Sammi’s Daily: Capitals Rumblings, Buyout Chatter, J.T. Miller Update

As free agency approaches, the Washington Capitals find themselves in an interesting situation and quite a bit of cap space to work with. But, beyond outstanding vacancies, they are also apparently trying to work on some extensions.

Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Washington tried to sign Conor Sheary to a contract extension earlier in the offseason. However, it’s unclear where both parties stand now on that front.

Sheary has one year left on his deal that carries a cap hit of $1.5 million before he becomes a UFA next summer. The 30-year-old is coming off an impressive 2021-22 campaign that saw him dish 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 71 games.

Not only did he work well at even strength, but he was able to play top-6 and bottom-6 moments and slot in on special teams. His versatility made him a major asset for Washington as a jack-of-all-trades who could fit anywhere and bring plenty to the table.

Beyond Sheary, the Capitals also may have a few more things in the works, per Friedman.

Here are the latest NHL news and notes from D.C. and beyond:

Capitals Links

• The goalie carousel is bound to get interesting this offseason, but what route should Washington take to fix the Capitals goalie situation? (WHN)
• One fun name to watch out for when it comes to the 2022 NHL Draft: Jagger Firkus. The right-winger and center is a versatile player with a great name and star power, and he could be an interesting name for Washington to consider.

NHL Links

• Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin shared the latest on J.T. Miller and trade talks surrounding the center, who has also been linked to Washington. (VHN)
• Here are some buyout candidates for the offseason, and a few names that may stand out to our rival Pittsburgh Penguins. (PHN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Sheary is someone very deserving of an extension, and he worked incredibly hard for it. Rewinding to 2020, he was without a contract going into the 2020-21 campaign and didn’t know if he’d have another job in the NHL until the Capitals came knocking. Since coming to D.C., Sheary has filled several voids and possesses a “Swiss-Army Knife” ability to fit in anywhere. Plus, if the door is open for a Sheary extension, one has to wonder where Dmitry Orlov stands.
• Miller wouldn’t be a bad fit for Washington. He is a center coming off a 99-point season who has plenty of skill and a lot of versatility. Having him in the mix would be great for the Capitals. Miller is also an experienced leader who can bring a lot to the table on and off the ice.