As I have stated elsewhere....this summer will be a very telling one for the Caps, and for GMBM. The chaos that was last summer is in the rearview mirror, and he'd had a chance to learn from it and to use that to his advantage. The team was relatively "baked in" this year due to the salary cap constraints, so we didnt get a chance to see much wheeling and dealing.
We can now. The cap is rising, we have some players leaving that we dont need (Beagle), we only have one major UFA, and we dont have an expansion draft...and all the uncertainty is holds. We have a pick in each of the first 4 rounds (5?), so we have a relatively full compliment of resources.
We kept all of our youth, so we can also determine who to keep, and who to deal. The draft is a week before FA period, so GMBM has a chance to move some players out to get some NHL ready players now (including Orpik), and can then also resign Carlson.
We can also see a new coach. So....lots going on. This is a chance for him to put his stamp on this team (again), and do it from a position of strength/certainty, versus not. Those circumstances have been where he's shined...shined in the sense of having a plan and executing it (D's the first off-season, W's the second, 3C the third).
I think he will make a very very real push for a difference maker at D (Karlsson or OEL) by trading futures, lose Orpik, and then resign Carlson. Whats left will be for vet forwards to fill bottom 6, as I see the D top 4 being very very set before FA period (Orlov, Niskanen, Carlon, D Acquired).