Capitals’ pending free agents: Where expiring contracts may create openings

Caps’ pending FAs: Where expiring contracts may create openings originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

There are still a couple more weeks left to go in the Stanley Cup playoffs until this year’s champion is crowned. For the Capitals, however, the offseason is well underway. Washington has already gotten out ahead of several key decisions including parting ways with head coach Peter Laviolette and re-signing defenseman Alex Alexeyev to a two-year deal.

Still, there remain many roster decisions for GM Brian MacLellan and his front office to make before this summer begins. The new league year kicks off July 1 and the Capitals have five players on expiring contracts who will be unrestricted free agents: forwards Conor Sheary, Craig Smith, Connor Brown and Carl Hagelin as well as defenseman Matt Irwin. Defenseman Martin Fehervary will be a restricted free agent as well, pending a qualifying offer.

MacLellan has publicly expressed his interest in retaining Fehervary, stating at this year’s trade deadline that he and fellow 23-year-old defenseman Rasmus Sandin were players the Capitals “can build around.” After Washington avoided any business with the qualifying offer for Alexeyev by negotiating a new deal in early May, Fehervary is a candidate to be next.

As for the rest of their pending free agents, it’s unclear whether any of them will be back in D.C. next season. Speaking at his end-of-season press conference in April, MacLellan left open the possibility of retaining Brown after he was limited to just four games before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in October. The Capitals had hoped he would be among their top scorers after acquiring him from the Ottawa Senators for a second-round pick last offseason.

Departures by Sheary, who appeared in all 82 games for the Capitals in 2022-23, and trade deadline acquisition Smith would subtract a left- and right-shot winger, respectively, from the Capitals’ depth chart. Re-signing Brown, a right wing, would fill one of those spots while leaving the other open to be filled by either a prospect or offseason acquisition.

The Capitals currently employ 10 forwards on one-way deals. Aliaksei Protas, who is putting up a strong showing in the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Hershey Bears right now, will be a factor as well after playing 58 games for the Capitals this season. He’s still waiver-exempt along with recent first-round picks Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre. All three shoot from the left.

Of course, the Capitals could also shake everything up by swinging an offseason trade. But as things currently stand, they have two positions on the wing to replace. Hagelin may leave the organization this summer, too, as he continues to work his way back from hip resurfacing surgery, though his absence is something the Capitals have weathered for over a year.

On the blue line, Irwin may end up being the lone Capitals defenseman who doesn’t return next season. Washington signed Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk to multi-year extensions during the season and Sandin is under contract through one more year before he’s eligible for restricted free agency. John Carlson will be back fully healthy as well.

Irwin played 61 games for the Capitals last season, his most in any single campaign since appearing in 74 for the Nashville Predators in 2016-17. That was more a product of necessity than design after Washington dealt with a bevy of injuries throughout the year. In 2021-22, he was most often a healthy scratch capable of filling in anywhere on the blue line when he was needed for a game or two.

Should Irwin indeed move on, the Capitals will have at least one open defenseman spot to fill. They did sign Swedish defenseman Hardy Häman Aktell to a one-year, two-way contract in April after the 24-year-old impressed in the Swedish Hockey League. He will enter camp competing with players such as Gabriel Carlsson and Vincent Iorio for positioning on the organizational depth chart.

Whether there’s another NHL veteran ahead of them remains to be seen. The Capitals still have several decisions to make in determining the futures of their pending free agents. Just how many roster spots they leave open could play a significant role in shaping the rest of their offseason moves.