Forsberg signed with the Capitals in July, inking a three-year, entry-level contract.  The Capitals first pick of the 2012 draft will earn $832,500 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level. He is expected to play the 2012-2013 season in Sweden for Leksand IF.  Last season, Forsberg registered 17 points in 43 games while playing in Sweden during the 2011-2012 campaign.

Where he will spend the 2013-2014 season is the question. The Capitals currently lack a surplus of top six forwards and Forsberg has the potential to become just that. His contract with Leksand IF expires after the 2012-2013 season and could prove to be the final step before transitioning to professional hockey in North America.

Possibly the safest option for Forsberg before transitioning to the NHL would be to spend a season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He has yet to spend time in the professional game and it would be a tough transition especially if he were to take on a top six forward role. In Hershey, Forsberg could immediately position himself on the first line at either wing position and would also gain experience on the first power play unit.

His size is an aspect of his game he should work on before heading to the NHL level. Fosberg is currently listed at 6′ 1″ and 188 pounds and the young forward needs to get bigger as he will eventually be facing shutdown defense-men at the NHL level.

After spending the 2013-2014 season with the Bears, Forsberg would be set to join the Capitals in the 2014-2015 season. He would have two years left on his contract before becoming a restricted free agent and would also hold the experience of playing in North America while adjusting to a new lifestyle. He would be a solid fit on the second line, possibly lining up with Mike Ribeiro at center and a steady winger at the right wing position. His ice time should be limited in his first NHL season, keeping him fresh for a potential playoff run in Washington.

Facing a long wait, Capitals management should be keeping tabs and preparing for the arrival of a potential superstar in the nation’s capital.

You can follow Matthew on twitter @m_speck and email him at [email protected] with any questions or comments.

1. What type of system will new head coach Adam Oates employ?

The Capitals roster lacks a true identity. They have offensive firepower in their first two lines in Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro, but lack secondary scoring after that. Their defensive core includes two highly skilled offensive defense-men with the likes of Mike Green and John Carlson and two shutdown defense-men in Karl Alzner and Roman Hamrlik. With this type of mix in player personnel, the Capitals can surely not be as aggressive offensively as they were in the beginning of the Bruce Boudreau era. With the young goal-tending this team can’t attempt to be a strictly defensive team, as teams including the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins will tear the Capitals apart.

The Capitals must rely on a combination of the two the top lines taking chances to create offense and role players such as Jay Beagle, Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer playing responsibly in the defensive zone. Their power play must return as a lethal weapon for the Capitals to have any shot of contending in the playoffs. This season will be one in which Washington must find out what they have in their young guys such as Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson and Braden Holtby. A balanced attack both offensively and defensively is the key for a good season for the red, white, and blue in Washington.

2. How will the goalie tandem work? Can Braden Holtby handle a substantial workload?

With Tomas Vokoun signing in Pittsburgh, the Capitals now turn to Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth to lead the Capitals between the pipes in the 2012-2013 season. Braden Holtby become the star in the nation’s capital last spring, starting all 14 of Washington’s playoff games in both their seven-round series against the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. The pressure ceased to affect the young net-minder as Holtby posted an outstanding 1.95 goals against average along with a .935 save percentage in his 14 starts in goal. Michal Neuvirth fell by the wayside due to injury late last season and will enter training camp as the backup to Holtby, making it Holtby’s job to lose. To keep both net-minders fresh, Holtby should receive around 65% of the starts in goal in the nation’s capital, keeping both of the young goalies fresh while letting the tandem compete for the starting job heading into the playoffs and beyond.

3. How will Mike Ribeiro adapt to playing in Washington D.C.?

The Capitals acquired Mike Ribeiro on draft night in exchange for Cody Eakin. While giving up a big piece of the Capitals young talent, Washington received a needed scorer in the process. Ribeiro enters the 2012-2013 campaign following a solid performance last season for the Dallas Stars, in which the 32-year-old center registered 18 goals and 45 assists in 74 games played. He is expected to take on the role of second line center and could play alongside Troy Brouwer and Jason Chimera. He also will earn time on the power play, most likely as center on the second unit. Seventy points is a realistic goal for Riberio this upcoming season and he will be an important factor in the Capitals offensive system.

4. Which defense-men will earn time on the third pairing?

The Capitals defense contains four quality defense-men who know their role heading into the 2012-2013 season. The top four consists of Mike Green, Roman Hamrlik, John Carlson and Karl Alzner. These two pairings complement each other very well, balancing offense and defense cohesively. Mike Green brings a rocket from the point and strong offensive prowess from the blue line. He seemed to take a step back offensively last year, however, but was suspect to injury for the majority of the regular season. Green contributed 7 points in 32 regular season games. His expected defensive partner, Roman Hamrlik, plays a different style. Hamrlik brings a reliable defensive presence while contributing offensively at times. He registered 13 points in 68 games, but most importantly was a plus eleven while on the ice. He is a player Adam Oates will always have out on the ice during late game situations. John Carlson plays very similar to Green: highly skilled offensively but struggles at times in the defensive zone. Carlson registered 32 points in 82 regular season games for Washington, but was also a minus 15. Karl Alzner, Carlson’s long time defensive partner, is a shutdown defender like Hamrlik and posted a plus twelve last year. He contributed offensively last season, posting 17 points on the year.

With the top four set for this season, the last pairing remains in question. The Capitals will in all likelihood keep an extra defense-man and two forwards on their active roster heading into the regular season. If John Carlson is signed, Washington will have four defense-men competing for the final three spots on their roster. The defense-men looking for a roster spot include Jeff Schultz, John Erskine, Dmitry Orlov and Jack Hillen. With the exception of Dmitry Orlov all of these defense-men would need to clear waivers to be sent to the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. If Washington is looking to avoid losing any players, Dmitry Orlov would be the clear-cut choice to be sent down to Hershey.

This should not be the case, however. Orlov has proven to be a serviceable defense-men, hence his stay in Washington from the beginning of the regular season last year throughout the Capitals playoff run. In 60 regular season games for the Capitals, the 21 year old defense man posted 3 goals and 16 assists. He is the most capable offensively for the final pairing, which should increase his chances. A shut down defense-man would be the perfect partner for Orlov. This leaves Schultz, Erskine and Hillen for the final two roster spots on the blue line.

John Erskine and Jack Hillen should share time as the final defense-man. Erskine brings a physical presence and stands up for his teammates. Hillen also brings a solid defensive presence to compliment Orlov. This leaves Jeff Schultz as the odd man out in Washington. Schultz holds a 2.75$ million cap hit and is signed through the 2013-2014 season. He could possibly be claimed if sent through waivers, meaning a trade is the best scenario for George McPhee. Washington should attempt to move him with a forward or prospect to gain forward depth. With the Flyers continuing to lose defense-men to injury, George McPhee should at the very least give Paul Holmgren a phone call.

5. What will the role be for Dmitry Orlov?

With the fourth question leading into the final topic, Dmitry Orlov has an opportunity for growth this upcoming season. Orlov brings a heavy left-handed shot from the point and a big body that could be used on the penalty kill. He could provide relief to Mike Green and John Carlson, helping keep many parts of the blue line fresh for the playoffs. Another reason Washington should use Orlov is that their recent success has proven that young defense-men can make an impact in the nation’s capital. Washington cannot afford to hinder the young defense-man’s development, however. If he is not going to start on the third pairing, the only other viable option is sending Orlov to Hershey. He would earn time on the top defensive pairing at the AHL level, while possibly manning the point on the first power play unit.

You can follow Matthew on twitter @m_speck and email him at [email protected] with any questions or comments.

1. Hire an offensive coach that could handle this bunch.

2. Have a successful draft.

3. Acquire a skilled, veteran center for the second-line.

4. Part ways with lackadaisical Alexander Semin.

5. Add more toughness and depth on defense.

6. Find a replacement for Semin.

If you’ve been following the Washington Capital’s every move this offseason you would know that most of these priorities have been addressed and accomplished. Some may be displeased about Alexander Semin’s departure or unhappy about Mike Green’s hefty contract, but such moves had to be done in order for the Caps to remain playoff contenders.

First, the offseason started off with the hiring of ex-NHL player Adam Oates. Oates, who once played for the Caps, played in the league for 19 years. As assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils, Oates was responsible the power play and played a vital role in helping the Russian star Ilya Kovalchuk develop a two-way game. Perhaps this treatment will carry over to another Russian star player; one named Alexander Ovechkin. Any one who is familiar with the name “Ovechkin” knows that he’s an offensive force. Though most Caps fans worship the ground Ovechkin walks on we are all aware that he is in quite a slump as of late and we would love to have him playing at his full potential. Oates is definitely a perfect candidate to make that a reality. With Oates behind the bench, you can almost guarantee a more offensive-minded team that doesn’t put all of their emphasis on dump and chase and blocking shots. Offensive players will have their time to shine while learning how to not negate their defensive responsibilities.

The 2012 NHL Draft is one that won’t be forgotten. It was probably the most successful draft for the Caps in the most recent years. Luckily for them, forward Filip Forsberg fell into their laps with the number 11th pick when he was predicted to be drafted in one of the top three. Capitals also snatched up Tom Wilson before the Flyers could get their hands on him. This guy will help erase the “finesse” image that the Caps have been portrayed as and add more of a physical, toughness aspect to the team. Recently, the Capitals solidified things with Forsberg as they signed him to an entry-level contract, which is huge.

McPhee then acquired Mike Ribeiro from the Dallas Stars, which addressed the depleted second-line. With Ribeiro on this team, you can expect an average of 60+ points from the center as he’s been able to maintain that for the past eight years. Ribeiro will bring offensive creativeness to the team and add depth to the Cap’s power play, which was ranked 18th overall last season. If you are looking for Ribeiro to be wearing his usual No. 63 jersey you won’t find him. Now that he doesn’t play for the Stars, he can wear the number he grew up playing with; number nine.

Now, I saved the best for last.

The Washington Capitals finally parted ways with inconsistent and disappointing forward Alexander Semin. After playing his entire career with the Capitals, Semin signed with division foe Carolina Hurricanes. Playing seven years alongside Ovechkin, Semin racked up more than 70+ points three times in his career. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen that much of an impact or stellar production from Semin in several years. Recognizing that, McPhee wasn’t going to shell out money to a player that flat out doesn’t play up to his potential the majority of the time. It became evident that it was time for Semin to change his scenery in hopes to spark up something with another team. He finally pulled the trigger and the Caps have to face-off with the powerhouse in Carolina who now has Jordan Staal and Semin.

In hindsight, if you really back on this offseason, McPhee accomplish more than most of us probably expected him to and there’s still some time left.

Sayonara, Semin.

Either phrase will do right now as we all learn that Alexander Semin has signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Did I mention one-year worth $7 million?

The Hurricanes just became the Miami Heat of hockey, or for those who aren’t familiar with the NBA, the Yankees of hockey. The Hurricanes took a page out of the Minnesota Wild’s book by adding two All-Stars to their roster. First, it was Jordan Staal and now Alexander Semin.

Things just got real; the Wild and Hurricanes are forces to be reckon with. Who would’ve thought either of those two teams would make such moves? They aren’t the usual teams you see in the headlines or the destinations players want to go to. As long as these over-priced, long-term contracts play an intricate part in the league this won’t be the last time for such occurrences.

Right now, as many things about this deal start to simmer, two things cross my mind the most; Semin going to one of the Capital’s division rivals and how much Carolina forked over for the guy. Anyone who consistently watches the Capitals knows that Semin has a reputation of disappearing during high-pressure situations and he doesn’t show up in the playoffs. It’s basically a proven fact. Now, why would a team dump $7million for a player who puts up 20 some-odd goals and a measly 50 or so points a season? His production and contributions are far from worthy of what was given to him in the contract, but good for him. Good for the Hurricanes for only signing him for a year knowing that he is a well-known disappointment.

Unfortunately, there are no signs that general manager George McPhee will fill the gapping hole left by Semin. With Semin gone, there will be less pressure on the opposition for match-ups against the Capital’s top line. Will this move hinder Alexander Ovechkin’s performance even more so by creating added pressure to an already diminishing captain? Regardless, I think the Capitals will make the postseason again or barely miss them. Thankfully, with the addition of Mike Ribeiro, a few weeks back, they didn’t lose much fire power. Unfortunately, the division rival Hurricanes became that much better.

One thing is for certain, Semin made sure his old team wouldn’t forget about him as he will be playing against the Capitals six times this season. The countdown to the December 1st reunion begins.

I don’t get it.

I would rather have had GM George McPhee put the crisp dollars he stacked in a neat pile and graciously gave to Mike Green and, instead, hand it over to star-forward Alexander Semin.

After all, I bet everyone would agree with me that Semin is worth the contract that was given to Green and that Semin should’ve been more of the priority if money was going to be spewed out in such a manner.

You can’t help but wonder that by now another team, who wanted and could afford him, would have already signed Semin. That has yet to become the case. One may think that captain Shane Doan on the Phoenix Coyotes has something to do with it; being one of the big-namers left in free agency. Hopefully by then, or sooner, Semin will have a permanent place that he can call home.

The consensus of most Caps fans is that though Semin doesn’t always play up to his full potential, they would love to have him in their line up where he would contribute to more depth on offense. When Semin wants to be, he can be one of the best players in the league. He usually doesn’t give it his all and that is the problem most people have with him. I love the guy, but I’m used to his shortcomings which is unfortunate. It is almost a month into free agency and hope still remains of Semin staying a Capital. Usually, the players in high-demand generally get swooped up the first week of free agency and Semin didn’t make that list that includes star players such as: Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, Jordin TooToo, Jarmomir Jagr, and Olli Jokinen.

As the countdown to preseason continues, you can’t overlook the fact that Semin has a knack for setting-up players and the potential he has if he can manage to work on his lackadaisical work ethic.

People can change, right?

Post coaching changes, you can’t help but think that things can change. In no way am I remotely trying to make a comparison between Semin and Adam Oates, but Oates is known for being one of the best assist man ever  in the league. Maybe, just maybe, Semin can flourish under a coach who shared similar characteristics that he had in his NHL career.

Seriously?

Don’t get me wrong I am a a fan of Green’s poise, puck handling and the points he put up a couple of seasons ago, but I am not a fan of his price tag. Leave it up to general manager George McPhee to overpay another defenseman player; Nicklas Backstrom happily sits on his $6.7 million a year contract.

Over the past two seasons Green has played a combined 81 games, in the regular season, out of a possible 164. Basically, he missed an entire season due to injuries. The only upside to Green is that when the guy is healthy he can wrack up the points; registering 19 goals and 76 points in 2009. That’s why Washington felt compelled to keep him around; on the hope that the 26-year-old defenseman is young enough to stay healthy and remain a defensive force.

In retrospect, ultimately, Green got a raise. How is that possible? What are McPhee’s justifications?

Giving a player a raise after spending more than half of the last two season on the bench is crazy talk. Leave it up to another general manager to take a huge gamble that can cost him millions. But that’s what sports is about. Taking gambles based on a hunch.

If Green can be a threat again like he was in 2009 where he scored 31 goals, had 38 points on the power play and was a +24 for the season, I will be the first to kiss the ground that George McPhee walks on. I think for the sake of everyone in this situation, we are all praying that Green can re-establish himself as one of the league’s top offensive defensemen.

Green does have young age and skill, shown in the past, on his side. On whether or not he can put up another stellar season Green said,

“One hundred percent and it will be next year. Absolutely, there’s no question about it. I feel like I’m just getting into my prime.”

Let’s just be realistic and shoot for a healthy Green first. Then, the points should follow. It’s a gamble, I believe will have a huge payoff in the end.

Despite being a healthy scratch in the playoffs, the 24-year-old center came off the best season of his career; basically doubling his stats almost across the board.

Management and the new head coach, Adam Oates, were skeptical about Perreault wanting to sign with the Capitals after being benched by prior coach Dale Hunter. Fortunately, Oates is as convincing as they come; reassuring Perreault that he is a top forward in Washington. Thankfully, Perreault thought he owed it to the team that gave him his first chance,

“This is where I wanted to be,” Perreault said. “This is the team that gave me my first chance, and I really wanted to get a deal done with the Caps and I’m happy to get it done today.”

I have no complaints about this signing. Perreault had 16 goals, 14 assists, and was a +9 concluding the regular season. On top of that, the kid had a whopping four game-winning-goals for the Capitals. In the future, that last stat can be a start of a clutch career for Perreault.

Overall, Perreault is a smart player and is still showing signs of improvement and growth. At a cost of $1.05 million for two years, I’d say this wasn’t a bad deal for Washington and at a good price.

Hopefully for the sake of Perreault and the Caps, they give this kid some ice time. That’s all he wants and, in my opinion, he surely deserves to play more. I think it’s a win-win situation for both sides. Play Perreault more and it can only get better.

“All I want is to get ice time and get a chance to play a little bit more. That’s it,” pleaded Perreault.

And more ice time you shall get.

Though Washington Capital’s fans were hoping for something more, at least they know their General Manager was awake and working on July 1st.

Yesterday, the start of the free agency, McPhee signed three players to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the contracts are still confidential following club policy.

McPhee ended up signing right winger Joey Crabb who came off a career-high performance with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored 11 goals, 15 assists and played in 67 games last season. Those are mediocre stats that fit the qualifications of a player who will play on the fourth line for the Capitals. I honestly think that the Caps have enough players that already fulfill what Crabb has to offer. Though, you can’t have enough players who have a strong work ethic with size and grit. McPhee needs to man-up and make a splash during free agency. The Caps need a proven, skilled, top-six forward. They shouldn’t be wasting their time or cap space on players like Crabb; period.

Also yesterday, the Washington Capitals signed defensemen Garrett Stafford and Kevin Marshall. Both of the players spent most of their careers in the minors. Stafford, a native of Los Angeles, had two assists in seven NHL games with Detroit, Dallas, and Phoenix. Marshall, a Flyers second-round pick in the 2007 draft, only registered eight penalty minutes in 10 games with Philadelphia.

Stafford and Marshall will most likely get sent down to the Caps minor league team, the Hershey Bears, so Orlov can play a more constant role in Washington. Crabb appeared to be somewhat of a fan favorite in Toronto with his contributions to their penalty kill and his consistent work ethic. I’m now curious to watch Crabb play a few shifts considering that I’ve read a few Leafs fans who’ve vouched for the guy. He would be a good addition to the fourth line alongside Hendricks and Beagle.

Now McPhee, don’t pump the brakes so much and think cruising by with these minor signings will suffice. Caps fans, including myself, are expecting you to make some sort of splash during free agency. If not, this team is doomed to have the same fate where dominating during the regular season equates to an early exit in the postseason. Hands down, the Washington Capitals are the San Jose Sharks of the East and that needs to change.

And with the roster as it stands, that’s exactly where the Caps are headed to; again.

First, I’d like to sincerely thank George McPhee for recognizing that Wideman didn’t click with the team. Not only that, but we can say adios to Wideman’s over-priced contract. McPhee stated,

“I didn’t want to mislead a player. When it got right down to it, I didn’t think we were going to be able to sign him.”

Now, this throws a wrench in my thoughts. Does this possibly mean that Jay Bouwmeester’s days as a Flame are outnumbered? Wideman and Bouwmeester are two defenseman that now have five-year, expensive contracts. What am I saying? That’s none of my concern. I don’t like the Flames nor do I write about them, so that’s the end of that thought.

What I can question for a moment is whether pricey defenseman contracts, such as Wideman’s five-year worth $26.5 million, are going to serve as a benchmark in the Shea Weber and Ryan Suter contract talks. If so, those two skilled defensemen will come with a hefty price tag. Oh, how things have changed since the cap was introduced to the league. I thought these outlandish, overly-commited, over-paid contracts were a thing of the past. Now, they’re coming back to haunt clubs.

Later today, Wideman ended up signing a five-year, $5.25 million contract with the Flames. Oh, and did I mention that it has been reported by Pat Steinberg of the FAN 960 in Calgary that there’s a no movement clause that’s included in that contract? This is something that’s not unfamiliar in Calgary. Wideman is the 10th player, that’s on the Flames roster, who has either a no-trade or no-movement clause in their contract. What’s up with that?

And that is why Capitals fans probably won’t have a hard time saying good-bye to Wideman. The most definitely couldn’t afford that.

His lackluster play in the second half of the season, especially in the postseason, and his defenseman flubs are now a thing of the past. His lapses in his own end were frustrating and disappointing to watch. Cap’s fans would clutch the arm of their couches whenever he had the puck in the defensive zone. It was obvious that Wideman just didn’t fit in well with the Capitals and the more ice-time he got the more mistakes the team and fans had to sit back and endure. He’s Calgary’s liability now.

Now, I don’t know much about who the Caps got; Jordan Henry. The 26-year-old defenseman has spent most of his recent career in the American Hockey League. What I do know is that Henry can enter free agency this Sunday and I’m not banking on watching the kid in a Caps jersey any time soon.

Either way, welcome to Washington D.C. Adam Oates!

Oates isn’t a new face on the Capital’s bench. “Oatsie,” his nickname as a player, is another Cap’s alumni who turned coach. Today not only marks Oates’s new promotion, but also the day he became an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame. This surely won’t be a day that Oates will forget.

He earned it; the induction and the new coaching position.

Last season, Oates was part of the New Jersey Devil’s postseason run where they fell two games short of a Stanley Cup triumph. Now Oates has a new goal; one that involves coaching the Capital’s to their first Stanley Cup win and his first as a coach. As a player, Oates was a playmaker who played smart hockey. He was one of the best assist-man in league history; sixth all-time.

As George McPhee stated after the hiring,

You want intelligent guys running the bench. A guy like Bill Belicheck in New England, he’s a bright guy, and you try to get the smartest guy in the room. And I just think, with Adam’s understanding of this game, his ability to articulate it, he can be that guy.

Now, we’ll have to see if that skill and leadership will make the same impact behind the bench.

Under Dale Hunter, the Caps played a more defensive style; one that didn’t sit well with captain Alexander Ovechkin. Now, Oates can bring back more of an offensive game that’ll hopefully rejuvenate the team and fulfill the needs of the Captain. You know the saying, “A happy wife. A happy life.” If you didn’t know, that also applies to Ovechkin. Ovechkin spoke with Oates after he heard the news and then he told The Canadian Press,

I just talked with him briefly and he seems a great person. I’m looking forward to work with him.”

Hallelujah! Ovechkin’s initial reaction is a great way to start things since we learned above that a happy Ovechkin results in a better team and satisfied fans. Cheers to a happy life!

Even before Oates walks into the locker room and starts the first practice, I’m certain that every player on the Caps has the same mentality as Ovechkin. They respect Oates and are honored to play for him. With the team having a new coach, already making new acquisitions and possibly saying “au revoir” to certain key players, it’s crucial that things start off with a trusting and positive mindset.

One thing that’s certain is that Oates’s experience playing and coaching for the East is beneficial for the Capitals. Oates spent most of his NHL playing career as well as coaching years on the East, so he knows the style of play and what to expect from most of the opposition. On paper, Oates surely has what it takes to help the Caps become more clutch come postseason. Time to wait and see if that registers where it matters the most; on the ice and in the postseason.

In Adam Oates we trust. Now, who’s with me?