Report: Capitals Will Be 'Very Busy' This Offseason, Not Done Making Moves trucc

   

"There is more coming," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said of the Capitals.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals made noise by trading Darcy Kuemper for Pierre-Luc Dubois earlier this week, and they're reportedly just getting started when it comes to change this offseason.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said that this will be a big summer of change for the Capitals, who apparently have more planned going forward.

"Someone told me too that Washington is not done, I think Washington is going to be very busy," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts, adding, "I heard there is more coming."

The Capitals have a handful of pending free agents to address, including RFAs Beck Malenstyn and Connor McMichael and decisions on UFAs like Lucas Johansen, Matthew Phillips and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

Beyond that, though, it's no secret that Washington has several needs to address across the board, and the biggest area of need is on offense.

T.J. Oshie's future hangs in the balance, and while Dubois has "immense potential" and can provide a spark to help the struggling forecheck, which managed the fifth-least goals per game in the league last season, it will take more than one player to get more going up front.

Not only that but with Dubois in the mix now, the team has an influx of centers and needs to decide on what direction it's taking going forward.

In addition to adding more offense, head coach Spencer Carbery mentioned at the end of the season that he'd like to see more size on the blue line, so it's possible that general manager Brian MacLellan could look to address the defense.

In net, Charlie Lindgren is now the sole starter, and it appears that Hunter Shepard is on his way up to the NHL next season.

Still, it's possible that the Capitals, if they wanted Shepard to continue to start games and split time with Clay Stevenson down in Hershey, could look to add a veteran goaltender to back up Lindgren as he looks to earn a longer-term extension in D.C.

Overall, it looks like MacLellan will be busy as the NHL heads toward the draft and free agency, and GMBM can use both of those markets to make some more moves.