Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXXVIII (It's Working! Let's Fix It.)

[Raikkonen]

Getting Hainsey like Dman for Defense and Vanek like forward for Offense could be a good way to call it trade deadline.

The chemistry? Well, I dont know

If it comes down to cap space I'd part with Winnik just because Connolly sounds like capable 3rd line winger in case of injuries (also not that big of a salary to clear) and Wilson sounds like much younger Winnik type player under Caps' control.

Backstrom, Kuzy and Eller as top-9 centers
Ovechkin, Oshie, Williams, Johansson, new X player, Burakovsky as top-9 wingers

then we have Connolly, Wilson, Winnik, Vrana, Carey as wingers..

Getting capable defender could help in a form of letting digned dmen rest in the latter part of the season. We are still fielding guys like Alzner and Carlson everyday even if we know they have issues. Getting a Hainsey level guy will let Barry to use him. Chorney then is #8. Good enough.

Chemistry? Assets management? I don't care. GMBM has to decide on those matters.


PS: Duchene? Well, only if for Oshie. That would be kind of good trade. Oshie+ I mean.

 

[Ridley Simon]

ONE Freaking Cheesey Loss to the Pens

And this board is becoming unreadable again.

Sigh.

Trashing everyone in sight for 2 weeks, but no. Lets focus on one of the cheesiest wins a team can get against us (2-3 massive puck luck goals, #3, #4, and #5; added to an illegal goal #6.......and we still battled back to tie them and force OT, even after ALL of that) that was won via the coin flip (3on3). If there was a cheese level to sports wins and losses, this one would rank way way up high on the nacho level. On most nights in Caps history, they lose a game like this going away. 7-4 or something. I saw the way they battled and came back (3rd game in 4nights) as a terrific sign. But everyone else.......

let's all ignore the earlier 5-2 pasting of a week ago. Just Focus On This One (Amirite?...)

Now we can't beat Pittsburgh, they are far better than us, we will automatically lose if we don't get Stud Player X now (not to mention we cannot fit Stud Player X into our salary structure....but this is fantasy land hockey, so please keep playing). Stud Player X will def guarantee a win against Pittsburgh. OH Woe is Me, that GMBM won't go get Stud Player X to guarantee victory and end my years and years of Cup less misery (I started being a fan w Ovechkin). Plus I'm sure Pittsburgh will go and get Stud Player X ... And probably Stud Player Y as well

Yeesh, some of you people.

 

[RandyHolt]

Your post is harder to read than the others

 

[BobRouse]

And this board is becoming unreadable again.

Sigh.

Trashing everyone in sight for 2 weeks, but no. Lets focus on one of the cheesiest wins a team can get against us (2-3 massive puck luck goals, #3, #4, and #5; added to an illegal goal #6.......and we still battled back to tie them and force OT, even after ALL of that) that was won via the coin flip (3on3). If there was a cheese level to sports wins and losses, this one would rank way way up high on the nacho level. On most nights in Caps history, they lose a game like this going away. 7-4 or something. I saw the way they battled and came back (3rd game in 4nights) as a terrific sign. But everyone else.......

let's all ignore the earlier 5-2 pasting of a week ago. Just Focus On This One (Amirite?...)

Now we can't beat Pittsburgh, they are far better than us, we will automatically lose if we don't get Stud Player X now (not to mention we cannot fit Stud Player X into our salary structure....but this is fantasy land hockey, so please keep playing). Stud Player X will def guarantee a win against Pittsburgh. OH Woe is Me, that GMBM won't go get Stud Player X to guarantee victory and end my years and years of Cup less misery (I started being a fan w Ovechkin). Plus I'm sure Pittsburgh will go and get Stud Player X ... And probably Stud Player Y as well

Yeesh, some of you people.

Yeah I definitely concur. Fluke game. Pens score 3 fluke goals and 3 additional goals (last 3) should not have counted and we should have had a PP on 2.

Last year the Caps had the possession edge (6 game sample size is small granted) and just didn't get any puck luck vs the Pens who scored all kinds of goals off our guys.

Caps bottom 6 got roasted. They went out and got Eller (excellent possession player) for an out of gas Chimera (poor possession player) and that slotted Beagle better.

Orlov and Schmidt were young and raw. Both have been much better this year as has Orpik (me thinks that offseason surgery last year brought him down)

We don't have the caps space or the room on the roster to bring in a top guy. I would HATE to see Orlov or Schmidt bumped out of the lineup.

 

[Langway]

I can't understand calls for upgrading the defense beyond upgrading their 7/8. A top 4 will have a lot of bidders, probably more than most wingers, and 9/88 have shown many more signs of readiness. You'll never know until the grind truly begins but scoring depth should be their focus. Not just as a hedge against 10/65 fading but because it has been an issue each year under Trotz. That's despite being second in GF last year and sixth the year before. This year's team is up to sixth but three teams ahead of them--the top three in fact--reside inside the division (PIT, NYR, CBJ). They're going to need all they can get and to have alternatives should some players go dry.

 

[BobRouse]

I can't understand calls for upgrading the defense beyond upgrading their 7/8. A top 4 will have a lot of bidders, probably more than most wingers, and 9/88 have shown many more signs of readiness. You'll never know until the grind truly begins but scoring depth should be their focus. Not just as a hedge against 10/65 fading but because it has been an issue each year under Trotz. That's despite being second in GF last year and sixth the year before. This year's team is up to sixth but three teams ahead of them--the top three in fact--reside inside the division (PIT, NYR, CBJ). They're going to need all they can get and to have alternatives should some players go dry.

The problem is that you have to bump someone out of the lineup who has a role and is playing well all the while trading good young assets out for someone who may struggle just as much himself (Glencross example)

Besides we have scoring depth ...Vrana. If we need a spark a guy like him would make the most sense.

Barring injury all I see is a #7/8 dman on the cheap.

 

[g00n]

You can't trade for a mental game.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I can't understand calls for upgrading the defense beyond upgrading their 7/8. A top 4 will have a lot of bidders, probably more than most wingers, and 9/88 have shown many more signs of readiness. You'll never know until the grind truly begins but scoring depth should be their focus. Not just as a hedge against 10/65 fading but because it has been an issue each year under Trotz. That's despite being second in GF last year and sixth the year before. This year's team is up to sixth but three teams ahead of them--the top three in fact--reside inside the division (PIT, NYR, CBJ). They're going to need all they can get and to have alternatives should some players go dry.

I'd LIKE a top-4 upgrade, sure. I have a vivid memory of Orlov and Schmidt in the playoffs last season. My worst fear, when the hitting picks up, Schmidt could physically wilt again and Orlov could start serving Pizzas. Then what?, shuffle them to the 3rd pair again hoping to hide them as much as possible?

Scoring depth among the forwards would be nice sure, but meaningful acquisitions cost dearly and who is getting bumped from the lineup in the middle 6? Otherwise you're talking a depth F addition to sit in the pressbox?

 

[BobRouse]

I'd LIKE a top-4 upgrade, sure. I have a vivid memory of Orlov and Schmidt in the playoffs last season. My worst fear, when the hitting picks up, Schmidt could physically wilt again and Orlov could start serving Pizzas. Then what?, shuffle them to the 3rd pair again hoping to hide them as much as possible?

Scoring depth among the forwards would be nice sure, but meaningful acquisitions cost dearly and who is getting bumped from the lineup in the middle 6? Otherwise you're talking a depth F addition to sit in the pressbox?

Orlov and Schmidt are better. They will probably be better than anyone we can reasonably pick up.

The real issue is getting "hot" at the right time.

Trevor Daley and Ben Lovejoy are mediocre dmen who are journeymen. But you know what? They were excellent in the playoffs last year. They got hot at the right time and played well over their heads as did guys like Bonino.

Penguins caught lightning in a bottle. Good on them. We need to have the happen and bringing in player X is no guarantee of that.

 

[Roughing]

You can't trade for a mental game.

Nope.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Orlov and Schmidt are better. They will probably be better than anyone we can reasonably pick up.

The real issue is getting "hot" at the right time.

Trevor Daley and Ben Lovejoy are mediocre dmen who are journeymen. But you know what? They were excellent in the playoffs last year. They got hot at the right time and played well over their heads as did guys like Bonino.

Penguins caught lightning in a bottle. Good on them. We need to have the happen and bringing in player X is no guarantee of that.

Yes they've improved in the regular season, absolutely. They MUST prove it in the postseason. Their future as Caps depend on how they do when it matters most this spring.

Pens had a lot of players step up and we need similar efforts to win a Cup.

 

[BobRouse]

Yes they've improved in the regular season, absolutely. They MUST prove it in the postseason. Their future as Caps depend on how they do when it matters most this spring.

Pens had a lot of players step up and we need similar efforts to win a Cup.

Yes I agree. But hockey, moreso than ANY other sport, requires that...guys getting hot at the right time, puck luck, insane goaltending etc.

A trade does not increase the odds of that one bit in a situation the Caps are in.

Any team can get Halaked. Remember him? He not only knocked out the best team in the NHL that year but the 2nd best team (defending champs) the very next round!

The one time the Caps actually beat the Pens in the playoffs?? We had a pretty mediocre team. Jason Wooley and Brad Schlagel were our 3rd pairing. Old Don Beaupre was our goalie. But retread vets like Dave Poulin and Joe Reekie (who we grabbed off waivers earlier that year) played above their heads. Pens had a prime Mario, Jagr, Francis etc. We had no right winning that series. NONE!

There is no trade that can generate "play above your heads at the right time"

 

[um]

yes puck luck and guys getting hot can help you win games and maybe even series, but it won't win you four series and a cup, the best team usually wins that one.

 

[trick9]

I can't understand calls for upgrading the defense beyond upgrading their 7/8. A top 4 will have a lot of bidders, probably more than most wingers, and 9/88 have shown many more signs of readiness. You'll never know until the grind truly begins but scoring depth should be their focus. Not just as a hedge against 10/65 fading but because it has been an issue each year under Trotz. That's despite being second in GF last year and sixth the year before. This year's team is up to sixth but three teams ahead of them--the top three in fact--reside inside the division (PIT, NYR, CBJ). They're going to need all they can get and to have alternatives should some players go dry.

1 injury away from our #6-7 being Chorney and Ness. I don't like that.

That's also completely leaving out the fact that Schmidt was so bad last post-season that he was a healthy scratch. He had a great regular season then aswell, Playoffs are just different hockey. Orlov struggled in the Playoffs aswell. He too had a brilliant regular season on the bottom-pairing last season. Besides the signs are still there of his defensive struggles. He gets undressed on the rush far more than any of the other top-4 D's.

The division is incredibly though as it is. They would be very lucky to walk past the first 2 rounds against any of those teams without some injuries. I think they are thin on the back-end, so that's why i want better depth there. They are pretty set at C, deepest team in the league in goal, and their winger depth is among the best too. Very solid call-up option in that position in Vrana, aswell. The defense is a spot that worries me the most. Besides, i think they could create some mis-matches by having Orlov on the bottom-pairing.

 

[SpinningEdge]

Wouldn't trading for a damn good player/top 6 legit talent - or top 4 d talent possibly cause a huge spark? Maybe they'd see for once the front office is finally doing all they can too to win a cup and it motivates our top guys more?

 

[BobRouse]

yes puck luck and guys getting hot can help you win games and maybe even series, but it won't win you four series and a cup, the best team usually wins that one.

Not true in hockey. In the NBA? Sure. In the NBA right now there is a 98% chance that the Warrior/Spurs/Cavs will be in the finals ..2 of those 3.

In the NHL no one can predict right now. There are easily half a dozen teams that could win if not more.

In hockey there are many instances where a bad team makes it to the finals (harder to win true). North stars (twice), Caps in 98, Oilers in 06, Flames getting past the Oilers and the Steve Smith own goal, etc

Last year the Caps and Pens were close but the Caps were a better team with a better roster. Pens absolutely were the team that was "hot" tho. Whoever won that series would win the Cup. Just like in 1992 when they played.

Wouldn't trading for a damn good player/top 6 legit talent - or top 4 d talent possibly cause a huge spark? Maybe they'd see for once the front office is finally doing all they can too to win a cup and it motivates our top guys more?

Maybe. Or it could do the exact opposite! Linden/Zubrus trade??

I'd even contend the Glencross trade HURT us. He was BRUTAL in the playoffs.

The Pens made "blockbusters" a couple times when they brought aboard Hossa one year and Iginla/Murray another year and both times they gave up a lot and didn't win (altho Hossa did help them get there I guess)

Also...we have almost zero cap space and very few good assets we can afford to give up.

Our roster is good and that top player would have to be superior to the player we remove from the lineup to fit him in.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

There's no examples of BAD teams making the Cup Finals. Lucky, hot, streaking, I buy, BAD, no.

 

[BobRouse]

There's no examples of BAD teams making the Cup Finals. Lucky, hot, streaking, I buy, BAD, no.

Guess its your definition of "BAD". But the for instance the 1981-82 Canucks were under .500. The 06 Oilers were .500. The North Stars in 80-81 were in an awful division and were not a good team.

I guess it depends on your definition in the end but you NEVER see mediocre/bad teams make the NBA finals or the Superbowl whereas in hockey you do. IMO at least

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Bad teams don't make Cup Finals. Hot teams can though. You're fighting through enough GOOD opposition on the way to the Finals to prove you're not BAD. The NBA is a star oriented league. You can clear one side of the court and let your star go one on on. Can't do that in hockey.

 

[txpd]

They MUST prove it in the postseason.

this is true. which one of them would you choose to bench with a trade deadline defenseman acquisition? if you are going to trade for a player that is going to play all the playoff games barring injury, you need to conclude that one of Orlov or Schmidt isn't up to playoff quality and fire them from their job.

Schmidt?

 

[hockeykicker]

Seems like Carlson out again tonight since he isn't practicing

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

this is true. which one of them would you choose to bench with a trade deadline defenseman acquisition? if you are going to trade for a player that is going to play all the playoff games barring injury, you need to conclude that one of Orlov or Schmidt isn't up to playoff quality and fire them from their job.

Schmidt?

Right now for me, it would have to be 88, IF they made an impact pickup. And I think Schmidt has been much improved, just like Orlov. Personally I prefer Orlov on the 3rd pair because of his offensive prowess and think he should create some mismatches there.

It's all silly talk anyway. More than likely we just add another journeyman type or two (F and D) to ride the pine.

 

[BobRouse]

Bad teams don't make Cup Finals. Hot teams can though. You're fighting through enough GOOD opposition on the way to the Finals to prove you're not BAD. The NBA is a star oriented league. You can clear one side of the court and let your star go one on on. Can't do that in hockey.

NBA uses a 1 to 8 seeding basically.

The NHL in the old Patrick division days and now the Metro, in an effort to promote "rivalries" made it a death match.

For example...I recall in 1988 the Penguins and Rangers missed the playoffs with around 87 pts or 88. It came down to the last day between them and the Devs.

Meanwhile in the "Norse" division the Maple leafs made the playoffs with like 30 less points and had to go thru a division with no good teams at all.

Look at this year....the best spot to finish is #7 if you are in the metro to avoid that bracket. The #2 or #3 spots in the metro are awful and #1 not much better.

So some teams have far easier roads than others in the NHL whereas in the NBA and NFL its more fair for the better teams.

But I digress...we made our moves in the offseason and barring a significant injury there is no impact player we will or can feasibly acquire.

 

[BobRouse]

Seems like Carlson out again tonight since he isn't practicing

Thankfully there is no game tonight

 

[Hivemind]

I can understand the desire to upgrade the top pairing on the defense. While the collective team defense is very strong, this team has lacked a dynamic top pairing for a long time. Our shutdown pairings have largely been underwater for the entirety of the Ovechkin-era. They haven't had a Norris candidate since peak Mike Green, and even he wasn't known for his ability to shut down opposing stars. I can fully understand the desire to upgrade our top pairing into a dynamic top pairing like those in Tampa Bay or Los Angeles.

That being said, that's not an easy goal to achieve. There have been plenty of high caliber defensemen on the move in the past few years (Subban, Weber, Jones, Larsson, Leddy, Phaneuf, etc), so it is possible to get the caliber of defender required. However it would almost certainly require a valuable roster piece moving out (both from a trade value standpoint and cap space standpoint), and some real creativity in general to accomplish. And the most commonly rumored available high-end defenseman (Shattenkirk) doesn't really fit the mold that's being looked for (although he may aid with the powerplay).