Should Capitals Load Up For Playoffs? 2009-10 Alum Morrison Doesn’t Think So: ‘It Wasn’t The Healthiest Thing To Go Through’

The Washington Capitals find themselves atop the NHL standings and aiming to make a big playoff run come springtime, and all the while, reports are out that the team could look to add forward depth for that run.

Names thrown around include New York Islanders center Brock Nelson and Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde, as Washington looks to ignite a spark in its 5-on-5 scoring.

However, rentals for the postseason aren't always the best idea, as alumni Brendan Morrison pointed out on the latest episode of That's DC Hockey.

Morrison was a member of the 2009-10 Capitals, who won the Presidents' Trophy and were favored to win the Stanley Cup. Washington brought in Eric Belanger, Scott Walker and Joe Corvo to bolster its depth for that run, and it changed the dynamic of the lineup.

"It kind of changed, I'm not going to say the culture of our team, but it did affect some guys because guys that had been regulars in the lineup the entire season, once we added those bodies, we started to rotate guys in and out of the lineup, and it did cause a little bit of animosity," Morrison said.

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Morrison went on to explain that the new additions led former coach Bruce Boudreau to scratch players who'd proven their worth and had been regulars in the lineup leading up to that point, leading to frustration.

"Management, from their point of view, it's probably like, 'Hey, we want to add depth, because we anticipate going on a big run here.' But it was a weird thing, I don't know if it was the healthiest thing to go through," Morrison continued.

Change like that led to frustration in the locker room, and ultimately, despite the new additions, Washington dropped a 3-1 series lead to the Montreal Canadiens and was ousted in the first round.

"It definitely had a different feel (after that), for sure," Morrison said. "It's always a touchy thing when you're adding guys to your lineup, and what pieces you're bringing in. That was a bit of a different dynamic."

Looking at the lineup now, it's no secret that the Capitals need to solve some issues, including a lack of chemistry at 5-on-5. However, adding more pieces may not necessarily be the solution, especially with youth like Ethen Frank coming up to the NHL and proving their worth.

The full episode of That's DC Hockey featuring Brendan Morrison is here on The Hockey News, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.