Washington Capitals, after missing another opportunity, have issues to settle

McPhee has looked to the minor leagues for his last two coaches. He might be well-advised to do so so again, but if he wants someone with NHL experience, plenty of solid coaches are waiting for another chance.

In hockey, retread coaches often have great success: Peter Laviolette was fired on Long Island, then won a Stanley Cup in Carolina. John Tortorella won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay, got fired and might win another one in New York. Peter Deboer was fired by Florida a year ago, was hired in New Jersey, beat the Panthers in the playoffs this year and is still coaching as hockey’s final four begins.

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Game 7: Rangers 2, Capitals 1: New York eliminates the Capitals in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, 2-1.

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Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: The second round of the 2012 NHL playoffs is upon us. See images from every series played to date.

The bigger concerns for McPhee are on the ice. He needs to sign at least two of his four restricted free agents — Mike Green and John Carlson — and would no doubt like to have Jay Beagle and Mathieu Perreault back as long as the price is right.

The unrestricted free agents are another story. In theory, there is good reason to bring back Alexander Semin and Dennis Wideman. In reality, it might be smarter to say goodbye to both, especially Semin.

In many ways, Semin defines the Caps: brilliant at times; wonderfully talented and yet destined to break your heart sooner or later. Wideman was an all-star the first half of the season, not nearly as good the second half. His best hockey might be behind him.

If McPhee wants to make a really important move this offseason, perhaps he could take the money not spent on Semin and Wideman and put together a package of draft picks (he has two first-round picks this year) and young players to trade for Columbus’s Rick Nash.

Adding a forward of Nash’s caliber would change the Caps in ways far more important than any coach or system possibly can. Not only would he give the team another big scorer, his presence might finally spur Ovechkin into being Ovechkin again. At the very least, it would take some scoring pressure off Ovechkin and his line.

That is all for the future. For now, there is the epitaph for this season to consider. There’s no shame in the way the Caps lost, but there certainly shouldn’t be any satisfaction either. This was a playoff season in which there wasn’t a dominant team; the Caps were as capable of winning the Stanley Cup as any of the four teams left playing.

And yet, they aren’t playing. They won’t win the Stanley Cup. Hearts and flowers aside, that’s the bottom line. This was a healthy team with a hot goaltender. In the end, this was a spring filled with great promise. It ended — again — with great disappointment.

For previous columns by John Feinstein, go to washingtonpost.com/feinstein. For more from the author, visit his blog at www.feinsteinonthebrink.com

More on the Capitals and NHL:

Hunter’s exit complicates Caps’ offseason

Agent: Semin’s return is unlikely

Possible replacements for Hunter

Beagle’s diary: Saying goodbye

Photos: Hunter steps down as coach

Ovechkin discusses leadership

Bog: Playoff exit, by the numbers

Boswell’s reaction to Hunter’s departure

Three Capitals are headed to worlds