Blades of Steel
log off.
not really, most of the time teams make moves to compete with the better teams in the league. The Caps are the best team in the league, so teams will be adjusting to compete with us.
Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXXVIII (It's Working! Let's Fix It.)
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not really, most of the time teams make moves to compete with the better teams in the league. The Caps are the best team in the league, so teams will be adjusting to compete with us.
Yeah I don't give a rats ass about that Pens game. That game did more damage to them than it did to us.
Listening to Hockey Central today, McLean said 18 teams are looking for a top four PMD or a bottom guy to shore up their team for the playoffs.
Caps don't have the space for a top four guy and no 6/7 better than Chorney will be moved, plain and simple. Chorney was a very savvy signing by BMac.
Noted earlier, move Schmidt up as a top four replacement if JC is out long term, use Vrana as the top nine callup if needed. Done and done.
From the TSN Insider trading segment:
What they said.
http://www.tsn.ca/counting-down-to-tradecentre-what-each-nhl-team-needs-1.652984
Listening to Hockey Central today, McLean said 18 teams are looking for a top four PMD or a bottom guy to shore up their team for the playoffs.
Caps don't have the space for a top four guy and no 6/7 better than Chorney will be moved, plain and simple. Chorney was a very savvy signing by BMac.
Noted earlier, move Schmidt up as a top four replacement if JC is out long term, use Vrana as the top nine callup if needed. Done and done.
From the TSN Insider trading segment:
What they said.
http://www.tsn.ca/counting-down-to-tradecentre-what-each-nhl-team-needs-1.652984
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We're certainly not mediocre, but in my mind we're still only the 2nd best team after Pittsburgh and even if you think we're better than they are you must admit it's still very close.
As of right now it's a coin flip between us and them, that's how we lost to them last year and the Rangers the year before. Historically those series have not gone in our advantage, so making some moves to give us a better chance isn't a bad idea.
And don't think our series against the Pens will be our only challenge, we got four rounds to win. Hell we couldn't even handle Montreal in 2010, and yes I know they were hot, that's who you play in the playoffs.
BobRouse
Registered User
If the Caps play the Pens in a series it is going to be a coinflip either way. Neither team is going to get a Pronger type player that will absolutely turn the tide. And that is the kind of player it would take and simply put there are none on the market without shredding your team as it is.
And yes the Metro is a buzzsaw this year so we will definitely need some puck luck as well as luck with injuries as well as a hot goalie to make it through.
There is no trade that will increase "luck"
It could be argued that we would have been better off standing pat the last 2 trade deadlines. Mike Weber took the place of Orlov/Schmidt and cost us a crucial game.
Glencross the year before dogged it and cost us at least one game and maybe 2 vs the Rags.
Winnik move was more about getting rid of Laich and that one was ok but it was made with the offseason in mind.
And in hindsight Chandler Stephenson would have been better than Richards especially in the Pens series where speed was needed. Richards was the slowest player on the ice.
Being the better team will put the odds in your favor and those moves barely made us better, if at all. Those are the types of minor dumpster diving moves I'm strongly against, no more #7 defensemen or 13th forward. I want to bring in a substantial upgrade over Connolly, a guy like Vanek is just that and his cap hit isn't even that high (or another cheap top 6 forward if you don't like Vanek).
Now I know a lot of people appreciate Connolly's play for whatever reason but let's pretend hypothetically that he's undeniably a good third liner but Oshie is injured (the rare playoff injury) and Burakovsky is moved up to the top 6, do you really think Connolly-Eller-Vrana is a good third line to be using in the playoffs? Unless Vrana gets more games during the rest of the season and proves he's NHL ready it's not a good plan.
At least on Defense i'm confident Schmidt and Orpik can handle a top 4 role and we have enough depth back there, not so much on our offense.
BobRouse
Registered User
VANEK????
Dude!! That guy is the ANTITHESIS of a playoff player. He coasts 90% of the game.
Connolly has been KILLING it with nearly 56% of the shots going in our favor when he is on the ice.
In fact ever since him Eller and Bura were put on a line together and stuck with it they have been our most consistent.
Also he is a far more physical player and a much better defender than lazy Vanek.
Vanek drags down every team he goes to. There is a reason they can't get him out fast enough. I guess if you like gutless players that disappear for large stretches of games, float and play little D then you will like Vanek.
End Vanek rant. haha. No Vanek is not a terrible player but there is something about him and his effort level that I do question.
If a top 6 player for any team goes down there is no easy fix. If Oshie goes down then yes Bura/Vrana would have to step up. Simple as that.
CapitalsCupReality
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Blades of Steel
log off.
I can see an upgrade in this team with Connonly/Eller/Winnik compared to last year with Richards/Winnik/Chimmer.
I said it a few posts ago but Winnik is far better this year for us than he was last year in his limited time. Everyone is just so nervous, this team is about as good as you can possibly get with the salary cap.
I said it a few posts ago but Winnik is far better this year for us than he was last year in his limited time. Everyone is just so nervous, this team is about as good as you can possibly get with the salary cap.
we have the cap space, why would you not bring in a player on what may be our best team ever. You don't like Vanek, fine there are other options out there.
Vanek is the clearly the player to target. He is still youngish, cheap, and playing really well. No downside.
txpd
Registered User
Vanek is the player to target. Why? He is a offensive LW. He is not going to get Oshie or Williams PP TOI. If I recall, his not a slot shooter but a net front guy, which the Caps don't use.
Is he playing better than Connolly?
He doesn't PK so, he cant replace Winnik.
He is not the right player.
Is he playing better than Connolly?
He doesn't PK so, he cant replace Winnik.
He is not the right player.
Is he playing better than Connolly, clearly. I like Connolly, but it's no comparison. Vanek gives us 3 offensive lines, and we do need a net front presence.
IMO, Wilson needs to go. Though he kills penalties, he takes too many penalties.
our PP isn't doing that well, and he can easily take one of Oshie, Williams, or Burakovsky's spot (having options is good), even then why do you want a PP specialist?
Also, He's playing substantially better than Connolly. He's around Mojos level of play of play right now, a top 6er with top line numbers.
The Connolly love fest is one of the weirdest things to happen to these boards, you guys don't usually get this attached to our dumpster dives.
ovikovy817
Registered User
If the team continue to play well, I don't see any major addition @ the TDL. (And there will be no reason for)
As it stands right now, the only realistic target I can see, it's an another Chorney, a #7D, (will play only if a top 6D is injured). An Engelland? Smith? Tyutin?
If I were GMBM, I would add another target, a 3rd line winger, who must be:
->Better than Connolly and Vrana.
->UFA
+
We don't have to give up a roster player.
And maybe the most important thing, that X player needs to have the chemistry going (in 20 games) with Eller and Burakovsky. Connolly has 3 goals in last 5 games, and this line plays so much better the past few weeks.
As it stands right now, the only realistic target I can see, it's an another Chorney, a #7D, (will play only if a top 6D is injured). An Engelland? Smith? Tyutin?
If I were GMBM, I would add another target, a 3rd line winger, who must be:
->Better than Connolly and Vrana.
->UFA
+
We don't have to give up a roster player.
And maybe the most important thing, that X player needs to have the chemistry going (in 20 games) with Eller and Burakovsky. Connolly has 3 goals in last 5 games, and this line plays so much better the past few weeks.
RandyHolt
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I think we'll stand pat at the deadline, or have a token add of a 7/8 that is an upgrade of Ness. We always add a RD and likely will again with Orlov at LD so much.
The big deadline move was done in advance - Lars Eller. I offer the 2nd rounders as proof, our annual TDL trade piece. I am thinking if we do add anyone just for depth, don't feel compelled to play them regularly. Stash them away as injury insurance. Prepare yourself for Pitt to land that guy you want.
Clearly the 8-7 all star game has awakened the goal starved rebel ROUSEr. I like his that dude is lazy rants.
The big deadline move was done in advance - Lars Eller. I offer the 2nd rounders as proof, our annual TDL trade piece. I am thinking if we do add anyone just for depth, don't feel compelled to play them regularly. Stash them away as injury insurance. Prepare yourself for Pitt to land that guy you want.
Clearly the 8-7 all star game has awakened the goal starved rebel ROUSEr. I like his that dude is lazy rants.
Hivemind
We're Touched
People need to remember that this teams' depth hasn't been tested much at all. The Caps have lost a total of 11 man games so far this season. The next lowest team is Toronto with six times as many (67). Winnipeg, Detroit, Dallas, and Edmonton are all rapidly approaching 200. Even was modeled by cap hit lost, Washington is still way ahead of the pack. Taking the remarkable health of this team for granted is foolish. Nobody survives the grind of the playoffs without injuries.
txpd
Registered User
I don't want a pp specialist. If Connolly or Burt are going to get benched I would prefer a two way player. Which Vanek is not.
Oshie and Williams are tied for 2nd on the Caps in goals. They are tied for 2nd in PPGs and Vanek as a primary pp player has no more than either of them. Again, his game is net front presence. He is not a shooting option. He screens the goalie and digs for rebounds. The Caps, for good reason, don't use that approach.
At present I don't see the need to mess with the team.
Calicaps
NFA
Was just looking at capfriendly and was surprised to see that as tight as the Caps are, the Pens are far worse off. I know they are likely to move Fleury, which would free up some space, but given how Murray has played recently, that's a somewhat risky move. Still, I'm sure they'll end up with all the free agents somehow. 
txpd
Registered User
SimplySensational
Heard of Hough
They should go for Palat if their looking for a two way top 6 winger... Of what Tampa has to re-sign this off season he could be easily the one they are looking to offload.
I'm so tired of people saying this, without even recognizing via comment that salary HAS to go out to do it. That means roster player. That means someone we don't want to lose. And NO, Wilson's salary or Winnik's or probably even Eller's won't allow 6+m back.
Not to mention what it does to the PK unit if it needs to be a combo of those players.
Maybe the NHL will just allow the Caps to go 4-5 mil over the salary cap.
Your post is harder to read than the others
I know...if it's not a conspiracy theory laced post, your eyes glaze over. I get it
RandyHolt
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I know...if it's not a conspiracy theory laced post, your eyes glaze over. I get it
The high drama keeps the site interesting. Like a good soap opera, it never ends. Learn it, know it, live it.
Speaking of eyes glazed over
RandyHolt
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Fixed that for you.
I wonder if in some strange way, almost no injuries up front has actually hurt us. How about that for a conspiracy theory.
Sure, our F depth is Hershey has been thin, but depth there has remained untested regardless.
CapitalsCupReality
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