What the Blues could learn from Capital's successful off-season retool

The Blues had missed the prior season's playoffs, and the Washington Capitals were swept in round one after just making it into the playoff picture.

Yet, one cannot judge a roster on paper alone. Both the Blues and the Caps proved analysts and experts wrong, the Caps by finishing the 2024-25 season 2nd overall in the NHL, and the Blues, under Jim Montgomery, by ending the season strong to secure a wildcard spot in the West.

The Capitals, on the effort of the offseason signings, got to the 2nd round of the playoffs, while the Blues were only minutes from defeating the President Trophy winner Winnipeg Jets, and advancing in the playoffs.

Typically, retools are done through draft picks and free agent signings, after finishing in the bottom one-third of the standings. Caps, however, showed you don't have to tank.

In February of 2023, the Caps traded for Dmitry Orlov and Garet Hathaway to the Bruins for a 1st-round pick, and flipped it for Sandin, marking the start of the retool, and getting younger on D. Rasmus posted 30 points and played well in top-four action.

Caps then traded for Mangiapane and Logan Thompson, both of whom had a great season, the former posting positive expected-goals-for (per Natural Stat Trick), while Logan Thompson was instrumental in the team qualifying for playoffs.

Caps also got younger, and better, with the additions of McMichael and Protas, both 24 years of age with top-six potential.

Smart signings of undervalued players, adding youth, and savvy play by team veteran Ovechkin (we all know of the season he just had that helped the Caps get better). The Blues can only benefit from taking a page from the Cap's playbook.