Washington Capitals

Shattenkirk Almost Certainly Gone
May 17, 2017, 6:06 PM ET [48 Comments]
James Tanner
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The conventional wisdom seems to be that the Capitals will not be able to re-sign Kevin Shattenkirk, that he was a bonus used to load up for a championship run that failed to materialize.

The story goes that with a ton of free-agents, the Capitals will not be able to bring him back, even if they want to.

Keep in mind though, that if you had of suggested the Capitals were going to trade for him in the first place, you would have been laughed at - so anything is possible. But that being said, this is one case where the basic narrative is most likely correct.

While I think bringing Shattenkirk back is unlikely, the Capitals should do everything they can to do so - a chance at having one of the best defense groups in the NHL is just too good to pass up, and the Capitals are still well within their window of Stanley Cup opportunity - 56 point defenseman who put up 53% possession ratings aren't exactly easy to find.

Especially right handed ones, which means Shattenkirk could be looking at something like $8 million per year. Even at that price, it makes sense for the Caps.

But it's just not possible.

With Orlov, Carlson, Niskanen , Shattenkirk - the Capitals would probably have the best one through four group in the league.

Even if the Capitals could afford him, would he want to come back? In interviews he seems pretty much ready to explore the open market. Washington can give him something no one else can - the best chance to win.

If he wants money and the most minutes, he'll go somewhere else. But if he wants to win, Washington gives him the best chance, as next season, with him in the fold, they're likely going to again be competing for the President's trophy.

So assuming he wants to come back, how do the Capitals fit him in?



It will be difficult for sure.

Ignoring Shattenkirk, here is who they have to re-sign or replace with the $22 million they currently have available:

- Oshie
-Kuznetsov
- Williams
-Burakovsky
- Winnik
-Connolly
- Alzner
- Schmidt
-Orlov

They can let Oshie, Williams, Alzner and Winnik walk. Schmidt will almost certainly be going to Las Vegas. If they re-sign Connolly (he'd be cheap) and promote Jackov Vrana, that would leave them with $20 million to get four forwards and three defenseman.

That $20 million can probably sign Orlov, Burakovsky and Kuznetsov - but there won't be much left of it, meaning that Shattenkirk is probably a pipe-dream.

The only real way I can see to getting him is to find a team needing to waste cap-space and get them to take Orpik, and then somehow get rid of Jay Beagle. That would get you about seven million.

But in this situation, they still don't have a back-up goalie. They still only have Three defenseman (Assuming they re-sign Orlov ), and they'd need another four or five forwards.

In the end, it seems there is a reason that most teams can't put together a defense like the Capitals did this past year - it's almost impossible in a cap system.

Barring some kind of unforseen craziness - like trading Ovechkin, I don't see a way in which Shattenkirk can be signed by the Capitals.