that rare free agent coach who should cash in on his success. While Trotz has said that he “absolutely” sees a future for himself in Washington next season after the team won the Stanley Cup on Thursday, he suddenly has all the power.
The Athletic’s Craig Custance (subscription required) writes that Trotz is in rare company for a head coach as few great coaches hit the open market. Not only has he fared so well, but Washington was likely expected to move on from Trotz had the team been knocked out of the first round against the Blue Jackets. In fact, Custance writes that he was assigned to cover Game 3 of Washington’s first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Had the team lost in Columbus, he would have written a story about the end of Trotz’ tenure in Washington. It was believed that Trotz’ contract would not be renewed and the team had a plan to hire assistant coach Todd Reirden, who had one more year on his deal, as the new head coach. The fact that both Trotz and long-time assistant coach Lane Lambert were on their final year of their contract, only made the rumor seem more realistic.
If anything, that will only give Trotz more power to negotiate a new deal. In 2015, Mike Babcock was in a similar situation as Detroit, San Jose, Toronto and Buffalo all were bidding on bringing Babcock aboard. However, Trotz’s situation has some differences. There aren’t many openings for Trotz to choose from now as most teams have found their head coach. In fact there is just one coaching opening remaining (besides the Capitals) — the New York Islanders. Would Trotz consider leaving Washington to join up with Lou Lamoriello?
Custance writes that Trotz’ salary will not likely compare to Babcock’s eight-year, $50MM contract he signed with Toronto. However, he believes that at a minimum, Trotz should be able to make $4MM per year and if the Islanders really want the veteran coach, maybe higher.
Regardless, Trotz is likely to take a few days to enjoy the moment before he begins negotiating. Will he be negotiating with one team or two?
Trotz, Capitals To Begin Contract Talks In The Next Few Days
- There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Capitals head coach Barry Trotz who is without a contract for next season. Speaking following their win on Thursday, GM Brian MacLellan stated that Trotz wanted to be back, then he would be back. Trotz told reporters, including Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, that he “absolutely” sees a future for himself in Washington. He plans to take a couple of days to enjoy the Stanley Cup victory and then start discussing a new deal. One team that will certainly be keeping an eye on how talks go is the Islanders who now have a head coaching vacancy of their own to fill.
Alex Ovechkin Awarded Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the postseason, could have gone to several players on the Washington Capitals based on performance alone. Yet it really could not have gone to anyone but captain Alex Ovechkin. Yes, he led the postseason in goals and set a franchise record in playoff goals as well, but really this is indicative of the role that Ovechkin played as the locker room leader for the Capitals and the best player in franchise history.
En route to the team’s first ever Stanley Cup championship, Ovechkin scored 15 goals and totaled 26 points, the second most on the team to Evgeny Kuznetsov. He logged major ice time, played a physical game, and overloaded opposing goaltenders with shots. Ovechkin did everything right, on and off the ice, to finally get the Caps over the hump and to the Cup.
This Conn Smythe is also very much a career achievement award. Ovechkin is a career-Capital, the first overall pick in 2004 and the long-time captain. He is not only the face of the franchise, but one of the best players in the NHL since the turn of the century. He is a surefire Hall of Famer eventually, but undoubtedly has already earned the title of the best player in Washington history. Ovechkin is the franchise leader in goals and points, single season and career, and games played. He is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, a seven-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner, an Art Ross Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner, and seven-time All-Star; but he now has the ultimate prize, a Stanley Cup, and that is what he needed to go down as one of the best. A well-deserved Conn Smythe win for Ovechkin.
Washington Capitals Win 2018 Stanley Cup Championship
For the first time in 44 years, the Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup champions. The 1974 expansion team won the first title in franchise history with a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five. The long-suffering fan base that has seen more President’s Trophies than Conference Championships in the team’s history can finally breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate their team getting over the hump. The Stanley Cup belongs to the Capitals in 2018.
Leading the charge for Washington in the postseason and in the deciding game was of course Alex Ovechkin. The franchise leader in scoring fittingly led the team in playoff goal scoring and set the franchise record for goals in a playoff by notching his 15th en route to a win the first title in franchise history. Evgeny Kuznetsov led the team with 32 points in the postseason, adding an assist in Game Five and leading all forwards in ice time. Lars Eller potted the game-winning goal mid-way through the third period to cap off an excellent postseason in which he took his game to the next level and was a clutch presence for the Capitals. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the play of goaltender Braden Holtby, who won back the starter’s job early in the postseason after a tough regular season and went on to make brilliant save after brilliant save these past month, especially in the Final. Not to be forgotten are key contributors like long-time Capitals Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Jay Beagle, T.J. Oshie, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik among others. Head coach Barry Trotz should also be commended for his excellent work and on a career that, like his superstar forward, has always lacked one thing: a title. Not anymore, as Trotz and the Caps are champs.
However, this win is also about the players that came before this team who have long waited for a title to come to Washington. Peter Bondra, Mike Gartner, Dale Hunter, Olaf Kolzig and others can all enjoy what this team has accomplished and what the last four decades have led to.
The achievements of George McPhee, Gerard Gallant, and Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team in their inaugural season, cannot possibly be overstated. Yet, this franchise has a bright future and is unlikely to have a long wait for their own title. Washington fans had waited long enough. After 44 years, the Washington Capitals are champs and D.C. is a title town once again after 26 years.
Perron, Carrier Draw In For Vegas In Game Five
If the amount of Washington fans able buy Game Five tickets off of Vegas fans or the look on Alex Ovechkin‘s face is any indication, this Stanley Cup final series is already over. However, the Golden Knights are not going to give up that easy. Underestimated since their inception, the team knows how to fight through adversity and tonight is no different.
To shake things up in an effort to extend the series, head coach Gerard Gallant has made some surprise changes to his lineup. Per beat writer Steve Carp, drawing back in after being a scratch in the last game is veteran winger David Perron. He will be joined by energetic checker William Carrier, who has missed the past ten games due to injury. Yet Tomas Tatar will remain in the lineup for the Knights after filling in for Perron in Game Four. Instead, bottom six contributors Ryan Carpenter and Ryan Reaves will take a seat for what may be the team’s final game of their inaugural season. Here is the projected lineup.
While Perron’s production has slowed in the postseason – no goals and eight assists in fourteen games – he in undeniably an offensive upgrade to Carpenter or Reaves. The 30-year-old winger has 444 points in 722 NHL games, including a career-high 66 points with Vegas this year. If the Knights plan to outscore the Capitals tonight, they will need both Perron and Tatar on the ice. While Carrier may be cold, he is also a pesky defensive presence and a vicious, but clean checker. Carrier brings a different element to the bottom six that Vegas has been lacking and could help to slow down the torrid Caps attack.
Will these moves make a difference? Tune in to a possibly deciding Game Five to find out.
Metro Notes: Grubauer, Trotz, Alzner, Hurricanes
Although he eventually gave the starter’s job back to Braden Holtby this postseason, Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer has more than proven himself to be a top option in 2017-18. The 26-year-old won over the leading role in net late in the regular season for the Caps and finished with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 GAA; both marks were substantially better than Holtby’s for the year albeit in 35 appearances versus 54 for Holtby. Entering restricted free agency this summer, Grubauer has shown the potential to be a starter in the NHL and will use that to cash in on his next contract. As such, that contract likely won’t be with Washington. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports that there is already considerable trade interest across the league in Grubauer, as the cap-strapped Capitals cannot afford an expensive backup goalie, especially since they hope to re-sign one of the top names on the free agent market in defenseman John Carlson. According to LeBrun, the leading suitors thus far, for obvious reasons, have been the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams have underwhelming veteran starters heading to free agency – Jaroslav Halak and Cam Ward – with the disappointing backups that lost their jobs now slated to return to starting in Thomas Greiss and Scott Darling respectively. Grubauer would likely be an upgrade to either and at the very least would create some competition in net. LeBrun doubts that those two teams will be the only major contenders for Grubauer this off-season, citing that interest may increase once Washington wraps up the Stanley Cup final. It is also fair to be skeptical of the Capitals trading him within the division if they truly believe in his ability. Don’t rule out a Martin Jones scenario wherein the San Jose Sharks acquired Jones from the Los Angeles Kings through the Boston Bruins a few years back, much to the chagrin of the division rival Kings. One way or another, it seems likely that Grubauer’s time in Washington is over. At least it appears he could end his stay with a title.
- A more surprising name who could also end his stay in D.C. with a Stanley Cup is head coach Barry Trotz. Trotz still does not have a contract for next season and LeBrun reports that the team has not had any talks with their bench boss during the postseason so as to remain focused. As a result, Trotz is able to consider his options once the season comes to an end. Assuming the Capitals extend an offer to their coach, who has always been a title away from being considered one of the best in the game, Trotz could simply choose to stay and defend his championship with a team that won’t change much this off-season. However, he could opt for more money or a new challenge with another franchise. Again, LeBrun adds that the Islanders are rumored to be in the running. After firing Doug Weight on Tuesday, the Isles are the only team in the league that currently has a vacancy at head coach and Lou Lamoriello could be intrigued by adding a proven winner to lead the team he is trying to turn around. If the offer was overwhelming, the Capitals may be content to give the job to assistant Todd Reirden, who LeBrun notes has long been considered the heir apparent. Only time will tell what Trotz’ decision is, but LeBrun reports that he and agent Gil Scott will meet to map out their plans as soon as the season ends.
- One player upset at missing out on the Capitals’ current cap run is former defenseman Karl Alzner. Alzner, who was drafted by Washington with the 5th overall pick in 2007 and played nine seasons with the team, departed in free agency last summer, joining the Montreal Canadiens to the tune of five years and $23MM. While the contract was enticing for the stay-at-home defender, his desire to win was also one of the main reasons he left after repeated playoff collapses by the Caps. This makes the cruel irony of this season that much worse, as Washington seems poised to win its first ever Stanley Cup title while Alzner’s first year in Montreal was nothing short of a disaster by both individual and team performance standards. Unsurprisingly, when Alzner spoke on 960 The Fan in Calgary today he said he was “super jealous”. He goes on to say that he will be excited for his good friends on the team if they lift the Cup later in the series, but it’s hard to believe that Alzner won’t feel discouraged by the championship win as well. Unfortunately, a player who wanted so badly to win missed out by one season and chose to sign with a team that is quite far away from being a legitimate contender.
- There has been a lot made already about the new administration in Carolina and the changes coming to the Hurricanes, but it seems unlikely that the news will stop anytime soon. LeBrun confirmed that new GM Don Waddell has been taking a lot of calls on his players and that a major move could be imminent. LeBrun says that scoring winger Jeff Skinner is the most likely to move and that a trade could be made in the next week or so. The price on Skinner is currently a first-round pick and prospect, which LeBrun says has soured some teams, but without pressure to make a deal, Waddell can hold on his asking prices and let the suitors budge. The same goes for his efforts to deal a defenseman. The Hurricanes are bursting at the seems with talented defenders, but that doesn’t mean that they have to make a trade. Instead, Waddell seems more likely to wait until he gets blown away by an offer, likely for veteran leader Justin Faulk or promising RFA Noah Hanifin, before he pulls the trigger. LeBrun also speculates that Elias Lindholm, another restricted free agent, could become available later this summer if the two sides can’t work out a long-term extension.