How do the Caps Turn Things Around?

After losing nine of their first eleven games including an embarrassing 5-2 blowout loss in Pittsburgh, front office desperation seems to be taking hold of the Capitals’ front office.  It was reported on ESPN Sunday that Capitals’ General Manager George McPhee has begun inquiring about possible trades.  They had no specifics, but the fact that he’s looking is an indication of just how bad things have gone for the Caps this season.

A shortened season pretty much throws the normal dynamics of the NHL out the window, but even so I think we can safely say the Caps have underachieved even by the most pessimistic of standards.  I knew the team would struggle for the first month or so as they figured out Adam Oates’ new system, but I also assumed they would be able to pick up points along the way.  Five out of a possible 22 points to start the season and an NHL-worst record means that the team needs to turn the ship around now or the season will be over as quickly as it began.

So what options does McPhee have to try and keep the train from derailing completely?

Adam Oates could be sweating a little bit about his job security, but do not expect a coaching change anytime soon.  Things may be bad right now, but it would be unfair to place the blame solely on his shoulders.  Oates was not allowed to even contact his team during the lockout, let alone coach them.  When the lockout was finally lifted, NHL teams were given a whopping 6 days for training camp.  With a condensed season, the team also has fewer days in between games, meaning fewer practices.  Oates has made his share of mistakes, but that is to be expected based on the circumstances.

Also, since a lot of the Caps’ problems stem from having to learn a new system from a new coach, you are not going to solve that problem by bringing in a fourth coach in two years.

Rumors began flying over the weekend that the Caps were interested in goalie Roberto Luongo after Vancouver’s GM, Mike Gillis, was spotted by cameras during Sunday’s game in DC.  Both McPhee and Gillis have stated they have not discussed a trade for Luongo and let’s hope they’re telling the truth; bringing him in would make no sense.

Of all the many problems the Caps have had so far, goaltending is by no means the most glaring.  Neither goalie is getting any help from the defense.  While Braden Holtby has looked terrible, Michal Neuvirth has been fairly solid.  True, he has had his own inconsistencies and let in some soft goals, but in many games he was the only thing keeping the Caps competitive.

There’s also a reason Vancouver is trying to trade Luongo.  He has a massive contract that extends through the 2021-22 season and a cap hit of $5.3 million.  Add that to Ovechkin and Backstrom’s contract and good luck trying to build a team with what little room remains of the salary cap.

Vancouver has been shopping Luongo since the beginning of the offseason and they have yet to pull the trigger on a deal.  Chances are they are asking for a lot in return.  It does not make sense to give up what Vancouver is expecting to obtain a massive contract to solve the least pressing of the Caps’ many problems.

The Caps have a much greater need for a scoring winger and a top-four defenseman.  The Caps rank 24^th in goals per game and 27^th in goals against per game.  The problem for McPhee is finding available players at a reasonable cost.  It is hard to find a high-impact player that a team would be willing to give up for very little.  As Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault seem to have fallen out of favor with Oates, McPhee could perhaps look to use them as trade bait.  Neither, however, is likely to return the type of player the Caps would be seeking.

At this point, coming off the heels of the Caps’ worst game of the season, it may be best to stand pat.  Fans of course never appreciate it when their team gives up on a season, but I do not see the point in trading prospects or draft picks to try and salvage a season that may be past saving.  No, it is not too late to turn things around, but should the Caps continue collapsing, chances are they will hold a very high draft slot.  At this point, those picks are worth more than a rental player.

The Caps will either have to turn things around on their own or use next year’s draft to bring in the type of young, dynamic talent this team suddenly seems to be missing.

For the latest DC sports news, follow me on Twitter @TheDC_Sportsguy