Expect Washington Capitals to show restraint during NHL free agency

Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis went on his blog this week to talk about the team’s efforts to retool its lineup this offseason.

“We want to keep some players. We want to sign some players,” Leonsis wrote, then added that fans should “not be surprised if you see some trades.”

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“We want to change and improve,” he said.

With free agency opening at noon Friday, General Manager George McPhee said he doesn’t expect Washington to act rashly — and team officials have given no sign one way or the other about their plans.

But since the Capitals were ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs in an unceremonious second-round sweep by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the spring, there has been plenty of talk about a potential shake-up that could include some of the “young guns” who have been mainstays in the Capitals’ lineup in recent seasons.

Forwards Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are in place as franchise cornerstones, so that would make forward Alexander Semin or defenseman Mike Green the most likely trade candidates from that group if the Capitals were to make such a move.

Before Brooks Laich signed a six-year contract extension worth $27 million Tuesday, the veteran and dressing room leader said he sat down with management to discuss concerns he had about the team’s future and chemistry.

“I think, this year, there’s got to be a lot more accountability among our players to each other, to the coaches,” Laich said. “It’s up to every single player — doesn’t matter how much you make, how long you’ve been here or what your name is — to practice as hard as they can, to practice as a team, to work as a team.”

In an offseason already punctuated by blockbuster trades, the NHL is beginning to see the impact of an elevated salary cap maximum and minimum. It has given nearly every team more room to spend, including Washington. But the scarcity of high-impact players is driving up salaries, and McPhee insists the Capitals won’t experience buyer’s remorse.

“I think it’s a pretty thin group,” McPhee said of this year’s free agents. “Somebody’s going to spend too much money on free agents, and I’m glad it’s not going to be us. We’re in pretty good shape at this point.”

The Capitals have roughly $6.5 million under the $64.3 million salary cap after calculations of their 18 current players’ salaries and qualifying offers for restricted free agents Karl Alzner, Troy Brouwer and Semyon Varlamov. There is little indication Washington won’t reach agreements with Alzner and Brouwer, but Varlamov’s future in the NHL appears less certain amid reports he has opted to play in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League next season.

Of the five players set to become unrestricted free agents, Jason Arnott, Matt Bradley and Scott Hannan will enter the open market, according to their representatives.

Washington may not bring back many, if any, of the players set to become unrestricted free agents as Arnott, Bradley, Marco Sturm and Hannan haven’t received offers to re-sign. Boyd Gordon’s agent has declined to comment on any negotiations.