The Caps Signed Top Free Agent Defenseman Matt Niskanen To a 7 Year, $40.25 Million Dollar Deal
CBS – The consensus top free agent among defenseman has landed with the Washington Capitals. Matt Niskanen will join former Penguins teammate Brooks Orpik with the Capitals on a seven-year, $40.25 million contract. That’s an annual average of $5.75 million for the 27-year-old defenseman. He was the top scorer among all available defensemen with 46 points, including 10 goals in 81 games for the Penguins. He also was a standout performer in the postseason with nine points in 13 games for the Penguins. Niskanen is an eight-year veteran of the league and has 167 points in 491 career NHL games. The Capitals spent big on defense and grabbed two defenders from one of their top rivals in the process. Niskanen had his share of suitors, which meant the price was going to be high. Is he worth a $5.75 million a year? Probably not in the normal setting, but in this market, there’s a pretty good argument, but that kind of price tag for a guy who has primarily been a second-pairing defenseman could have scared some teams off. With the additions of Orpik and Niskanen, the Caps will be spending $28.7 million on their blue line this season, which is second most in the league according to CapGeek.com. Of that $28.7 million, $11.25 is tied up in Niskanen and Orpik. The Caps also boast Mike Green, who will become an unrestricted free agent after next season, on the back end. It will be interesting to see how Washington’s work today will impact their team in the efforts to re-sign Green, if they even try when the time comes.
You know what feels really good? Addressing the woes on the blue line by taking two top defensemen from the Penguins. Yesterday I blogged about Brooks Orpik signing with the Caps (for a bit of a way too big of a contract) and then during the soccer game they signed Matt Niskanen to a pretty big deal himself. Niskanen isn’t a shutdown defenseman, but he is a richer man’s Mike Green..or what Mike Green thinks he is. This is Green’s last year under contract, and I think all signs point to him already being out the door. It’ll be interesting to see how Trotz uses both of them..and no way will Trotz tolerate Green’s lackluster effort on the blue line.
Looking at their defense compared to last seasons definitely is encouraging. Is Orpik the player he used to be? No. But is he an upgrade over what was being tossed out there last year? Absolutely. Wish it wasn’t a 5 year deal (won’t be shocked to see him bought at towards the end), but it’ll help them this season. As for Niskanen, he’s entering his prime and is locked up long term. A big contract, but that’s what happens in free agency, especially when it’s a weak free agent class. Guys get paid.
Advertisement
It’s encouraging to see the Caps finally address their woes on the blue line, albeit 5 years too late. As for their depth up front, the youngins like Wilson, Latta, and MoJo will all have to step up and make shit happen. If everyone can buy into the system, play up to their potential, and we get the brilliant Holtby in net that we have been dying to see, this isn’t a bad squad at all.