The Washington Capitals successfully retooled their roster last summer. After being swept by the New York Rangers, the Capitals had a choice. They could enter a rebuild, trading players away before NHL Free Agency and stockpiling draft capital. Or they could add pieces and make a run at the postseason.
With a player like Alex Ovechkin on the roster, the choice was clear. Washington added players such as Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, and Jakob Chychrun to fortify their roster. In the end, it worked wonders for this organization.
The Capitals finished the season as the best team in the Eastern Conference. They matched up with the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the postseason as a result, This time, they were not swept. The Habs were eliminated by Washington in five games.
Washington’s postseason run ended with a defeat in the second round. But this season showed they aren’t far off from Stanley Cup contention. Adding a bit of depth in NHL Free Agency could go a long way toward a deep playoff run in 2026.
There is an intriguing forward set to hit the open market that the Capitals should look into. Vancouver Canucks forward Pius Suter had a successful stint in British Columbia over the last two seasons. Washington should try bringing him to the capital of the United States this summer.
Why Pius Suter Fits With Capitals
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesPius Suter could be a worthwhile addition for the Washington Capitals in NHL Free Agency.
Suter joined the Canucks in the summer of 2023 after two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Suter was a solid depth piece during his first year in Vancouver. Last season, though, he put it all together into an impressive career-best showing.
Suter scored 25 goals and 46 points for the Canucks in 2024-25. This marks the first time the Swiss forward scored more than 20 goals and 40 points in a single campaign. And he’s set himself up to cash in nicely in NHL Free Agency.
The Capitals can use a player with his skill set in the bottom six. More specifically, they need a third-line center to play ahead of Nic Dowd. Dowd is the best fourth-line center in the NHL, and he may be the best defensive forward in the league, as well.
Suter can move up and down the lineup as needed. In fact, he can even kick over to the wing if that’s what the situation calls for. Overall, the fit would make sense for the Capitals if they agreed to terms in the NHL Free Agency.
Canucks Still Trying to Sign Suter, Other UFAs
Vancouver has one other notable name it needs to re-sign this summer. Along with Suter, Brock Boeser is also an unrestricted free agent. Boeser could command significant money on the open market. Vancouver only has $12 million in available space to work with.
Where things stand with Boeser remains to be seen. However, the Canucks are trying to get something done with Suter. A report from Vancouver insider Rick Dhaliwal indicates the team has reached out to the veteran forward.
“I believe the Canucks have reconnected with Pius Suter’s camp in the last 24 hours. I believe contract talks are back on. Canucks are clearly having a tough time getting a top-six centre done. There is one in-house, and that is Suter. Let’s see if this goes anywhere,” Dhaliwal said on Friday.
Signing with the Canucks would give Suter the chance to prove himself as a top-six center. This is a chance he would not get with the Capitals. However, Washington provides a better chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. It will be interesting to see if contention is enough to pry Suter out of Vancouver this summer.
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