With Draft Capital & Cap Flexibility, Capitals Have Potential To Take Advantage Of Interesting Offseason

The Washington Capitals have some decisions to make and questions to answer this offseason, and they also have a number of draft picks that should prove beneficial as well.

Washington owns its first-round pick and chooses at No. 17, and also picked up a second-rounder from the Vegas Golden Knights while securing three third-round selections this year.

In 2025, D.C. owns three second-round picks and two pairs of third-round and fifth-round selections.

Going into what's sure to be a busy summer, general manager Brian MacLellan said that the team's draft capital and projected cap space should prove beneficial as the Capitals look to bolster the lineup.

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"We have more flexibility going forward here," MacLellan said of the team's offseason plans. "We'll see what the market is. Salary cap will go up a bit, so it'll give teams a little more room. We've acquired some draft capital. I would anticipate we're going to have some room to use that, so we'll see what it brings."

Nicklas Backstrom is also expected to remain on long-term injured reserve, and T.J. Oshie could end up in a similar situation, opening even more space to work with for the organization.

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Looking at the offseason to-do list, Washington needs to address multiple areas, but the biggest is adding another X-Factor on offense that can bring scoring and speed to the lineup. The Capitals are also focused on transitioning and getting younger, so adding a young top-6 scorer would be ideal.

MacLellan plans to explore the trade market and free agency to find offense, and draft picks can provide the team with another tool to use in a potential trade for a bigger name.

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There will be several interesting names available in this year's draft and considerable talent left at No. 17, when Washington is on the clock, including Dynamo winger Igor Chernyshov and USHL center Michael Hage.

It'll be up to MacLellan whether or not he wants to hold on to the 17th selection and continue to add promise through the pipeline, or if he would rather make a move for more immediate help.

Ultimately, though, there's plenty of flexibility given the capital that the team acquired over the course of the last couple of seasons.

The 2024 NHL Draft is on June 28, and free agency opens on July 1.