It's no secret that the Washington Capitals are at a crossroads.
The rag-tag group of underdogs managed to make the playoffs after missing out entirely last season, but the Capitals are still very much a team in transition.
Alex Ovechkin is entering the final two years of his contract, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov are no longer the centers the team is building the rest of its roster around and the youth movement is in full swing.
That being said, what's the biggest thing that's missing from the group?
It's simple and something that's on a majority of the rosters across the league: a point-per-game player.
Dylan Strome, of course, is the closest thing Washington has to that; he continues to get better and better as the gamble general manager Brian MacLellan took on him ages well. He had 27 goals and 67 points in 82 games this season, and at 27, there's still only room for him to grow.
As for goal-scoring, Ovechkin still managed to hit the 30-goal mark, but looking at his season as a whole, including his lackluster start to the year, whether he can maintain his pace and continue to defy Father Time is the biggest question.
Beyond those two, the Capitals' offense needs more firepower, speed and grit. D.C. averaged just 2.53 goals per game this season, the fifth-least in the NHL, and though the power play heated up toward the end of the year, it's missing that extra punch, that X-factor that was once played by Backstrom and Kuznetsov.
MacLellan said the team will explore all of its options both internally and externally, but looking at the names in the system like Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, head coach Spencer Carbery made a good point on exit day: it's not fair to expect those rising prospects, who are still finding their footing at the highest level, to put up those numbers a-la Brayden Point or Steven Stamkos in the immediate future.
That leaves MacLellan with a big task: look outside for help this offseason. And with the team expected to have more cap flexibility to work with, especially if T.J. Oshie chooses not to return, a big move is doable.
It won't be easy to pull off, but there are multiple options, with the trade market sure to present a plethora of options and free agency sure to feature some strong names come July 1.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers are two names to watch in particular; neither team has a lot of cap flexibility this summer and a number of free agents to address, including the likes of Sam Reinhart, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen.
MacLellan can also use the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas to see what trades may be out there.
In the end, what Washington needs is to make a splash and spend for a big name, and with Ovechkin entering the twilight of his career and chasing down Wayne Gretzky's record with his team transitioning, the time for that splash is now.
