GDT: 2023 Caps NHL Draft Thread

[um]

Since none of us knows what definitely will happen with the draft, and since a good operation will ask every question and prepare for every eventuality, curious what people think we might be able to get on draft night with a package of #8, Kuzy and CMM?

This could be with Mich available or already gone.

Maybe they would never do this, but maybe this specific scenario spurs some ideas.

Posing this because my favorite moves in all team sports are the ones where you go, "holy shit, where did THAT come from?!"

I like the idea of getting Marner but I’m strongly against trading the #8 pick for him.

There’s no guarantee the Caps will be competitive for Marners last two years on his deal and there’s no guarantee he’ll stay after 2 years.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Since none of us knows what definitely will happen with the draft, and since a good operation will ask every question and prepare for every eventuality, curious what people think we might be able to get on draft night with a package of #8, Kuzy and CMM?

This could be with Mich available or already gone.

Maybe they would never do this, but maybe this specific scenario spurs some ideas.

Posing this because my favorite moves in all team sports are the ones where you go, "holy shit, where did THAT come from?!"

Maybe come up with a scenario that surprises the hockey world and FAVORS the Caps?? Like we get a call offering US the 3th over all plus the 35th overall for Kuzy. Of course that wouldn't happen either (we would and should quickly reject sending out that mix of assets unless it was McDavid).

Kuzy is a legitimately good sell for a team that already has a lot of great prospects, and are ready to move up and start icing a team. GMBM should sell Kuzy as someone who will be revived in an environment where he can be allowed to be creative and paired with fast young talent. He'd be having fun, and might even become a leader in that setting. I'd try and sell a vision of that kind of future to Arizona's GM (say Kuzy and only Kuzy for the 12 OA, especially if they are super happy with who they got with the 6 OA) and sell Kuzy on the notion too. For a kid that grew up in Siberia the weather can't hurt either.

If CMM is eventually redundant he may easily bring solid returns, especially if all our the centres we have after this draft bloom and we have more great centres than we can use. We don't want him to be the next Stevenson/Siegs.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

And for the record there are no Leaf cast-offs I would want near this team. They are all mentally where the Caps were before the Cup, and have the recent playoff loss trauma top of mind.

You generally want people who have won recently or are fresh and hungry. Want to promote a winning room culture. Surely to @#×@, we don't want mopy minds. That's why we will be moving Kuzy.

 

[crazy8888]

And for the record there are no Leaf cast-offs I would want near this team. They are all mentally where the Caps were before the Cup, and have the recent playoff loss trauma top of mind.

You generally want people who have won recently or are fresh and hungry. Want to promote a winning room culture. Surely to @#×@, we don't want mopy minds. That's why we will be moving Kuzy.

I disagree. Most of Caps core were labeled as playoff chokers until they finally won. Who is more hungrier than a player who is labeled a choker? I say take a chance on these cast offs.

 

[um]

And for the record there are no Leaf cast-offs I would want near this team. They are all mentally where the Caps were before the Cup, and have the recent playoff loss trauma top of mind.

You generally want people who have won recently or are fresh and hungry. Want to promote a winning room culture. Surely to @#×@, we don't want mopy minds. That's why we will be moving Kuzy.

We’ve seen this over and over again in recent history. Guys like Oshie, Tkachuk, Kessel and so on were labeled playoff chokers only for the next team to reap the rewards.

If we can get a good deal on a top line forward, which we badly need, we should certainly inquire.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I disagree. Most of Caps core were labeled as playoff chokers until they finally won. Who is more hungrier than a player who is labeled a choker? I say take a chance on these cast offs.

Thank you for disagreeing, you are correct. That was a hot take on my part.

I should say each player should be judged independently, and there potentially could be a fit or two from their roster (I don’t know their roster well enoughto suggest any). I would still want us to keep focused on younger, cost.manged prospects.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Size isn’t an automatic deal breaker if he’s willing and able to get his nose dirty. It’s an element.

Pasta, Kane, St. Louis, Kucherov.

All smallish wings. All MVP/Cup winners.
I’d be more concerned about the Russia factor.

Not what I would say are smallish, but that’s me. If he’s a true elite talent, he’s probably gone anyway.

 

[Calicaps]

Not what I would say are smallish, but that’s me. If he’s a true elite talent, he’s probably gone anyway.

And on the other hand, as cool as it is to be in the top 10, a number 8 pick isn't a guarantee no matter what. So why play it safe? I say swing for the fences. If he's there, you have to take him.

 

[Raikkonen]

Id take Nylander and run cast off or not.

 

[Silky mitts]

Id take Nylander and run cast off or not.

That's less value than trading the 10th pick for a year and a half of Erat

 

[Langway]

Could be a spot for Reinbacher if he's still on the board at 7.

The issues with Nylander would be:

- the resulting cap dumps to follow, likely minus leverage in what should be a buyer's market
- extending him and Wilson both with less remaining to upgrade D/C
- likely needing to trade Oshie to maximize Nylander's PP role
- strengthening the room further minus 77

They do need another goal-scorer. Nylander just bagged 40 and should have at least another five solid years in him. For what he is I found him to be more effective in the playoffs than Marner. As a 2RW he would immediately give them a formidable second-line, even if his C is completely up in the air. It seems hard to believe the 8th pick alone gets it done but stranger things have happened. Cap relief is not nothing. Perhaps Toronto could add Benson, Reinbacher or Moore with that pick and be able to bring back a number of pending UFAs back with a bit left over. This would probably be a best-case for moving the pick. With just a year left on his current deal there would be some risk acquiring him without an extension but you'd think at least informal talks would be had.

All that said I think Marner should be the more likely piece to move given that he has an extra year remaining on his contract, a larger cap hit and still is a piece that teams may pay a hefty chunk for compared to Nylander. If Toronto wants max value for Nylander they should probably wait until after the draft and UFA dies down, let Nylander negotiate an extension and then move him. Have to wonder if the 8th pick isn't on the table then maybe next year's first would be and you'd think some teams may swarm believing there's a decent chance it could be relatively high again.

 

[Marshall]

SportsNet's Bukala and Constantino put out their Top 16 Mock. Guess who the Caps draft?

 

[Rayquaza64]

Every major prospect talking head loves to put michkov in the 8 spot..

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I would be very pleased if Michkov was available at 8 and would want us to take him. Who knows maybe he wants to play with the Caps and is trying to fake-out all the other teams with the long contract (and Caps know he can get out - I know that's woo woo, but who knows).

At most I would give up next year's first (protected) or some of our THREE 2nd round 2025 picks.

It's always great to have a star, but if you want cups having a broad base of cost controlled young talent is golden in the NHL right now (McDavid says hi).

Stocking up on as many high prospects from out list from THIS draft is the best way for the Caps to position for Cup runs in the shortest time possible.

Move Kuzy for another 1st round pick (12, 15, 17, 19, & 22 are potential targets). Then, if there are still players on our internal list try for an extra early round 2nd - Detroit has THREE right after our 40 OA. Would they take two of our three 2025 2nd round picks for 41? Would someone else in the 33 - 39 range?

Remember, some.of these teams are stocked up with prospects and might be happy to effectively shift their 2nd back a few years to get a better handle on their current pool's development.

So where would we be if we came away with four picks in this draft from 8 - 41. We'd probably no longer be in the bottom 10 prospect wise.

You could then have next year's 1st some of the extra 2nds and any of our suddenly overstocked prospect pool to make hockey trades. Lotta powder. With cost controlled ELC talent contributing in 2 years and Backstrom (and maybe Carlson) $ eventually available then use that on the UFA pool in 2024 or 2025 and go get two more Cups.

All for illustrative purposes, of course.

 

[HTFN]

Id take Nylander and run cast off or not.

Watching the games he was dangerous a lot, his shot is no joke and he really gets moving. I don't know anything contract wise but I thought he was a good player for them in the Tampa series (missed more of the Florida one)

 

[Raikkonen]

That's less value than trading the 10th pick for a year and a half of Erat

I missed the condition we have to trade 8OA for him? Then f them all, no way.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Watching the games he was dangerous a lot, his shot is no joke and he really gets moving. I don't know anything contract wise but I thought he was a good player for them in the Tampa series (missed more of the Florida one)

He’s exactly the type of top-6, skill and speed injection this team needs….

An extension would have to be negotiated and agreed on, because he would be painful in cost to acquire.

 

[YippieKaey]

For those who are into predictions i just learned that Columbus head scout is swede Josef Boumedienne, who is also the assistant GM if the Swedish national team in this years WC. He seems to have a good relationship with Leo Carlsson according to an article in a national paper today.

So Carlsson is probably heading for Columbus. Laine-Carlsson-Gaudreau could be a good first line in a couple years i guess.

 

[kicksavedave]

Does anyone remember why Forsberg dropped to us in his draft year? I don't remember the details but I recall the draft thread watching with giddy anticipation as he kept sliding and when GMGM called his name, there was jubilation.

Seems like Miro and CMM and even Lappy all slid somewhat to the Caps in their draft years as well, yes? Seems like BMac likes "value" picks.

 

[HTFN]

Does anyone remember why Forsberg dropped to us in his draft year? I don't remember the details but I recall the draft thread watching with giddy anticipation as he kept sliding and when GMGM called his name, there was jubilation.

Seems like Miro and CMM and even Lappy all slid somewhat to the Caps in their draft years as well, yes? Seems like BMac likes "value" picks.

There wasn't a tangible reason that I remember, I can't recall if he was a slider or if it had more to do with other guys' stock rising late in the year.

Actually looking at it, there was just a huge run on D after the top two forward picks, so just a lot of teams trying for a mix of BPA and positional need? Outside of a few huge whiffs you're looking at a tier of D prospects that includes Rielly, Lindholm, Dumba, and Trouba, kind of seems like as soon as Rielly was taken they just went like dominoes with everyone taking the next guy on the board, until suddenly the "potential top 5" pick was sliding hard

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Does anyone remember why Forsberg dropped to us in his draft year? I don't remember the details but I recall the draft thread watching with giddy anticipation as he kept sliding and when GMGM called his name, there was jubilation.

Seems like Miro and CMM and even Lappy all slid somewhat to the Caps in their draft years as well, yes? Seems like BMac likes "value" picks.

Speed and skating ability. There were concerns about his first-step and his ability to separate from NHL defensemen. There were also a few questions around his physicality. He was 6’2” and around 190 pounds during his draft season and some scouts thought he got bumped off the puck too easily. Mainly though it was foot speed and I believe even McPhee said they were worried about it which is why they traded him and not Wilson.

Miro and Lapierre slipped due to health concerns with Miro recovering from cancer and Lapi having concussion concerns. Also Miro and the other Russians fell due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. McMichael I don’t think slipped, from what I recall the scouts were all over the place with him… some saw him as a top 15-20 player and some saw him as a late first rounder or early second rounder.

Edit: one of the guys who slipped the most was Brett Leason. He was seen as first round pick and I remember one of the analysts in NHLN calling him “the steal of the draft” when the Caps got him.

 

[Silky mitts]

Does anyone remember why Forsberg dropped to us in his draft year? I don't remember the details but I recall the draft thread watching with giddy anticipation as he kept sliding and when GMGM called his name, there was jubilation.

He was still the 3rd forward taken. It helped that Yzerman was picking 1 pick before and went super off script.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Speed and skating ability. There were concerns about his first-step and his ability to separate from NHL defensemen. There were also a few questions around his physicality. He was 6’2” and around 190 pounds during his draft season and some scouts thought he got bumped off the puck too easily. Mainly though it was foot speed and I believe even McPhee said they were worried about it which is why they traded him and not Wilson.

Miro and Lapierre slipped due to health concerns with Miro recovering from cancer and Lapi having concussion concerns. Also Miro and the other Russians fell due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. McMichael I don’t think slipped, from what I recall the scouts were all over the place with him… some saw him as a top 15-20 player and some saw him as a late first rounder or early second rounder.

Edit: one of the guys who slipped the most was Brett Leason. He was seen as first round pick and I remember one of the analysts in NHLN calling him “the steal of the draft” when the Caps got him.

I know I’m going off topic, but I’m not sure why leason got so much hype. He was a double overager playing in the WHL, you’d hope he produces. I like the player they drafted along with leason from that PA team a lot though!

And I hope michkov is a faller like some of those other guys mentioned!

 

[Hivemind]

I know I’m going off topic, but I’m not sure why leason got so much hype. He was a double overager playing in the WHL, you’d hope he produces. I like the player they drafted along with leason from that PA team a lot though!

And I hope michkov is a faller like some of those other guys mentioned!

Leason got hype because he was on WJHC for Canada, and therefor it was more than just the hardcore scouts who knew him.

 

[CapsJunkie]

Michkof isnt falling to us