On the eve of the free agent window opening, Tarik El-Bashir caught up with Capitals GM George McPhee for some final thoughts as the team looks to secure its own players and bolster its lineup.

Bashir's quick back-and-forth with McPhee didn't reveal much but the typical company line of "we'll wait and see," but any die-hard Caps fan knows that George McPhee is more secretive with roster information than CIA agents in the District.

A year ago, the Caps played the "best player available" card at the draft and then reached for Anton Gusfasson. Then again, same card, different Swede, a player none of us really knew about until two seconds after he was announced and the Caps blogosphere scrambled to find out who he was.

Of course, he also said the Caps wouldn't be active at the trade deadline, and true to his word, they weren't. But in any case, if history tells us anything, it's that George McPhee is a riddle of a GM.

So that's why we're here to read between the lines for you and provide the "real" meanings behind McPhee's choice words.

"Don't expect us to do big money deals or long-term deals," McPhee said. "Those just haven't worked around the league. For the last several years, there have been lots of players that have signed big money deals and you'd be hard pressed to find a handful that were any good. It seems that six months after those deals are signed, GMs are trying to move that same guy."

Translation: Not trying to single anyone out, but let's just say I learned a little lesson with one M. Nylander...no that's too obvious, Michael N., that should keep it low-profile.

"So we're going to be prudent tomorrow and see if there's anything makes sense for our club. If there is, we'll be involved and try to sign somebody. But if doesn't make sense, we're not going to do anything right now. No deal is better than a bad deal."

Translation: There are numerous free agents out there that could bolster our lineup, but some jackass with a no-movement-clause likes collecting his salary from the press box and our two goalie prospects are better than our $4.5 million goalie. Hey Sergei, got any friends over there who might need a "top-line center" and "former Hart trophy winner"?

"If it's the right player at the right money, we'll be interested," he added. "But it's not going to be big money. The teams that have done that regret it. Don't be surprised if we sit this one out."

Translation: I've got $3 million, take it or leave Mr. Camarelli.

"The forward position, if we could add some more talent or depth we would. On defense we're fine. Goaltending we're fine. We have enough [forwards] internally, we believe, to be a good team, a playoff team. But if there's something that makes us really good, we'll be involved. If not, we'll just go with what we have."

Translation: I think we are just one, tall, non-physical, puck-moving defender away from the Cup.

Happy free agency day, and here's to hoping that GMGM makes smart moves if he makes any at all. Good luck, George!

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