Despite the presence of Alexander Ovechkin in their ranks, the Washington Capitals had problems on offense last season and they want to make other changes to revamp their first two lines.
The team missed the playoffs for the first time since the spring of 2014, and the summer was already heralding some upheaval. Moreover, Spencer Carbery will replace Peter Laviolette behind the bench, while among the players, the arrival of Max Pacioretty could prove to be a winning bet if the former Montreal Canadiens remains healthy.
However, observers expected more action in the US capital, especially as the names of Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha have been circulating in deal rumours. Both men are still in the fold of the organization, but general manager Brian MacLellan is leaving his phone wide open, keen to add some teeth to his top-six forward group.
“We had discussions during the entry draft; everything could lead to something concrete or maybe not. We will see where it will lead, “said the DG to The Athletic site.
The leader could thus compromise, he who admitted in June that Mantha was available. Then, Kuznetsov would have demanded a transfer and the scenario remains plausible. However, MacLellan will have to reduce its payroll: it exceeds the current limit by $700,000, according to the specialized site CapFriendly.
The “Caps” ranked 20th in the National League with 255 goals scored in 2022-23 and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with 80 points.
2023-08-08 19:38:37
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