Baby, come back!
ESPN’s Craig Custance dropped a big old newsbomb on Caps free agency today, providing updates on the team’s plans for everyone from Braden Holtby (spoiler alert: good news!) to Mike Green (spoiler alert: also good news, depending on your perspective!).
MacLellan called Holtby “a priority for us,” which is pretty good, because Holtby’s pretty good. But he also expressed some hesitation to sign a long-term deal with a goaltender — even an elite one — saying, “If it doesn’t work, you’re in trouble.”
This seems like a good time to remind you that RMNB’s Pat Holden determined Holtby could be worth (but not paid) $8.05 million per year for the next four years. That would get Holtby to age 30, when most goalies start to decline.
Other “priorities” for the Caps this offseason? Restricted free agents Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson, and “at least one” of unrestricted free agent forwards Eric Fehr and Joel Ward. (Sorry, Jay Beagle.)
Also noticeably absent from that priorities list? Michael David Green.
“He has a decision and we have a decision,” MacLellan said. “There’s a point where you go: ‘That’s just too much for us. I can’t participate in that.’ He’s looking for a fit; I don’t think total dollars is his No. 1 priority. He wants to play on a winning team, but you’re still going to have to pay.”
Custance addressed a couple other Caps roster issues, including their hunt for a top-six forward and the rumors they may kick the tires on a certain “perfect fit” who’s still playing in the Stanley Cup Final and whose name rhymes with Schmatrick Schmarp. You should read his whole report over on the worldwide leader.
