The Washington Capitals made another move in securing the future of their franchise, while at the same time addressing depth at the forward position. The Capitals announced that they have signed defenseman Jeff Schultz and forward Boyd Gordon to four and one year deals respectively.
The Deals
The Capitals managed to avoid arbitration with the 24-year-old stay-at-home defenseman Jeff Schultz by inking him to an $11 million four year contract. The rugged blue liner played 73 games with the Caps last season notching three goals and 20 assists, and a league leading plus minus of plus-50. In the process the Caps shored up their forward unit by signing centre man Boyd Gordon to a one year $800,000 contract. Gordon recorded four goals and six assists, winning 61 per cent of his face-offs in an injury plagued season with the Capitals.
Locking up Schultz
The Capitals certainly were keen on locking up rock solid restricted free agent defenseman Jeff Schultz, as the $11 million contract indicates.
The signing of Schultz secures the Capitals top defensive unit and allows the team to hold on to its most practiced shutdown man. Playing with Mike Green for the majority of year Schultz allowed Green to be his dynamic offensive self by staying back and always playing responsible on the defensive side of the puck.
The Calgary native also gives the Capitals some stability over the coming years at the back end. Milan Jurcina signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets meant the Capitals needed to retain the big man. With most of the contracts coming up for Washington defensemen in the next two years, it was important for the Capitals to hold on to a solid performer that may be able to mentor young hopefuls such as former Canadian junior captain Carl Alzner.
With such a young offensively dynamic team Schultz may not seem the most important player, but he provides Washington with the consistency on the back end that allows players like Ovechkin, Backstrom and Green to flourish.
Hanging on to Gordon
The 26-year-old Gordon had a difficult 2009-10 season suffering from a back injury that kept him out of all but 36 games. Nevertheless, he is an important part to the Capitals success, especially as the team looks to make a playoff push.
Gordon, who is a defensive specialist, is very strong in the face-off circle and is able to kill penalties, a skill very important to the star-studded Washington line up. The move to hang onto Gordon for another year works for both Gordon himself and the organization. The Capitals get to take another look at a centre man who could fill that third line slot for years to come, while paying him an affordable wage.
For Gordon this is another year to prove that he belongs full time in the NHL, as his window of opportunity is closing and he needs to demonstrate his skill not only to the Capitals but perhaps to the rest of the league. Gordon should help to balance Washington’s attack by giving them another bottom six forward and providing them with a defensively responsible centre. Gordon gives the Caps additional depth at the centre ice position which is always necessary when trying to make a long playoff run. The amount of injuries sustained by a team during such a run can be devastating if there is not enough depth in the organization, Gordon gives the Capitals that much needed leeway.
The signing of Schultz and Gordon is another responsible move by Washington management. With their star performers locked up for the next couple years the club needed to secure their depth and with the signing of Schultz and Gordon they have taken the final steps in addressing that need.
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