Sergei Shumakov signing is perfect for Capitals in every way

The Washington Capitals are preparing for a run at back to back Stanley Cups, and making signings like Sergei Shumakov is the how you get there.

With training camp just around the corner, the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals added some roster competition with a brilliant signing of former KHLer Sergei Shumakov, but the genius of this move goes far beyond just training camp competition.

The Washington Capitals signed the 25-year-old left winger Sergei Shumakov to a one-year, two-way entry-level contract with an annual cap hit of $925,000, the team announced on Saturday.

Shumakov, who turns 26 years old on Sep.4, has spent the first seven years of his professional career in his home country Russia, primarily in the KHL. In the 2017-18 season, Shumakov scored 17 goals and 40 points in 47 games for CSKA Moscow. CSKA released Shumakov from his contract on Monday amidt a contract holdout, making him a free agent. He also played with Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk in 2009-10, which was the year Kuznetsov was drafted 26th overall by the Capitals.

Shumakov is a natural stick-handler and a great goal scorer and adds some great wing depth for Washington to at least solidify their bottom six. While it’s not a lock that Shumakov will make the Capitals opening night roster out of training camp, there’s a high chance he could be in the lineup Oct.4 against Boston for the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony.

His competition will likely be Nathan Walker and Chandler Stephenson to make the roster, and if he beats them both you can expect him on the fourth line barring any injuries to the Capitals top nine forwards.

While the signing is great on paper for wing depth, it can’t be ignored the message that this is sending to 23-year-old winger Andre Burakovsky as he heads into the biggest season of his career, which also happens to be a contract year. This is his final warning that if he cannot step and produce at the rate that’s been expected of him for some time, he will be replaced. There will be no tolerance for unexcused scoring droughts this time. He’s been battered with unlucky injuries the last few seasons, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance that make him a force to be reckoned with if he can put it all together.

While everything is pointing heavily towards a long-awaited breakout season for Burakovsky, if he for some reason still cannot find a consistent groove and become the full-time top-six winger he was drafted to be, Shumakov can step into that top nine role and pick up the slack. If Burakovsky does put it together this season, then Shumakov will do great bolstering the Capitals fourth line as a goal-scoring threat.

Now there is always the issue of how long it will take Shumakov to adjust to the NHL level right out of the KHL, and he would not be the first KHLer to have trouble adjusting to the North American game. Even if the signing is a total bust and Shumakov doesn’t even make the team out of camp, it doesn’t matter. Shumakov can be sent to the Hershey Bears without waivers and help on an AHL team in desperate need of depth. Washington cannot lose in this scenario.

This is the kind of singing that gives you the depth you need to go on a deep playoff run, much like the Devante Smith-Pelly signing for Washington last offseason. At its simplest level, the Capitals get some more depth on the left wing, but goes far beyond that.

If all goes perfectly Shumakov could be a top six forward, while also lighting a fire under a younger player like Burakovsky to get them going, and there’s no consequence is it doesn’t work out. This is a no-risk, high reward move that could pay dividends towards the Capitals quest to go back to back.