Should Another Defenseman Be On Capitals' Radar This Offseason?

The Capitals have some key questions to answer this summer.

The Washington Capitals have a handful of items on their to-do list, mainly when it comes to improving the forward lines. However, the blue line could be an area the team looks to add, as well.

Washington already has its defensive pairings set and shored up the top-4 with Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy last summer, but Martin Fehervary’s absence in the Stanley Cup Playoffs showed just how important depth is.

With Fehervary out, the team deployed Alex Alexeyev, who played in just eight games over the course of the regular season and did what he could to keep up, but ultimately, wasn’t able to completely fill that void.

Dylan McIlrath and Ethan Bear were also options, but McIlrath’s speed wasn’t a good matchup for the Montreal Canadiens or Carolina Hurricanes, while Bear hadn’t played an NHL game all season.

Beyond those choices, the Capitals had the option to call up either Vincent Iorio or Chase Priskie from the AHL’s Hershey Bears, but after that, it was all first-year defensemen kicking off their entry-level deals.

Having another defenseman in the short term could also be beneficial in the coming years, with John Carlson and Trevor van Riemsdyk entering the final years of their respective contracts.

Carlson is eligible to sign an extension starting in July, but the Capitals have said they will wait and see where things go concerning his career rather than put pen to paper right away.

That being said, adding another blueliner to the mix gives the Capitals some needed depth and insurance in that position. Washington has defensive prospects that pack a lot of promise, but an NHL-ready rearguard could be what the team needs to get over the hurdle.

There are some interesting names set to hit the free agent market, including right-handers Henri Jokiharju (a younger option) and Jani Hakanpaa (a veteran), though D.C. needs to be conscious of ice time and role when it comes to choosing what kind of player joins the mix.

Time will tell what the Capitals decide to do, but it’s something the team should consider going forward.