Sammi’s Daily: Capitals Summer Rolls On, Latest On Kakko, Gibson & More

As the Stanley Cup Final kicks off on Wednesday, the Washington Capitals still face decisions with regard to how they’ll spend their summer. The offseason is bound to get wild for a few teams, especially with the NHL’s rumor mill still brewing.

Here are all the latest news and notes to look out for from D.C. and across the league:

Capitals Links

• Goaltender John Gibson has reportedly requested a trade from Anaheim. Could he be the answer to the Capitals goaltending woes?
• On the defensive side of things, Trevor van Riemsdyk has been “rock solid” and appears ready to play a bigger role on Washington’s blueline going forward.
• Looking back at this past season, Connor McMichael had a solid rookie year despite limited ice time and some inconsistency. Here’s a closer look at No. 24 and his freshman year in review.

NHL Links

• If Nazem Kadri can suit up for the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final, can he continue to be effective against the back-to-back champion Tampa Bay Lightning?
• Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are making some changes after a disappointing end to their 2021-22, firing both assistant coaches.
• Who will be the X-factors for the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning in the SCF? Pro Hockey Talk takes a look.

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• At Rangers breakdown day, Gerard Gallant finally commented on his decision to scratch Kaapo Kakko in Game 6. “Just trying to win a hockey game… we love the kid,” he told reporters. Considering the social media storm and speculation the choice led to, I’m not sure why he didn’t explain earlier.
• Meanwhile, Kakko said he didn’t get an much of an explanation himself and just saw the lineup. However, it reportedly won’t have much of an impact on what he does with regard to his next contract. However, the situation likely has created an interesting situation for the RFA and could lead to quite a bit to consider.
• Andrei Kuzmenko is getting some attention and is reportedly speaking to a couple of U.S.-based teams. The 26-year-old is coming off a strong year in the KHL where he put up 20 goals and 33 assists in 45 games with St. Petersburg SKA. He’s a right-hand shot and good scorer with speed, and perhaps could be a name for the Capitals to ponder.