Washington Capitals won't bring back Joe Corvo, Scott Walker

The Washington Capitals elected to make a slew of minor moves during the NHL trade deadline. If you look at it strictly from the perspective of playoff success – rather than the fact that they ran away with the Presidents’ Trophy and put up incredible regular season numbers – then it’s hard to say that those transactions made much of a difference.

It seems that Caps GM George McPhee agrees with this sentiment, at least in part. He told Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post that the team won’t look to re-sign trade deadline acquisitions Scott Walker and Joe Corvo.

“They were great, but we can only carry 23 when the season starts,” McPhee said.

Corvo finished the playoffs with a goal and an assist and a plus/minus of minus-2. The veteran had two goals and four assists and a minus-4 rating in 18 regular season games.

Walker, meantime, suited up for just one game in the playoffs and did not record a point. He played in nine games during the regular season because of injury and finished with two goals and an assist.

When asked about the status of center Eric Belanger – the other pending UFA acquired at the deadline – McPhee said, “There’s some discussion there.”

What’s the difference between Corvo/Walker and Belanger? Well, besides the whole “versatility and talent” thing? Well, you see, Belanger just seems like has that extra level of commitment. He shows that go-getter attitude you where he’d run through a wall for you. Or, you know, do this:

(Any time I have an excuse to post that horrifying video, I will. Did you see that coming?)

So, as I’ve written before, the Capitals should have plenty of cap space this summer. Why waste it on a tough but replaceable player like Walker or a flawed defenseman such as Corvo? It’ll be interesting to see how much changes in DC in the off-season. Stay tuned.