On the Washington Capitals …
Aivis Kalnins: SKA traded for the rights to Evgeny Kuznetsov for 150 million rubles from Traktor.
Isabelle Khurshudyan: Though Kuznetsov’s right were traded, it doesn’t really mean much other than if he were to sign in the KHL.
Isabelle Khurshudyan: Kuznetsov has apparently received a three-year offer at $6 million per season.
NHL.com: The Capitals could lose Nate Schmidt or Philipp Grubauer in the expansion draft. If Grubauer is selected, Pheonix Copley would be their internal backup replacement.
Assistant GM Ross Mahoney said that Ilya Samsonov will spend at least one more season in Russia before coming over to North America.
“I think definitely has the upside here to be able to take a shot at filling that role if Philipp does leave and moves on,” Mahoney said. “We think we’ve got some quality goalies coming through the system right now, but we have to see what happens here with the expansion draft.”
Tarik El-Bashir: If the Capitals aren’t able to make any deals with Vegas, Mahoney said: “It’s up to us as a scouting staff…to be able to come up and find some players in the mid to late rounds.”
J.J. Regan of CSN Mid Atlantic: Losing Schmidt would be a bigger loss to the Capitals than Grubauer as they don’t have top top-four defenseman to replace him. GM Brian MacLellan could make a deal with Vegas to not touch Schmidt.
Vegas GM George McPhee could also try to sign free agents Kevin Shattenkirk or T.J. Oshie (or Karl Alzner), which would count as the Capitals selection. The Capitals are short on draft picks and prospects that they could offer up to Vegas.
J.J. Regan of CSN Mid Atlantic: The salary cap is increasing to $75 million next season, but it may not be enough for the Capitals to retain T.J. Oshie.
The slight increase is good for their restricted free agents like Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky and Dmitry Orlov, but with Oshie being one of the top unrestricted free agents available, and possibly looking for $6 to $7 million, there may not be enough.
If the NHLPA went with the full escalator and put the cap at $77 million, there would have been a more realistic chance of re-signing him.