1. How to upgrade the defense?
It’s likely that Kevin Klein, 29, who has one year left on his contract but had an injury-wracked season, will be traded, and the front office will presumably consider a buyout of veteran Dan Girardi, 33, who has three years left on a contract worth $5.5 million a season.
Both are righties, so that’s where they’ll be looking. They considered, but backed away from offense-minded Kevin Shattenkirk, 28, who went to the Capitals as a rental at the trade deadline, and the New Rochelle native, who will be costly, will be on the radar again.