According to Tarik El-Bashir, who spoke with two sources familiar with the Capitals’ offseason plans, shutdown defenseman Anton Volchenkov will not be pursued by GM George McPhee:

The Caps “are not going to make him an offer,” one of the sources familiar with Washington’s plans told me.

While the identity of these sources and their credibility is unknown, Volchenkov’s desired salary – in the $4 to $6 million range – make him difficult to sign.

This report runs contrary to a previous rumor in which the Caps were a favorite to land the 6’1" 226 pound defenseman.