The Caps made four cuts this morning — defenseman Karl Alzner and forwards Alexandre Giroux, Keith Aucoin and Brandon Sugden.
Alzner played 30 games for the Caps last season and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft, but the team has too many defensemen on NHL contracts (Alzner’s entry-level deal exempts him from waivers) and he probably didn’t “Wow” the Caps enough like Bruce Boudreau said he needed to do.
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Giroux had 75 goals for the Hershey Bears last year between the regular and postseason despite playing 12 games for the Caps. Aucoin had 96 points in the regular season and 23 more in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Both Giroux and Aucoin have to clear waivers to go to Hershey. Aucoin has a one-way contract, so he will make $500,000 whether he is in Hershey or Washington. Giroux has a two-way deal, so he makes a pro-rated version of $150,000 for every day he’s in the AHL.
Sugden has never played in the NHL, but did get in two preseason games for the Caps. He fought Donald Brashear twice in New York on Thursday, but it remains to be seen if he will make Hershey’s team or not.
