Sergei Shumakov shook up an otherwise quiet August for the Washington
Capitals'; front office.

After re-signing John Carlson, Tom Wilson, and Brooks Orpik, it appeared that
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan';s offseason work was done. They were
slated to bring back their entire Stanley Cup winning roster, save a backup
goaltender and a fourth line center.

Then, seemingly out of thin air, they inked the 25-year-old Russian winger to
a one-year contract worth $925,000.

While the Caps'; forward ranks'; only departure came on the fourth line,
Shumakov';s potential is certainly higher than that of a fourth line
plug-in. He is an undeniably skilled player. In Shumakov';s most recent KHL
season, he notched 40 points in 47 games. For reference, in his final full KHL
campaign, Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 44 points in 51 games.

Only time will tell if this skill will translate to the NHL, where the ice
surface is smaller and the playing style is more physical. But from the Caps';
top line to the minors, there';s an argument to be made for Shumakov to slot
in just about anywhere.Shumakov in the Top-Six

As noted, Shumakov certainly has talent. Beyond his numbers, a simple search of
 his name on YouTube will reveal several instances of him finessing through
defenses and scoring in creative fashions.

The challenge for him will be maintaining this magic at hockey';s highest
level. A major asset in this effort could be the aforementioned Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov himself faced initial struggles adapting from the speedy,
skill-driven style of the KHL, to the physical, tight-checking NHL game. The
experience of overcoming these struggles and blossoming into a star could make
 him an invaluable mentor to Shumakov.Washington Capitals center Evgeny
Kuznetsov (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

If Shumakov is able to adjust like Kuznetsov did, there are spots for him to
land in the top-six.

Perhaps Wilson will struggle out of the gates on the top line with Kuznetsov
and Alex Ovechkin. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden could elect to replace
Wilson, who plays more of a defensive, space-clearing role, with someone whose
skill better matches that of Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Shumakov may be an option
 in this scenario.

Up-and-comers Andre Burakovsky and Jakub Vrana commonly occupied the wing on
Washington';s second line last season - the Capitals often used them as
interchangeable parts. If Shumakov demonstrates that he could be at least as
effective as these two, there won';t be much hesitation to add a third seat to
the carousel and experiment with him in that role.Shumakov in the Bottom-Six

If Shumakov does not show the prowess necessary to break into the top-six, he
could still be an asset on a depth line.

The Caps'; third line was often an offensive threat last season. The odd man
out of the Burakovsky-Vrana second line rotation usually landed here. Former
first-round pick Lars Eller still shows flashes of the offensive aptitude that
once made him a top prospect at center. In June, it was the third line that
connected for the Caps'; Cup-clinching goal.

Right-winger Brett Connolly has scored some tremendously important goals for
the Capitals, but Shumakov may be a more purely offensive player. If the Caps
want to lean into the offensive orientation of this third line, Shumakov could
replace Connolly.

The fourth line in Washington is slated for an injection of youth. In today';s
 NHL, 'youth'; is synonymous with 'speed.'; On the fourth line, defensive
responsibilities are unavoidable. But if Shumakov can handle these
responsibilities, his skating could nicely compliment the youngsters that step
into the Capitals'; bottom trio.Shumakov a Good Gamble for Washington

The worst-case scenario for both the Capitals and Shumakov is obvious: Shumakov
 is unable to adapt his offensive play to the tighter playstyle of the NHL, and
 cannot handle the defensive responsibilities of a bottom-six forward. This
would render him useless on an NHL roster.

If this occurs, Shumakov';s road leads to Hershey and the AHL. From there, he
wouldn';t be in the Capitals organization for long. Given his successful KHL
career, Shumakov would almost certainly return to Russia or try his luck with
another NHL squad over spending his prime in the minor leagues.CSKA Moscow';s
Sergei Shumakov (now a member of the Washington Capitals) (Photo by Anton
Novoderezhkin/TASS via Getty Images)

Despite the possible downside, signing Shumakov was a safe bet by MacLellan.
The best-case scenario? Shumakov becomes the newest Artemi Panarin. His
offensive upside carries over to the NHL ice and he becomes a highly sought
after NHL talent. The worst? Shumakov is a liability in Washington, and gets
buried in the AHL. There, his meager $925,000 salary isn';t likely to weigh
down the Capitals from a personnel standpoint.

In the risk/reward equation, the reward far outweighs the risk.

The post Capitals'; Shumakov Could Land Anywhere in Lineup appeared first on
The Hockey Writers.

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