Capitals 2024 Free Agents, Draft Targets, Offseason Guide After NHL Playoff Loss
The Washington Capitals need to make the two years remaining on captain Alex Ovechkin's contract count after being eliminated from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a Game 4 loss to the New York Rangers.
That means a main focus for the Capitals after their elimination will be retooling this roster around Ovechkin to keep it as competitive as possible.
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis has promised the Capitals won't rebuild as long as Ovechkin is playing in D.C. And after Washington's surprise playoff run this spring, the franchise has reason to hope they could build a competitive team for the 2025 playoffs.
Let's take a look at what that means for the Capitals as they head into the 2024 NHL Draft and free agency.
Free Agents
Unrestricted free agents: Max Pacioretty, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel
Restricted free agents: Connor McMichael, Beck Malenstyn, Mitchell Gibson
The biggest free agency question the Capitals are going to face this season involves Max Pacioretty.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said when the Capitals signed Pacioretty last offseason that the team hoped they were adding a "consistent goal scorer." The former Canadien and Golden Knight had recorded at least 15 goals in each of 12 straight seasons between 2011 and 2022.
That consistency flagged in 2023-24. In his return from the multiple Achilles tears that sidelined him for most of the season prior, Pacioretty was held to four goals and 19 assists in 47 appearances with the Capitals.
His production still increased at the tail end of the season when the Capitals needed it most in their late playoff push.
Add to that the report from the Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli that Pacioretty used his no-trade clause to turn down deals to "multiple playoff-bound teams" in order to stay in Washington at the trade deadline, and it seems there's a possibility Pacioretty would agree to another deal in order to rejoin the Capitals in 2024-25.
The Capitals also have a decision to make regarding depth winger Connor McMichael. The pending RFA recorded a career-high 18 goals and averaged more than 15 minutes per night during his breakout NHL season.
2024 Draft Targets
The Capitals' recent stockpiling of draft picks is about to pay off.
Washington holds 25 picks in the next three drafts, including eight in 2024.
2024 NHL Draft Picks
Round 1: One pick
Round 2: One pick
Round 3: Three picks
Round 4: One pick
Round 5: One pick
Round 6: One pick
The Capitals traded their 2024 seventh-round pick as part of a 2023 deal for Joel Edmundson. (The team later received a 2024 third-rounder and 2024 fifth-rounder for trading him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March.)
With eight draft picks to maneuver, the Capitals have the chance to address a few areas of need within the team's prospect pool.
After picking the best player available in the first round, one position the Capitals should address is goaltending. Teams may usually wait until later rounds to select netminders, but Washington's trio of third-round picks gives the Capitals the flexibility to draft the best available goaltending prospect earlier in the draft.
Free Agent Targets
The Capitals could be looking to add goaltending this summer.
Darcy Kuemper recorded a .890 save percentage and 3.31 goals-against average in 33 appearances as second-string netminder this season, and the Capitals showed a lack of trust in him by turning to Charlie Lindgren down the stretch even on Kuemper's own bobblehead night.
Those signs seemed to indicate the Capitals could be looking for a new backup in net.
Washington could now take a stab at signing any of the myriad of experienced backup goaltenders entering free agency this offseason.
A few options include Alex Nedeljkovic, who became the Pittsburgh Penguins' starter down the stretch late in the regular season, or Kaapo Kähkönen, who had some strong starts after he was acquired by the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline. Both players are experienced backups who could slot in behind Lindgren.
The Capitals could also make a bid for the Florida Panthers' Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz may come with a bigger price tag after a breakout 2023-24 season in which he led the NHL with a .925 save percentage and 2.03 goals-against average through 27 appearances.
The market for bonafide starters might be thin this offseason, but the Capitals should have no trouble acquiring an experienced partner for Lindgren in free agency.