Capitals Mailbag Pt. 2: Ovechkin & Carlson's Roles Going Forward, Where Miroshnichenko Stands & The Bottom Line On Kuznetsov

We answer more of your burning Washington Capitals questions in Part 2 of our offseason mailbag.

In Part 1 of our Washington Capitals mailbag, we took a look at offseason needs and priorities, while also touching on big-name free agents and other topics. In Part 2, we shift more to the focus of the current group.

From Alex Ovechkin’s and John Carlson’s roles to Ivan Miroshnichenko’s place on the depth chart, we answer more of your burning Capitals questions.

Questions have been edited for length and clarity.

What will Alex Ovechkin’s role be at age 40? - @samb999

Ovechkin is well aware of where he’s at in his career, and going into next season, he and Spencer Carbery will likely talk about what that means for his role.

Now that the GR8 Chase is over, Ovechkin can play with less pressure, and therefore, could see his minutes start to drop as maybe he takes on a middle-6 role in the final year of his contract.

That said, he can do what he does best: score goals, and that may mean more utilization anyway. But I’d expect him to start to take on a different role regardless with the team transitioning to a younger group and preparing for life without the captain.

Will Ovechkin sign an extension? - @sports_god1

Right now, there haven’t been any concrete talks of an extension for Ovechkin, though he boasted at his 895 ceremony he could sign another contract. Management also isn’t ruling out the possibility that this won’t be Ovechkin’s final year; the captain loves to play, the team admires him and he can still score goals.

We’ll wait and see how the season plays out and where he’s at health wise, but as long as he loves it, he’ll play. Does that mean he remains in the District or goes back to the KHL after this coming season? We’ll see, but he intends to play next year.

Will Ivan Miroshnichenko make the roster next season? - @LarrySmithTW723, @zeemdead

It wasn’t the easiest playoffs for Ivan Miroshnichenko, who had just three goals and struggled at times, but he had a great season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, especially for a guy playing just his second North American season.

In 53 games, Miroshnichenko picked up 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points and showcased his speed, vision and quick shot. He also earned 18 games up at the NHL level, racking up four points.

Anything can happen in training camp, and the Capitals are looking to some of their prospects to make the jump. For Miroshnichenko, this offseason will be about getting stronger and continuing to clean up some of the weaker areas of his game, but if he comes into fall ready to go and with more jump in his step and consistency at the highest level, there’s no reason he can’t compete for a role.

Do prospects mind being overcooked in the Capitals organization? Does Hershey’s history mitigate it? - @cpsfn93

Everyone wants to play in the NHL. It’s no secret that it can be disappointing not to crack the opening night roster or to end up demoted to the AHL. That said, the next best thing is Hershey.

Several players, including NHL regular Ethan Bear, who got sent back to the minors this season, said that Hershey is run a lot like the big club. It’s taken seriously, has a tremendous fan base and the team treats the players extremely well. Not only that, it has a winning culture and a great coach in Todd Nelson, and the locker room’s tight-knit, so players love playing there.

Still, while players may not like being overcooked, it’s better than the alternative of being rushed into the league and overpressured with unrealistic expectations. So ultimately, it’s not that bad, though every player’s dream is to play NHL minutes.

Is Anthony Beauvillier Staying? Where Will He Slot In? - @DKFlyingtiger, @argcomms

I think Beauvillier has earned himself a contract extension. He’s a reliable Swiss Army knife forward who can play with pretty much anyone and brings speed and good offensive instinct.

He had good chemistry with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, but with Ovechkin’s role changing, perhaps he could work on a lower line with a different center.

But yes, I see him sticking around.

Any possibility that Evgeny Kuznetsov returns for the Capitals? - @GeoffCRixon

No. And sorry to be blunt.

Things with Kuznetsov didn’t exactly end well, and Washington wants to get younger and start to inject more prospects into the mix while exploring new options and looking toward the future.

Kuznetsov, 33, is older now, and he hasn’t been able to find the necessary consistency in his game. While he had fine production and good moments with SKA St. Petersburg, he dealt with injury, and ultimately, the two sides agreed to mutually terminate his contract after just one season.

I don’t think the Capitals go down that route again. The attention now is on the future.

Who will be the breakout player for the Capitals next season? - @Dezlboy

On the roster, if Anthony Beauvillier re-signs (as mentioned above I think he will), I definitely see him breaking out and making waves, but besides that, I think Ryan Leonard will hit his stride. The playoffs were a great “welcome to the NHL” experience for him, and with a full summer of training, it’ll be fun to see what he can do, what he learned and how he adapts with more gmaes under his belt.

Coming up from Hershey, I expect Bogdan Trineyev to make the jump and make waves in a fourth-line role.

Why did the Capitals look bad against the Hurricanes if they’re not succeeding against Florida? - @SfhOtaku

I was asked this on the radio today, too, and it’s a tough question. One that you have every right to ask as a fan.

But ultimately, it just comes down to matchups, and the playoffs are a different beast. D.C. just didn’t do well against Carolina in the second round, and the regular season split between both clubs was iffy.

All the while, Washington ran out of gas down the final stretch of the season, and though it got past Montreal, it just didn’t look like the same team. There’s no guessing how things would’ve gone down against the Florida Panthers, who D.C. swept in the regular season, but again, playoffs are a whole different thing.

I attribute it to the Capitals just being out of gas.

Will John Carlson be back? - @carterstan3

Yes, John Carlson will play next season. The team hasn’t had imminent discussions regarding an extension for the 35-year-old and will wait and see where things stand before putting pen to paper while transitioning to a younger group and focusing on the future.

Carlson’s season and rough playoffs weren’t what you’d hope to see, but he’s played a pivotal role for D.C., is a fundamental piece of the core and does a lot of little things that don’t always get noticed.

When will Nicklas Backstrom’s jersey be retired? - @CapsDogs

He hasn’t hung ‘em up yet! I imagine when he calls it a career — a full career (he’s reportedly signing with Brynäs IF next season in the SHL) — the Capitals will get his jersey into the rafters as soon as possible.

What are top three characteristics an NHL captain should have? - @SterlingStrange

As a captain myself (by no means comparable with any NHL captain), you learn about a lot of important qualities, but the three that stick out that you need to have as a leader at the highest level in hockey: integrity, determination and optimism.

Above all, you need to care. Not just about your game, but about your teammates, your culture and what’s going on around you.

Why hasn’t Ross Mahoney been picked up by another team? - @prau_cfa

Ross Mahoney is a wonderful assistant general manager and has been with the Capitals for a long time. I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams reached out to him, but as far as I’m concerned, he enjoys his time with Washington and hasn’t wanted to leave.