The Capitals’ entry into the playoffs last year broke the brains of every hockey pundit (and/or Twitter shitposter). The reasons why have been repeated ad nauseam. Their goal differential of -37 was the lowest of any salary cap-era playoff team. Their 5v5 expected goals share of 47.42% was good enough for the 25th-best mark in the league. They sold at the trade deadline for the second straight year. A first round drubbing by the New York Rangers served to confirm most people’s priors about this team; they ultimately didn’t belong.
Icing that roster did help give the Capitals a lot more flexibility this summer, something they wasted no time taking advantage of.