It could, provided that the team offers no salary coming back, for either this year or next year. If it does, the Caps are better off paying Nylander not to play for them and saving that cap space.
This is a critical point, because that is how they pay for the raises to Fleischmann, to Backstrom, and to Semin. It is more important to the Caps to eat that salary and reap the cap savings than to find a taker.
If a team wants Nylander and is willing to send no salary back, though, then sure. I just see that possibility as rather remote, rather than "pretty likely."
If a team wants Nylander and is willing to send no salary back, though, then sure. I just see that possibility as rather remote, rather than "pretty likely."
Nylander is a $2m-3m player with a $5m contract and control over his own movement.
If there were a team that wanted him as early as last season, the Caps would have moved him then.
Reminder that McPhee had deal in place with Chicago to send Nylander to the Hawks. When the ownership was informed of this deal, they killed it and took the keys to the team away from Dale Tallon. It was also reported the Caps had a deal for Bill Guerin at the trade deadline. That was based on a deal on the table to move Nylander that fell through.
After that and after the Caps were eliminated from the playoffs, they told Nylander and his agent to find him a new place to play. They had control and they could approach any NHL or European team about a deal. Nothing happened.
So, lets not just point a finger at the Capitals and say they just decided one day to bury the a guy that could have been playing elsewhere if the Caps had just moved him.
The Caps no longer need help. He is off the cap. All they are doing is paying him, which they are prepared to do now. They're free. They aren't going to pick up any part of the cap, which is why he's buried in the first place. Too expensive in any contender's cap calculus.
The problem is, if Washington just decides to dump guys into random AHL teams when they don't feel they are earning their keep and then not make real efforts to move them it's going to have a pretty striking impact on their ability to woo free agents.
The problem is, if Washington just decides to dump guys into random AHL teams when they don't feel they are earning their keep and then not make real efforts to move them it's going to have a pretty striking impact on their ability to woo free agents.
Can't see it happening again. Plus, players will want to go to a top team to play with guys like Ovechkin regardless.
The problem is, if Washington just decides to dump guys into random AHL teams when they don't feel they are earning their keep and then not make real efforts to move them it's going to have a pretty striking impact on their ability to woo free agents.
And if UFA signings get to wonder if the Caps will throw them on a bus in Hershey if they have a bad year, I think there will be fewer guys wanting to go there if they can get a comparable offer from another club without that kind of history.
you are factually wrong there. this nylander situation was very public by the end of last season. the Caps signed the player they wanted, Mike Knuble on the first day. Brendan Morrison then took less money to sign with the Capitals. Both players are thriving.
