In this episode I'm joined by Richard Blosser of The Grit & Bear It podcast and we talk about what netminders for the Hershey Bears would be the best fit as the next netminder of The Washington Capitals.

Later in the show we talk about which player on the Hershey Bears would be a good replacement in Tom Wilson's absence.

We then go on to talk about Connor McMichael and if he would've been better served to play in the Bears considering his limited playing time with the Capitals.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Capitals want to get younger and faster. They need to do that on defense as well. I think that next year is the perfect time for Lucas Johansen. He's had some issues with injury but if the Capitals want to get younger next year is the perfect time.

Johansen has the potential to be an effective two-way defender in the NHL, playing on both the powerplay and the penalty kill. With his size, it would be nice to see him play a meaner and more physical game.

Johansen defends the rush well by keeping defenders in front of him, and forcing them to the outside. He has a quick stick, and poke checks the puck away from attackers. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pheonix has been a neminder in The Washington Capitals organization for some time. I believe his time as being the number 3 netminder has passed. The NHL is getting younger and it seems like time has passed by Pheonix.

Pheonix has several opportunities to prove himself to The Washington Capitals, but just like a scout noted he's a good option as a backup at best in the NHL.

"Owns a very projectable frame for a National Hockey League goaltender and is considered a big goalkeeper who can cover a lot of net. Is a bit of a late-blooming netminder with limited experience at the highest level. Must avoid surrendering bad goals at key times. His overall talent is limited for the highest level of competition".

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hunter won't be ready for primetime this year with the Capitals, but I think if the Capitals the time to develop him, his future is bright.

Hunter Shepard, 24, is a two-time All-American (first team in 2018-19, and second team in 2019-20), Two-time NCHC Goaltender of the Year (2018-19 and 2019-20), Three-time Mike Richter Award Finalist, and a Three-time All-NCHC selection. Hunter owns the NCAA record for consecutive starts with 115, long run that stretched between October 21, 2017 and March 7, 2020.

Hunter may take a few years to find his spot on the Capitals. I think he is poised to be a number one netminder in the NHL in a few years.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode Gil Martin of Locked On Islanders and Locked On NHL joins me and we talk about:

-Gil's thoughts on the Isles firing Barry Trotz

-Trotz didn't like to utilize younger players

-Are the Capitals interested in Varlamov?

-The netminding situation for the Islanders

-The effect Covid played on the Islanders season especially the beginning of the season

-Lamoriello wants to make hockey moves this summer

-Capitals netminding situation

-How many years is Fucale out of having a starting job on the Capitals?

If the Capitals moves on from Carlson who takes his spot?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode I talk about Zach Fucale and how I think he deserves to have a lengthier look on the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals got inconsistent netminding all season with Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samonov.

Fucale made his NHL debut on November 11, 2021, registering a 21-save shutout. In doing so he became the first goalie in Washington Capitals history to register a shutout in his NHL debut, and the first NHL goalie to do so since Garret Sparks In his second NHL game, on January 8, 2022, he did not surrender a goal until late in the third period, setting a new NHL record for the longest shutout streak to begin a career

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all know changes need to be made. But what changes? I think it's time to work in some of the younger AHL players into this lineup. Is it Zach Fucale's time to shine? Will Connor McMichael take on a bigger role? Did Lars Eller play his last game with the Capitals?

We're heading closer to the July free agency deadline. It would be in the Capitals best interest to take care of these issues before then.

Number one on the priority list is getting a solid number two netminder. The Capitals will need to sign a veteran netminder before the start of the 2022-2023. Who could that be Marc Andre Fleury or could Braden Holtby return to the district?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Considering the hip injury to Nick Backstrom and the fact that he didn't rule out retirement is Johnny Gaudreau a good fit for the Washington Capitals if Nick Backstrom retires.

Later in the show I discuss the possibility of: Ian Cole, Mason Marchment, Ilya Mikheyev, Nicholas Paul or Frank Vatrano joiing the Capitals. It should be an interesting "off-season"

The Capitals need to shake things up. They've chased the cup the last few year and haven't made it past the first round since 2018. It might be time to move on from some fan favorite Capitals.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Vitek Vanecek is an RFA. Should the Washington Capitals move him or try and retain his services. I know the Capitals are looking for a veteran netminder, but Vitek could serve as an excellent choice as a number 2 netminder for the Capitals.

Ilya was drafted in the second round (39thnd overall) in the 2014 draft. His numbers and stats aren't as bad as you'd think they are. He's career stats are 41-22 6 shutouts. GAA of 2.68 and a .908 save%

I think the Capitals should think long and hard before moving on from Vitek.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ilya Samsonov is an RFA. Should the Washington Capitals move him or try and retain his services. I know the Capitals are looking for a veteran netminder, but Ilya could serve as an excellent choice as a number 2 netminder for the Capitals.

Ilya was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2015 draft. His numbers and stats aren't as bad as you'd think they are. He's career stats are 52-22 6 shutouts. GAA of 2.81 and a .902 save%

I think the Capitals should think long and hard before moving on from Ilya.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

Rock Auto

Amazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.