Smith-Pelly scored seven goals during Washington's playoff run to its first Stanley Cup championship last spring, including a dazzling game-tying tally in the third period of the decisive Game 5 of the Cup Final series in Vegas. He signed a one-year contract to remain with the Capitals for 2018-19, but his production declined along with his ice time.
Smith-Pelly suited up for each of Washington's first 34 games this season, but was a healthy scratch six times in the last 26 games, including Monday's won over the Kings. He is without a point in 17 straight games and without a goal in 33 straight, since Nov. 21 against Chicago.
Even when he isn't scoring, Smith-Pelly brings other assets to the table. He kills penalties, provides physicality and is one of the team's most fearless shot blockers. Smith-Pelly has played 129 of his 395 career NHL games in a Caps sweater, the same number of games he played with his first NHL team, Anaheim.
"It's always tough to tell a player that," says Reirden. "That's part of the business, especially for someone that's in a situation like we are, pushed to the [salary] cap and trying to make our team better. But it's disappointing for him, obviously, a big part of our team success last year."
As Reirden noted, the Caps are a team whose payroll is pressed close to the upper limits of the salary cap. If Washington is working on making a trade - and that's often the purpose of abruptly placing a player on waivers at this time of year - it may need to clear cap space even to add a minimal salary. One way or another, Smith-Pelly's $1 million annual salary will come off of Washington's books at noon on Thursday, and we may learn soon afterwards why the move was made.
"There is lots going on right now," says Reirden. "Like I said, we are always trying to improve our team and the direction we're going and get better. There are lots of moving parts right now in a number of different spots."
