ST. LOUIS — Gone, but definitely not forgotten.
As the Washington Capitals cleaned out their lockers late last week, two departed members of the core were going head-to-head in the Western Conference Final.
No matter how the series plays out, either Troy Brouwer and the St. Louis Blues or Joel Ward of the San Jose Sharks will play in the Stanley Cup Final, while the Capitals have gone home for another long offseason of reflection.
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During his postseason address, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan conceded his club missed having playoff performers like Ward and Brouwer around this spring as they were bounced in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins.