The Washington Capitals are hoping that improved forward depth will be the difference going forward.
General manager Brian MacLellan spoke to reporters on Tuesday stating he would like to upgrade the team's bottom-six forwards, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.
MacLellan admitted that the team could do so in a number of ways including via free agency or through trade. The club's top-six fared admirably this past season with seven forwards hitting the 20-goal plateau.
In addition to adding to the team's bottom forwards, Washington also has four restricted free agents to contend with in Marcus Johansson, Dmitry Orlov, Tom Wilson, and Michael Latta, all who MacLellan plans on giving qualifying offers, according to CSN's Chuck Gormley.
MacLellan optimistic #Caps can sign RFA Marcus Johansson before going to arbitration. That cap number and salary cap will affect a lot.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 21, 2016
Jason Chimera - who largely occupied the team's third line - will also become an unrestricted free agent and though MacLellan would like to retain him, it might not be that easy.
"Would love to have him back," MacLellan said of Chimera, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. "I think a lot of timing is going to have to fall into place for us to have him back."
The Capitals will have roughly $13 million in cap space to do all this, according to General Fanager.
