Capitals Mailbag: Finding Another Oshie, Draft & Free Agent Targets, Knies' Possibility, Trade Talk, Prospect Updates

We’ve opened the Washington Capitals Mailbag here at DC Backcheck to answer some burning questions surrounding the team and its plans for the coming weeks.

Going into draft weekend, the Washington Capitals have some questions to answer and business to take care of.

Considering that, we’ve opened the Capitals Mailbag here at DC Backcheck to answer some burning questions surrounding the team and its plans for the coming weeks.

Editor’s Note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.

The Caps seem to be missing a TJ Oshie-esque player on the top-6, high skill with relentless puck pursuit skills and a little grit in his game. Are there any free agents or NHL-ready draft targets that fit that style? - @patr0ne

It’s a good question. The T.J. Oshie era unofficially ended last season, and I think Tom Wilson did a pretty solid job filling that role, and Ryan Leonard has quite a bit of Osh in him as he continues to develop.

However, another piece to help the team now could be beneficial, especially when it comes to filling out the top-6 and remaining a contender. Plus, general manager Chris Patrick mentioned wanting to add another skilled winger this summer.

When it comes to free agent options on the wing, some interesting UFA options include Brock Boeser and Andrei Kuzmenko. There’s also some RFA options out there that could potentially be offer sheet options, like Matthew Knies, though the Capitals don’t have the most flexibility there because they’re missing their own third-round pick.

Looking at this year’s draft, it’s a bit of a lighter class, and though there’s plenty of promising players, none that are NHL-ready, T.J. Oshie-caliber player at the moment. That’s especially true considering the Capitals’ first pick is at No. 27, and those players generally need more time rather than jumping into the Show right away.

That said, I do personally think that the trade route is the best way for D.C. to go when it comes to finding top-6 talent.

What are your thoughts on the Weagle being the new primary logo? - @RickCreech17

I’d love to see it. The Capitals have rocked the red and the same primary kit for years now, and I’ve heard rumblings here and there about potential jersey changes coming, but nothing substantial on that front. That said, the Weagle’s loved in the room and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes more prominent.

What is the biggest need for the Capitals this offseason? - @below_avgcaps

We talked about it above, but I think you need another top-6 winger who can add speed and grit and bring essentially what Oshie did when he was healthy. Yes, the third-line center role needs to be addressed, too, but if I’m the Capitals, I give Connor McMichael the opportunity to take on that role and drive play there full-time and then plug in another name to play with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson.

I’ll also say it again: we all saw how much Martin Fehervary’s absence weighed on the Capitals in the postseason. You need an older, more experienced seventh defenseman who can be ready to jump into NHL action at the drop of a hat without hesitation.

Who will the Capitals go for in the 2025 NHL Draft? - @WIvanals

The Capitals are going to select the best player available and not draft by position, though they’d benefit from another RHD in the system. That said, I like the looks of guys like Blake Fiddler and Joshua Ravensbergen, though I doubt Ravensbergen falls all the way to 27th.

At forward, Milton Gästrin, Cullen Potter, Will Horcoff and Bill Zonnon are also standouts that can provide quite a bit offensively.

Has Alex Ovechkin actually made a decision regarding next season and it’s just not officially announced yet? How will the Capitals honor him when he is finishing up? - @dmvsportsrox/SoBod58304

No. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I’ll say it again: Alex Ovechkin has not made any decision regarding his future following next season, and his wife’s interview was taken out of context.

He loves playing and will continue to play as long as he’s enjoying it. He still has things he wants to accomplish, too. But no, no one’s hiding anything; a marketing email was sent in error, and even if it was true, that’s definitely not how the Capitals would announce it.

When he is finishing up, I imagine Washington will hold some ceremonies and perhaps start some initiatives from within (helmet stickers, etc.). The second part of this question mentioned the possibility of painting his No. 8 on the ice where his office is, but I don’t think NHL regulations allow for that.

I also imagine he gets a ceremony and proper sendoff, and as the years go by, his number retired and a statue made in his honor.

Will Hendrix Lapierre make the Capitals next year? - @josephlandes

The front office wants to see more from Hendrix Lapierre, who started the year with the Capitals but found himself demoted after ongoing struggles to open the season. Management had an honest conversation wtih Lapierre about expectations and liked what it saw after he went down and produced at a point-per-game pace, and now, it’s a matter of applying that skill and consistency at the highest level.

Lapierre is a restricted free agent and is more than likely to sign a bridge deal to show what he can do. I could see him making the roster with an impressive camp; he’s a hard worker with a good attitude and a very coachable player, and if he shows that he’s put in the work, he’ll stick around.

Will Ryan Leonard earn a top-6 role this season? - @Germantownrunner

I think you start Ryan Leonard on the third line and go from there. He was thrown into a tough spot at the end of the season and expectations were high, and it wasn’t easy for him to transition from the NCAA to the NHL seemingly overnight.

He’s certainly a lock for a roster spot, and the team is happy with the experience he got, but you also need to build him up before throwing him to the wolves.

What other prospects could make the NHL jump? Which Hershey player from 2024-25 can make the biggest impact on the Capitals this coming season? -@KMackSports/JoeDeLololol

Going back to Lapierre, I can see him winning a spot, but also keep an eye on Ivan Miroshnichenko, who’s hungry for any NHL opportunity, Henrik Rybinski, who inked a one-year contract extension on Thursday following his career year in Hershey and Bogdan Trineyev, who I see slotting in on that fourth line.

I also think Andrew Cristall, who almost made the opening night roster last season, could make a case to stick around. For a dark horse, I’ll throw Ilya Protas’ name out there.

When it comes to which player makes the biggest impact, I’ll say Trineyev, and not from a production standpoint, but from all the different roles he’ll play as a utility guy, and from his physicality.

Any chance of signing Matthew Knies? -@JeremyWarner55

It’s a long shot and you don’t get it done via offer sheet, just because the Capitals can be outmatched and are limited in the AAV they can offer due to not owning their own third-round pick, as I mentioned above.

That said, if he ends up on the trade block amid negotiations, I could see the Capitals potentially pursuing him. He’s the kind of player that fits the bill of what they’re looking for; young, gritty and a scorer.

Something to think about, but not likely.

Do the Capitals trade one of their LHD for a top-6 forward given their depth in the system? -@Soren17Capitals

I don’t think the Capitals trade away any of their roster LHD for a top-6 forward. Cole Hutson is still developing and Washington’s thrilled with how Jakob Chychrun, Martin Fehervary and Rasmus Sandin have filled out a reliable left side. Beyond that, there’s Dylan McIlrath, and then prospects who still need more time before making the full-time NHL jump, Cole Hutson (a pending sophomore) included.

That said, I’d say no, unless a really lucrative offer comes along. Then perhaps that’s an area you could look at.