Capitals forward Michael Nylander said on Sunday that his agent is not negotiating a new contract with clubs in Europe. Caps general manager George McPhee made that claim at the team’s Media Day on Saturday, which marked the start of training camp. But Nylander, a 36-year-old center, insists he is here to play hockey. And that, really, is the crux of the matter. Nylander played in 72 games last year at center for the Caps, but appeared in just two playoff games before becoming a consistent healthy scratch. His salary-cap hit is $4.875 million this year and next year. And that money is a burden to a team that will be close to the NHL’s salary-cap ceiling – especially if Nylander doesn’t play regularly or doesn’t produce. McPhee has said it is too expensive to buy out the remaining two years of Nylander’s deal. But it will also be hard to trade him to another NHL team because of his salary and a no-movement clause he holds for this year. So what happens if he has to start the season in Washington, but without any guarantee about ice time? Nylander addressed that and other questions during a brief chat with reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington on Sunday afternoon. Though – to be honest – he didn’t clear up a whole lot about his situation.
Yesterday both [general manager] George McPhee and [head coach] Bruce [Boudreau] said you’re seeking a deal elsewhere in Europe…
“I come here to play in the NHL and [am] looking forward to the season. I feel good. I’m in good shape and I’m just looking forward to the season.”
So you are not currently exploring deals with European teams
“No. I mean, I’m coming here with the intention to play for the Capitals. I have two years left on my deal.”
Several Swedish-language newspapers this summer reported on-the-record quotes from you saying that Boudreau told you you weren’t good enough to play last spring during the team’s playoff run…
“Well, I think they misunderstood what I said. I said by me not playing that showed that I wasn’t good enough to make the team. But then the media can also interpret different things. I said to them by me not playing showed me I’m not good enough. So that’s how I told it to them. But then they chose the wording that Bruce said it. But I said by them not playing me it showed I was not good enough. By me not playing. If you’re good enough you should play. If you’re not good enough you’re not playing. So it’s that simple. I just said the team showed me that I was not good enough at the time to play.”
What do you need to do to prove you are good enough…
“I’m just going to done what I’ve done for the last 15 years in this league and sooner or later going to convince somebody – what can you do? I’ll work on my game and come in here with a good attitude and look forward and stay positive. As I said, I’m 10 pounds heavier than I normal is and worked really hard this summer and feel great.”
Why would they have said that yesterday
“You have to ask them.”
What if the Caps come to you tomorrow and say they have a deal with a European team…
“As I said, I still have a contract. I’m coming in here with an attitude and looking forward for the season to start.”
What if the situation doesn’t change and you find yourself a healthy scratch next month…
“If that occur[s] in the future I can not control that anyway. So that’s the future. We’ll see what it will tell. But as of now I’m looking forward for the season to start. I feel great. And fun. What happened in the past is in the past. If it’s good or if it’s bad. You just have to go forward.”
If they come to you tomorrow and say they have a deal to send you some place in Europe what will you say…
“I’m not ready for that. It’s not something that I say. Again, I’m saying I have a two-year deal here and I’m looking forward for the season to start.”
Do you feel they’re pressuring you to leave…
“There’s nothing nobody can do. As I said, I have two years left on this contract. And I’m looking forward for the season to start and that’s it. ”
Is your family still in Sweden…
“They’re staying back for the moment. I have some housing issues I have to resolve first and then they’ll probably come in the future.”
For now, Nylander appears to be calling the team’s bluff. He’s going to make his money in the NHL. If the Caps can’t find a team where Nylander can get regular playing time – in an NHL city where he wants to go – then he’ll sit on their bench and cash his paycheck. It’s clear he’d prefer to leave. It’s clear the team would like him gone. Bruced Boudreau has been tactful in his public comments about Nylander. But he also hasn’t exactly welcomed him with open arms or said he will get every opportunity to crack the lineup when the season starts on Oct. 1. So it’s also very clear that the exit strategy for both sides is limited. This is a situation that will linger as long as Nylander is on the roster. So far, it isn’t a huge distraction. But the closer we get to the season the bigger an issue it becomes. Stay tuned…
