The Future

Probably the most significant personnel question the Caps must address this season is to identify their goaltender of the future.

Coach BB has paid the proper respect to Jose Theodor by naming him the #1 goaltender coming into training camp but here's the thing - there's no way he should start any more than 40 games unless both of the rookies completely tank and they need wins to make the playoffs.

In other words - the future is now.

Both Neuvirth and Varlamov have demonstrated that they warrant full consideration for the job. Varly got all the headlines and accolades for his playoff performance last year - but Neuvirth led the Bears to a Calder Cup. I'd like to see each of them play at least twenty games - or thirty or more games for a clear favorite should he emerge. I expect Theodore to compete and demonstrate why he's the starting goaltender, but he has to understand that he is not the future of the organization and he can't expect ice time to be commensurate with performance. Coming into next year's training camp the Capitals should have a clear idea of who their starting goaltender is and that means the rookies need to play at the NHL level as much as possible.