The Washington Capitals went into last week’s NHL draft intending to make a trade. The team wanted to land a forward — preferably in the 25-to-30 age range — who would upgrade its top six. Washington surveyed the market and pursued “a number of things,” general manager Brian MacLellan said.
“But unfortunately it didn’t come through for us,” the executive said.
Unable to agree on a deal, the Capitals pivoted once free agency started. And instead of getting younger, Washington signed veteran Max Pacioretty, a 34-year-old who is a six-time 30-goal scorer in the NHL but is coming off a serious Achilles injury that caused him to miss all but five games last season.
Despite Pacioretty’s decorated resume, the injury led to the winger signing a one-year, $2 million deal that contains another $2 million in incentives. Pacioretty, who spent last year with the Carolina Hurricanes, also told reporters that he won’t be ready in time for the start of the season, adding his return “shouldn’t be too long after that.”
In any case, the Capitals’ swing on Pacioretty is a gamble for a team that missed the playoffs last season for the first time in nine years. If the signing pays off, and the veteran can still score at an elite level, Washington will have added a dependable second-line winger to the mix at a relatively low cost. But if Pacioretty can’t stay healthy, or he doesn’t return to form, Washington will have essentially wasted a roster spot at a time when the franchise is desperate to take advantage of Alex Ovechkin’s final few years.
The Capitals were already hit hard by injuries last season. They can’t afford a repeat.
“I just thought Washington was a great opportunity for me to come back and show the group that I’m still the player that I once was,” said Pacioretty, who ruptured his Achilles last August and then got hurt again in January. “I’m capable of coming back and scoring goals.”
“We’ve got to find a way to score more goals,” MacLellan said. “And that’s what he does.”
Elsewhere, the Capitals were able to finalize a trade — for a defenseman. Washington acquired Joel Edmundson from Montreal, which agreed to retain half of the 30-year-old’s $3.5 million cap hit. Edmundson gives Washington — which sent Montreal third-round and seventh-round picks in next year’s draft — a left-handed blue liner who can help kill penalties, but he also was hampered last season as he missed 21 games because of a back ailment.
By adding Pacioretty and Edmundson, the Capitals cut now only have a projected $3.5 million in cap space with five roster spots left to fill. One of those spots, MacLellan said, will be reserved for defenseman Martin Fehervary, a restricted free agent who is negotiating a new deal with the Capitals.
Washington is also anticipating that Connor McMichael, Beck Malenstyn, and Aliaksei Protas — three prospects who shined with the Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears — will make next year’s roster and provide youth to the lineup.
But for now, the Capitals’ roster remains one of the oldest in the NHL. MacLellan said after the season that the team’s goal was to get younger.
That hasn’t happened — yet.
“We’ll continue to look for opportunities,” MacLellan said. “If that age group of players is available in a trade, we’ll pursue it. … We’re going to stay involved through the summer and in training camp. We’ll see what happens.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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