A busy, busy day in Arlington. The Capitals traded goalie Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche for two high draft picks. They signed former team captain Jeff Halpern, who experienced a resurgence in Montreal last season. They also inked defenseman Roman Hamrlik and veteran forward Joel Ward.
What does it all mean? Well, Washington still has to re-sign two restricted free agents – defenseman Karl Alzner and forward Troy Brouwer, who was acquired in a trade with Chicago. And there isn’t a ton of salary-cap room left. Given that general manager George McPhee has just spoken with the media at Kettler Iceplex, though, I wouldn’t expect any blockbuster trade today. Even if injured defenseman Tom Poti (groin) isn’t able to go this season – McPhee has said repeatedly his career is in jeopardy – maybe his $2.875 million salary on long-term injured reserve leaves enough room to get Alzner and Brouwer done. Combined with the room currently left under the $64.3 million cap ($2,044,872, according to CapGeek.com), that would leave a shade under $5 million to sign both players. Then again – those choices don’t have to happen until just before the regular season begins. So McPhee can always sign both and move a player or two later.
But let’s focus on today’s moves for now. Varlamov was one of three top goalie prospects in the organization, including Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby. But while Varlamov has performed the best on the ice – he ranked among the league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage last year – he doesn’t actually stay on the ice. Injuries have repeatedly thwarted Washington’s efforts to see the 23-year-old Russian in goal for an extended period. So it looks like its Neuvirth and Holtby in net based on what McPhee said to reporters in Arlington this afternoon. Don’t see the cash there for even a respectable veteran back-up goalie anyway right now plus Alzner/Brouwer. The Caps are getting a ton of praise, though, for acquiring Colorado’s first-round draft pick in what is allegedly a strong draft class in 2012. Still early to say that for sure. But scouts like what they see in next year’s crop. Washington also acquired a 2012 or 2013 second-round pick. Considering the Avalanche were one of the sport’s worst teams a year ago they are rolling the dice they didn’t just hand the Caps a Top 10 pick.
Now, the other moves. McPhee seemed intent on revamping his bottom six forwards. Halpern is a Potomac, Md. native and played with some of these same players (Alex Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Alex Semin, Mike Green, Jeff Schultz). But the team had no interest in matching Halpern’s deal with the Dallas Stars after the 2005-06 season and he walked. An ACL tear at the World Championships in 2009 put a damper on Halpern’s 2009-10 season as he split time with Tampa Bay and Los Angeles. But he produced 26 points for the Canadiens last season and has long been a solid two-way player.
Washington added some more age with Ward, 30, and Hamrlik, 37. Ward gets a four-year deal worth $3 million and Hamrlik a two-year contract at $3.5 million. He provides a veteran presence. Only Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom has played more games among active defensemen. Also last produced fewer than 26 points in a full NHL season – or close to a full season – in 1994-95. Washington will be his sixth NHL team. Provides some needed insurance for Poti, who is a huge question mark heading into next season.
Ward, meanwhile, adds more grit to the bottom six. He managed 10 goals and 19 assists last season. Also has nine goals and eight assists in his last 18 Stanley Cup playoff games the past two seasons. The Caps signed Ward away from the Nashville Predators at a higher-than-expected price. But he was the type of player who in this weaker free-agent class was going to draw a decent amount of attention. As many as 16 teams expressed interest, according to McPhee.
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