Each addition was expected to fill a void the team either felt they needed or was necessary from departures. Radko Gudas was expected to provide the Washington Capitals with a replacement for the retired Brooks Orpik as a more defensive responsible defenseman to groom the younger players.
Richard Panik was looked to fill the gap left by Brett Connolly who left in free agency to join the Florida Panthers.
Garnet Hathaway and Brendan Leipsic were both brought in to push the incumbents on the fourth line in Travis Boyd and Chandler Stephenson.