Capitals GM on extension talks with Mike Green: 'We'll leave that for later in the season'

The Washington Capitals bolstered their blue-line with a pair of big ticket unrestricted free agent signings this past summer, but they're not rushing into an extension with long-tenured defender and power-play ace Mike Green. 

"We’ll leave that for later in the season," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman in regards to extension talks with Green. "Let’s see how this shakes out."

So far Green, a pending unrestricted free agent, is off to a torrid start offensively with three goals and five assists in his first seven games. The offensive production has always been Green's calling card though, it's his play away from the puck that has often drawn criticism.

It's worth noting that, while the Capitals appear to be improved defensive in the early going this season, Green's ice-time is down significantly from last season. The skilled right-handed pointman with the cannon shot is logging nearly three minutes of time on ice less per game than he averaged last season, and is down below the 20 minute per game mark.

If that trend continues, it would be the first season in which Green logged fewer than 20 minutes per contest since the 2006-07 campaign.