Capitals Ready to Offer Defenseman Volchenkov Deal

Five weeks before free agency starts and the Capitals may already have their first target. Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov is set to become a free agent this off season. Though both Volchenkov and the Ottawa Senators have expressed interest in working out a deal, the talks seem to have stalled. "I'd like to re-sign him," said Senators GM Bryan Murray, "but the dollars don't work at the present asking price." With sources saying that Volchenkov has put his house in Ottawa up for sale, it looks like he will be moving on and Washington will be the most likely destination.

Washington is definitely interested in the tough defensemen and is reportedly willing to offer him $5 million a year in a multi year contract. The team hopes to sell him with a large offer, the chance to play with a contender, and the chance to play with numerous star countrymen such as Alexander Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov. Reports also say that the Capitals will ask Ovechkin to talk to Volchenkov to sell the deal.

While we are still five weeks away from free agency and Volchenkov is a long way off from donning the red, white, and blue jersey, this is an encouraging step from the Capitals. Volchenkov is the tough, gritty, defensive minded type of player this team so desperately needs on their back line. He was one of Ottawa's top defensemen and is consistently one of the best shot blockers in the league every year. Volchenkov's style of play is a "stay at home defenseman" who lines players up for big hits, but is reluctant offensively. This contrasts very well with the rest of the team's very aggressive style. It shows that the team has recognized the need for that defensive stalwart.

The only problem is the price tag. $5 million a year is a very steep price. The Capitals tend to outbid other teams for free agents and they do not always get their money's worth, Michael Nylander being the most obvious (and one of the most expensive) examples. It is also unlikely that the Capitals will sign only Volchenkov and wait for the season to begin, so with more players to sign, the team will need to free up some cap space. Jose Theodore's departure cannot be far off. The team will also have to decide on Alexander Semin's future sooner rather than later. Fans would hate to seem him leave and the team would hate to let him go without getting equal value in return, but such a high priced deal may force an early exit to one of the team's superstars.