Offseason Moves: What Should the Caps Do?

 Sorry to the fans that think Bruce Boudreau should be fired, but it looks like Boudreau is going to stay.  Owner Ted Leonsis, said on 106.7 the fan, last week, that it's up to GM George McPhee on if Boudreau stays or goes.  McPhee said that he wants Boudreau to stay.  So with that being said that means moves must be made player personal wise, after another playoffs disappointment.  Let's start off with the current team and whose contracts are expiring.  (Plus/minus added for defenseman in stats).

Jason Arnott: UFA (unrestricted free agent) $4.5 million last year.
2010-2011 stats: 17 Goals, 14 Assists, 21 Points,
4 Goals, 3 Assists, 7 points in 11 games with Capitals

Brooks Laich: UFA $2.6 million last year.
2010-2011 stats:  16 Goals, 32 Assists, 48 Points

Matt Bradley: UFA $1 million last year.
2010-2011 stats: 4 Goals, 7 Assists, 11 Points

Boyd Gordon: UFA $800,000 last year.
2010-2011 stats: 3 Goals, 6 Assists, 9 Points

Scott Hannan: UFA $4.5 million last year.
2010-2011 stats: 1 Goal, 10 Assists, 11 Points, +4.
1 Goal, 4 Assists, 5 Points, +3 in 55 games with Capitals

Marco Sturm: UFA $3.5 million last year.
2010-2011 stats: 5 Goals, 11 Assists, 16 Points.
1 Goal, 6 Assists, 7 Points in 18 games with Capitals

Sean Collins: UFA $650,000 last year
2010-2011 stats: 1 goal, 1 Point, +2

Karl Alzner: RFA (restricted free agent) $1.67 million.
2010-2011 stats: 2 Goals, 10 Assists, 12 Points +14

Semyon Varlamov: RFA $821,667
2010 -2011 stats: 11-9-5, 2.23 GAA, .924 save percentage in 25 game started.

The Musts:  In this year's free agent class, I only see two must resigns this year.  Karl Alzner and Brooks Laich.  Alzner is a key component to future of this defense as he and John Carlson look to be a force of a defensive paring to be reckoned with for years to come.  This was the first year that Alzner and Carlson were paired together, in the NHL, and did a damn good job to.  Alzner's +14 rating speaks for itself, but in mid season it was this pairing that was going against the other teams top lines across the league. 

To me, Brooks Laich is not a must resign because of stats, but because of the other things he does.  Laich is the one that is always hustling, digging pucks out of corners, making the extra pass to score a goal etc.  If I ever played organized hockey, I would want to model my game after Liach because of those attributes stated above.  A player like Laich could inspire someone like Semin to not slack off during games.  Laich may not get all the goals, but he's the person that will make the plays to have a goal scored and that's way he needs to remain in DC.

The don't have to resign, but would be nice to keep: Jason Arnott, Scott Hannan, and Marco Sturm all fall into this category.  The main reason, why these 3, are in this category, is because of how much they were being paid this year.  If the Caps do resign both Brooks Liach and Karl Alzner, George McPhee will have about $4.7 million in cap room to work with.  Which means the Caps can only afford to resign one out of the three players in this category.  Out of the three I would say Arnott would be the one to resign, but he'll be the most expensive one to resign.  Arnott brought the veteran leadership to the Caps that this team lacked.  He is also a great two way player, which bodes well for the defensive system the Caps want to play. 

Sturm is hurt to much and Matthew Perreault can easily take his place, Scott Hannan was a great addition to the team this year, but like Sturm he will be to much to keep and young defenseman Dmitry Orlov looks to be ready to move up from Hershey. 

Let them go: Semyon Varlamov, Sean Collins, Matt Bradley and Boyd Gordon.  Varly has been injured way to much to resign him for a good amount of money and has also been rumored of going across the pond to play in the KHL.  If Varly is willing to sign for about $1.5 million or less then resign him, if he wants more let him go to the KHL.  I'm pretty sure Michael Neuvrith and Braden Holtby can fill in for Valry's place pretty well. 

For Matt Bradley, Boyd Gordon and Sean Collins, I just see them as role players, role players are easy to find for cheap on the free agent market or can be brought up from Hershey.  If the Caps do resign who I think they should there will most likely not be any cap space for these players, unless some trades are made.

Trades: Trades are a must this offseason and can't wait until next year's trade deadline to make at least one big move.  Alex Semin, Mike Green and Dennis Wideman should all be considered as players that are tradeable.  As before I have been critical of Alex Semin's effort and with just cause, his lack of effort and poor attitude is something that you don't want on a team that is still trying to win the Cup.  Semin may not be the player that gets traded in the offseason, but more likely at the trade deadline.  The reason being, Semin is making $6.7 million this year that would seem a pretty hard sell to any team in July, but in February, a team that is in 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th place may feel that they need an offensive power like Semin to make the playoffs and will call the Caps to get him.

I put Mike Green and Dennis Wideman up there because they are basically the same players, offensive defenseman.  Which makes perfect sense to have two offensive defenseman on a team that wants to play a defensive system.  NOT.  I understand why McPhee did get Wideman, to replace Green while Green was hurt, but now with Green healthy the Caps are stuck with this problem of having two offensive defenseman.  This is were a trade should be made this summer trade either Green or Wideman to one clear up some cap room and two possibly get a defenseman that plays defense.