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ESPN Staff Writer- Chris Peters is ESPN's NHL draft and prospects analyst. The Chicago native previously covered the NHL for CBSSports.com and founded the popular independent blog UnitedStatesofHockey.com where he covered the game at all levels since 2010.
As each NHL team is eliminated from the postseason, we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2018-19, three keys to its offseason, impact prospects for 2019-20 and a way-too-early prediction for what next season will hold.
What went wrong
All of last summer, we wondered how the Washington Capitals would manage their Stanley Cup hangover. A taxing playoff run (plus some heavy summer celebrating) surely would weigh on this team, which struggled for so many years to get over the hump. That hangover never really set in -- until the first round of the playoffs.
The Capitals brought back nearly everyone from their Cup-winning team, and they made tweaks along the way to get better. Nick Jensen was a solid depth add to the blue line, and perhaps general manager Brian MacLellan's best move was adding Carl Hagelin, who immediately helped a penalty kill often in peril.
Sure, the Capitals had a rough stretch in January, losing seven straight games, but they pulled out of their funk and won their fourth straight Metropolitan Division title. Yet there were cracks in the foundation that revealed themselves against the Carolina Hurricanes -- who, like many underdogs in these playoffs, played with conviction. It was nothing major for the Capitals, but enough little things accumulated to suggest this wasn't going to be the year for another Cup.
Losing top-pairing defenseman Michal Kempny right before the postseason was a blow; Jonas Siegenthaler ended up filling in nicely, but the blue line looked shaky at times, especially the games in Raleigh. Washington was going to have a hard time without T.J. Oshie for a long playoff run; perhaps Devante Smith-Pelly eventually would have added a spark -- both on the ice, where he has a history of playoff heroics, and in the locker room, where he is a popular teammate.
Alex Ovechkin was once again stellar for the Capitals, and so too was Nicklas Backstrom. But Evgeny Kuznetsov appeared off until Game 7, and that made the second line far less dangerous.
Keys to the offseason
Decisions on the veteran free agents: Hagelin, Brett Connolly, Smith-Pelly and Brooks Orpik all become unrestricted free agents this summer.
If Hagelin wants to stay, the Capitals should strongly consider keeping the 30-year-old around as long as the term and money make sense. He meshed well with the team and added speed and proficiency on the penalty kill.
Connolly, 26, was the No. 6 overall pick in 2010 (Tampa Bay) who felt destined to be a role player with the Capitals. But during a career year (22 goals, 46 points), he was an important player on the third line and should stick around, as long as the money makes sense.
Despite returning on a one-year deal (and turning away more lucrative offers), Smith-Pelly fell out of favor with the Capitals early this season and it's hard to imagine him returning.
Orpik, 38, might consider retirement. If he wants to do another one-year deal, though, Washington would gladly welcome him back -- especially for the mentoring he provides to younger players.
Speaking of veterans, Braden Holtby's contract expires at the end of 2019-20, and the Caps might prioritize getting an extension done for their starting goaltender this summer.
Make a decision on Andre Burakovsky: It was a trying season for Burakovsky, the 2013 first-round pick who has yet to reach his potential. He's speedy (something this team could use) and shows flashes of brilliance, but he could never sustain it, leading to a string of benchings in December and just 25 points in 76 games overall. He's only 23, but he could benefit from a change of scenery; the Capitals will weigh if it's worth cutting bait.
Burakovsky, who is a restricted free agent, was the subject of trade rumors all season, yet the Capitals never found a deal they liked. That could change around the draft, and it could be a way for Washington to recoup some assets (the Caps are without a third- or sixth-round pick in 2019, and are without a second-round pick in 2020).
Impact prospects for 2019-20
The Capitals don't have a lot of NHL-ready talent in their pipeline right now. There are a few players who could provide roster depth, such as Riley Barber, who is coming off a career season in the AHL.
Meanwhile, top goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov remains the team's most promising player in the pipeline, but he needs more time before one could safely project him into an NHL role next season. He appeared in just 37 games in the AHL in 2018-19 and has yet to carry a significant load of playing time in his pro career.
Realistic expectation for 2019-20
A long offseason of rest should benefit these Caps, who are still a very dangerous team as long as Ovechkin is still in his prime (and he very much is). Washington is poised to once again be a top team in the Metropolitan Division, banking on the fact that many teams within the division are in transitional states.