Things will get better

Eleven games into the second season and the Washington Capitals are actually showing improvement from an abysmal first year. Lets start with the stats where the team has given up 28 goals against which is actually better than teams like the Oilers, Blackhawks and Senators. It is also on par with teams such as Dallas and Colorado, So with an outstanding season from waiver wire claim Antti Raanta, whom the team did make a contract offer to, the puck is staying out of the net for the most part so far this season. An encouraging sign of better things to come.

On the flip side a pop gun offense is barely keeping the team in many games. Only 20 goals on the season is just woefully pathetic. Worst in the league. Kevin LaBanc from Staten Island is leading the team with 3 goals on the season ! Just a terrible effort and one that will hopefully be improved in future seasons. Speaking of LaBanc as well as the other offensive lightweight in Anthony Mantha, both are scheduled to walk as unrestricted free agents in the offseason. They won't be missed and will take about 10 million of annual cap hit with them. Money to better spent on players who can put the puck in the net in the next season or two. It makes the decision to retain Tyson Barrie as the UFA going into the next season all that easier a choice to make.

Speaking of the next season or two, the Capitals also have 2 additional first round picks in the 2024 draft. One of which is the property of the Vegas Golden Knights who currently sit in last place in the league tied with Ottawa, Buffalo and the Caps . While I doubt that that team will end up finishing there Capitals management does find themselves scoreboard watching both Detroit and Las Vegas games. Vegas appears to need to improve things on the back end and Detroit looking to improve their balance of play so they can win a few more of those 1 goal games.

So we wrap the coverage at the eleven game mark and hope for things to improve as we progress towards the midseason. Our wish was to be in a position outside the draft lottery but its looking like that goal was probably a season too early. C'est la guerre.