Caps sign Backstrom and Johansson with other roster decisions looming
By: Turner Sports Desk
Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
May 17, 2010
The Washington Capitals took care of priority number one on
their off season to-do list my locking down superstar center, Nicklas Backstrom
to a 10 year contract that pays him roughly 6.7 million a year. Many believe
that is a bargain for a guy that is a 100 point center at 22 years old.
Backstrom never misses games or practices so the Caps get a full value player
that is an outstanding person to boot.
The Caps addressed a
glaring deficiency by signing their 19 year old center and 2009 1st round
draft pick, Marcus
Johansson. Johansson brings some much needed skill to the second line
center position. Johansson’s favorite player is Henrik Zetterberg
and some scouts believe his game shows you why. Johansson is not as offensively
gifted as his fellow countryman Backstrom but if he can bring a Zetterberg type
of game to the Caps that 2nd line center position will be filled nicely for many years.
Meanwhile the Caps have other issues to address
like the fate of Alexander
Semin. I recently read an article in the Bleacher
Report about five superstar players
that could be traded with Semin being 2nd on that list to Evgeni Malkin.
The Caps have a lot of young guys that need to get paid (Jeff Shultz, Eric
Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann) so Semin’s 6 million dollar salary that ends next
season looks like the odd guy out. The Semin supporters argue that you don’t
just dump a 40 goal scorer but as the article points out there are other
superstars the Caps should be interested in.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say
it again that if there is a possibility the Caps can land a guy like Jerome Iginla (who
is also on that trade list) then he is worth three Alexander Semin’s. Iginla makes 7 million per year and he is
exactly the type of hockey player the grit deficient Caps need. Calgary would
likely ask for more than Semin in return and the Caps have plenty of prospects. Many said the Duck were asking too much for Pronger but Pronger is still playing while the Caps are on summer vacation. Iginla stated he would waive his trade clause if
Calgary wanted to go younger so if I’m McPhee I am definitely inquiring and
showing an interest. The defense remains an issue and maybe Semin becomes trade
bait for a defenseman. The bottom line is follow the money because sooner or
later someone has to go.