[Dirtbag59]

Hints on Alzner's future
8:37
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Karl Alzner | Capitals Top Email

Of all the bad things to come out of the Washington Capitals' first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, there's one good thing that did come out of it: They learned their young blueliners are ready for the NHL.

We already new D John Carlson had a spot on the roster next season, but Karl Alzner now likely has a spot as well. CSN's Corey Masisak writes, "As it stands Carlson and Alzner are probably the organization's fourth and fifth defensemen as the offseason approaches." Of course, that could change if the Caps make some offseason moves. There's a rumor they could look at Flames D Robyn Regehr.

But if things are status quo, coach Bruce Boudreau looks like he's good with getting those guys plenty of NHL ice-time. He told CSN, "I would venture to guess they're ready for the NHL full-time."

More on Semin trade
8:18
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Alexander Semin | Capitals Top Email

Another Caps' writer is suggesting the possibility of an Alexander Semin trade. CSN's Ryan O'Halloran writes, "Semin is owed $6 million next year and should be shipped to the Western Conference."

He points out that Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble and Nicklas Backstrom combined for 25 points in the playoffs, while everyone else had 20 points; Semin only had two points, continuing his playoff struggles.

The 26-year-old recently signed a one-year extension to take him through the end of next season, when he'll be an unrestricted free agent. Previously, the Washington Post's Mike Wise writes that Semin has been "mostly a downtrodden drag on and off the ice recently," and he missed an optional skate before Game 7, while most of his teammates were there (although Alex Ovechkin wasn't).

Also, the Toronto Star's Damien Cox wrote that Semin might be a trade candidate at some point because he simply drives people crazy: "[Caps GM George McPhee has] got a good young Swede coming, forward Marcus Johansson, and as the market for Kessel and Kovalchuk demonstrated this season, there's undoubtedly a rich harvest to be had if the Caps were to move Semin."

So if Johansson is ready, the Caps may consider dealing Semin early. They can only wish they can get a deal like the Bruins got for Phil Kessel: two first-rounders and a second-rounder. But since Semin is an impending UFA, chances are he'll be a rental player if anything.

Amazing that they still have talent coming up through the ranks. I don't know how Semin would take to being traded. Personally I wonder weather or not he would become depressed seeing as how the only guys he can really talk to are other Russians. Sending him to a team without Russians could leave him feeling isolated.

They also have another Sweed coming up through the ranks in Anton Gustafsson who could end up being that second line center we need. People wonder why we don't make big trades and the like, in reality it's probably because they have so much talent at the devleopmental level that screwing up their cap situation wouldn't be worth one or two big names with hard to move contracts. Not to mention the cost of probably giving up one of these players that could be the next great young Cap.