The Washington Capitals offseason got off to quite the start when they acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois and answered their Darcy Kuemper question, but there are still questions surrounding the team and work to do.
Washington surprised by just sneaking back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, but the Capitals are still very much a team in transition.
That said, here are four decisions that the team has to make this summer.
Handling The Influx At Center
With Dubois now in the mix, D.C. has five NHL-ready centers in the system. Including him, there's also Dylan Strome, RFA Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre and Nic Dowd.
Washington will surely have to address the influx as it evaluates what it wants to do up front. The team could look to move McMichael or Lapierre to the wing, but the team could also consider a trade that moves one of their centermen in exchange for another winger.
Dowd's name was on the trade market going into the deadline, but the Capitals elected to hold onto him. The veteran is a key piece of the puzzle in the District, but his impressive two-way player and demeanor make him a coveted player that could warrant a decent return.
At the end of the day, there are multiple routes to take, but the team will have to figure something out with too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to pivot.
Related: Yes, Pierre-Luc Dubois Has A Reputation And Comes With Risk. But That Gamble May Just Be Worth It — And More — For The Capitals
What's Next For T.J. Oshie?
The ball is in T.J. Oshie's court here, as Washington is giving the 37-year-old all the time he needs to make a decision on whether or not to continue his NHL career.
Oshie is a vital part of the Capitals locker room and the glue that holds the team together while continuing to produce, log important minutes and bring energy to the lineup. Washington is a different team when Oshie is in the lineup, and losing him would hurt.
However, he just hasn't been able to stay healthy, as his chronic back issues have worsened and reached the point where he's "literally on the floor, peeing in water bottles."
Oshie is entering the final year of his contract, and the Capitals could see him go on long-term injured reserve (as is the case with Nicklas Backstrom, who has stepped away from the game indefinitely due to his hip) and still get his salary before hanging up the skates. Or, he could give it another go.
General manager Brian MacLellan made it clear that Oshie's the one who will make the call. When he is healthy, he, without a doubt, makes his team better, but his health should come first.
Beck Malenstyn & Connor McMichael's Extensions
Washington has a handful of free agents to take care of, but Beck Malenstyn and Connor McMichael are the only NHL-rostered restricted free agents to deal with. And both will be looking for raises.
Malenstyn is coming off an impressive rookie (technically sophomore) season, where he led all forwards in defensive zone starts and boasted tremendous numbers as a utility forward and top penalty-killer through 81 games while picking up 21 points.
The 26-year-old is eligible for arbitration and has been in preliminary talks with the team about an extension, though he has expressed he is happy in D.C. and would like to stay in the District.
Related: Capitals Draft Targets: Stian Solberg A Strong Defensive Option At 17
McMichael, meanwhile, took a big step forward with 18 goals and 15 assists for 33 points in 80 games, while taking on top-6 minutes and showcasing his sped and scoring ability. However, he needs to continue to show that he can be a consistent force on a nightly basis, as he went through multiple ups and downs with regard to his production.
He is not arbitration-eligible and has expressed his happiness with the organization, and the team has been in talks with him about signing another deal. However, given his ceiling and age, the 22-year-old is more than likely to ink a bridge deal.
Max Pacioretty, Nicolas Aube-Kubel & Pending UFAs
In addition to a handful of RFAs, the Capitals also have to take care of quite a few UFAs and decide on their future.
Max Pacioretty doesn't know what the future holds for him, as the 35-year-old was not the same player he once was after making his return from back-to-back Achilles tears. While he showed that he still has his classic shot and put up 23 points in 47 games, he wasn't putting up the performance he usually did and he acknowledged his disappointment with how things went on exit day.
Pacioretty, without a doubt, has upside and means a lot to the group as a leader and depth-scoring winger, but D.C. has a number of young players waiting in the wings, and Pacioretty seems likely to want to explore a change of scenery.
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Meanwhile, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, a waiver pickup from 2022, went from being cut in training camp to finishing the year as a fringe forward. He showed great chemistry for a stretch with Nic Dowd and Malenstyn on the fourth line but didn't show the consistency needed to keep his lineup spot.
Beyond those two, the team also has a handful of fringe players in the system that are set to become UFAs, including longtime defenseman Lucas Johansen, Joe Snively and Chase Priskie. All three of those players were instrumental in helping Hershey to a second.
NHL Free Agency starts on July 1 at 12 p.m. ET.
More Help Up Front
Dubois does bring "immense potential," as general manager Brian MacLellan called it, but it'll take more than one piece to solve the Capitals' woes on offense.
Washington needs more answers with Alex Ovechkin entering the twilight of his career, Oshie's future in flux and Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov no longer part of the core.
There will be quite a few names on the market this summer, including Jake Guentzel and Sam Reinhart. Could MacLellan look to make another reasonable splash, especially if there is more flexibility to work with?
We'll have to wait and see.
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