Entering his second summer leading the Washington Capitals’ front office, General Manager Brian MacLellan held more pressing priorities than finding a permanent third-line center, but the vacancy lingered in his mind nonetheless. Still, between signing Justin Williams, trading for T.J. Oshie and negotiating new deals for three high-profile restricted free agents, all higher on MacLellan’s stated checklist at the start of the offseason, little cash remained for addressing secondary needs. Simply put, the funds were allocated elsewhere, forecasting an in-house battle for the spot predominantly filled by Eric Fehr last season.
“I’m not sure,” MacLellan said, when asked for his No.