Fansided

Washington Capitals: Braden Holtby Contract is a Necessity

By Diana Driscoll |

We already know that the Washington Capitals are having quite the offseason. The team has acquired T.J. Oshie from the St. Louis Blues and signed three-time Stanley Cup Champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Justin Williams to a two-year deal.

Now, the Capitals are working toward a contract with restricted free agent Braden Holtby (who filed for salary arbitration at the deadline). I have no doubt in my mind that the goaltender will return next season, but I can’t help but wonder what’s taking so long?

This should be the Capitals No. 1 priority. This should have already been handled. With their cap situation, which CBS Sports listed as one of the best, the Capitals really have no excuse to why this can’t be done.

As of Thursday the Capitals are $10.8 million under the cap for this upcoming season with 20 players under contract. —CBS Sports

How many teams would kill to be in their position right now? Well, I can tell you for sure the New York Rangers and the Chicago Blackhawks wish they had that type of leeway.

I understand that goaltending is not the area teams mess around with lightly; they need a starter, someone who will play consistently and stand on his head when necessary. Well, Holtby did that this season. Now give him a contract!

I have watched the Washington Capitals since the 2009-10 season when I covered their President’s Trophy-winning year and felt that I would be reporting from the locker room when they celebrated their Stanley Cup win (that didn’t happen). And since that time, I have never felt that they had a solid goaltender. There was Jose Theodore, Semyon Varlamov, Tomas Vokoun, and Michal Neuvirth—but none of them were strong enough for me to believe that the Capitals would go the distance. (This is not meant as an insult to the goaltenders’ skills, many of these guys have found success elsewhere).

More from Free Agency

Holtby changed my mind this season. Aside from putting together a career best season numbers wise (41-20-10 record, .923 save percentage, 2.22 GAA), Holtby also put together a statement year. He showed the hockey world his potential.

Holtby is a young goaltender, 25, with immense skill and the power to improve. He has already shown us a different goaltender from year to year, and could be one of those players that continues to get better.

In many instances, especially in the postseason, Holtby outshone the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, which is no easy feat. He was the star of their team and deserves to be paid as such. Holtby has made me believe that the Capitals can make a deep playoff run.

With their recent acquisitions, along with veterans Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, and budding young stars in Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andre Burakovsky, Marcus Johansson, and Tom Wilson—the Caps are set.

All that is missing is a contract to Holtby, who has completely changed the makeup of this team. Holtby should at least get a five-year deal worth somewhere in the area of $5-$6 million annually. To me, this is fair.

Whether Holtby would think so—I’m not sure. Something is holding up this deal. Maybe it’s years, maybe it’s money or maybe it has to do with no-movement clauses. Whatever it is, the Capitals and Holtby need to come to some sort of compromise because I don’t believe that the team can get very far in he isn’t in net next season.

Next: Chris Stewart: The Forgotten Free Agent

More from Puck Prose

Home / Free Agency