Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXXXI -- Will we even care by July 1?

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

For me, 8/19/77/92 is the forward core and 2/9/74 is the defense core going forward (plus Holtby, obviously).

Now this could change if they lose tomorrow, but I think that group gives you two plus lines and two plus pairs with plus goal tending.

On 77 v 90, I think 77 just does so many more little things on the ice. I can't fathom why he was such a terrible playoff producer in St. Louis. To me he looks like the epitome of a playoff player. Does everything on the ice and fights for every inch. He's a guy I want my prospects to emulate.

 

[strungout]

I really hope they can keep Oshie around somehow. Regardless of how it all plays out tomorrow and beyond...he's such a good fit on this team.

 

[OV Rocks]

So Kovalchuk is all but guaranteed to be back in the league next season. Curious to see what the interest is from the Caps. Could be nothing at all but whenever there is a big name Russian available I always get a little bit extra excited by the Ovechkin factor. Add in Kuzy becoming more respected by his countrymen and it has to be an attractive destination for the Russians.

Ovi-Kuzy-Kovalchuk
Burky-Nicky-Oshie

Not bad

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

I can't imagine Kovalchuk being anything close to a capable two-way player in the NHL at 35 years old with his health history.

You really want Ovechkin and Kovalchuk "back checking" in the top 6?

He'll be signed for big money to a team desperate for scoring.

 

[um]

Kovalchuk is a great 2 way forward, what are you talking about?

But it doesn't matter, no way we can afford him.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Kovalchuk is a great 2 way forward, what are you talking about?

But it doesn't matter, no way we can afford him.

I'm talking about Ilya Kovalchuk, the Russian forward who will turn 35 during the next playoffs with a wonky back who was never a great two-way player.

 

[Alklha]

For me, 8/19/77/92 is the forward core and 2/9/74 is the defense core going forward (plus Holtby, obviously).

Now this could change if they lose tomorrow, but I think that group gives you two plus lines and two plus pairs with plus goal tending.

On 77 v 90, I think 77 just does so many more little things on the ice. I can't fathom why he was such a terrible playoff producer in St. Louis. To me he looks like the epitome of a playoff player. Does everything on the ice and fights for every inch. He's a guy I want my prospects to emulate.

He was constantly injured for the playoffs during his time in St. Louis. In 2013 he had a screw put in his ankle and was back for the first playoff game 2 weeks after surgery. Another year he had a concussion. There was always something when it came to the end of the regular season.

Glad he is working out in Washington.

I can't imagine Kovalchuk being anything close to a capable two-way player in the NHL at 35 years old with his health history.

You really want Ovechkin and Kovalchuk "back checking" in the top 6?

He'll be signed for big money to a team desperate for scoring.

He is noticeably slower now and his overall game has certainly declined, probably due to the back injuries he has had.

SKA are stacked and he put up great numbers, but they fell in the playoffs and he was 4th on his team in points per game.

He could be a very risky pick up for whoever gets him, depending on his contract. He isn't going to be able to create separation easily, his complete game has got worse and the added physicality of the NHL is going to impact his durability.

 

[AOSC]

Anyway the Caps can bribe Vegas to take Eller or even Orpik with a mid pick over Schmidt? I forgot how UFA's work in this. Can Vegas select a UFA? If they can't why not sign Oshie after the expansion? If they can, why doesn't Vegas just take Shattenkirk or Alzner?

 

[Raikkonen]

Blessing in disguise.

Much rather take Kuznetsov with ~60 points in the regular season and near PPG in the Playoffs. Last years Kuznetsov with 77 points in the regular season despite flopping in the Playoffs would have still got an much bigger payday. Whether through long negotiations, straight away, or an offer-sheet.

Hopefully Backstrom having another great season will drive down that Kuznetsov contract a bit.

Kuz went for a payday once (in KHL) instead of getting to the NHL.

Failed miserably.

I believe he will be careful enough to not push it to the limit and leave some dollars for GMBM to operate (for Caps best interest).

 

[Raikkonen]

Anyway the Caps can bribe Vegas to take Eller or even Orpik with a mid pick over Schmidt? I forgot how UFA's work in this. Can Vegas select a UFA? If they can't why not sign Oshie after the expansion? If they can, why doesn't Vegas just take Shattenkirk or Alzner?

Schmidt has lower position on the list of Caps problems.

We need to sign Kuzy, Bura, Oshie, Orlov first. That's a big list. Then there is Justin Game7 maybe. And then there is Orpik who needs to be traded.

Schmidt won't sign for 800k again. There could be not enough space for him in the end. And he's not top-4 D really (at least yet). With current expansion draft rules we should expect Schmidt being taken with a very big probability.

Hard to prevent it.

So I'd wait for Caps getting the Cup, then get drunk, then proceed to not caring about Expansion much. And then after draft... maybe we should talk about Schmidt's next contract

 

[txpd]

So Kovalchuk is all but guaranteed to be back in the league next season. Curious to see what the interest is from the Caps. Could be nothing at all but whenever there is a big name Russian available I always get a little bit extra excited by the Ovechkin factor. Add in Kuzy becoming more respected by his countrymen and it has to be an attractive destination for the Russians.

Ovi-Kuzy-Kovalchuk
Burky-Nicky-Oshie

Not bad

With every Russian player that becomes available there is this mistaken thought that they will come to the Caps. Has even one? Maybe Kozy was a UFA, but I don't recall another.

 

[RandyHolt]

With every Russian player that becomes available there is this mistaken thought that they will come to the Caps. Has even one? Maybe Kozy was a UFA, but I don't recall another.

Yep. Dmitri Khristich. Which I predicted by the way, when the caps said there would be a special announcement at that game. I still remember him walking out of the corner onto the ice during a commerical, and the place went nuts. Was anyone else there, here?

And don't forget about Mikhail Tararinov.

Mogilny plowed the road.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I'm talking about Ilya Kovalchuk, the Russian forward who will turn 35 during the next playoffs with a wonky back who was never a great two-way player.

His last year or two on the Devils he played a good two way game.

 

[AOSC]

Schmidt has lower position on the list of Caps problems.

We need to sign Kuzy, Bura, Oshie, Orlov first. That's a big list. Then there is Justin Game7 maybe. And then there is Orpik who needs to be traded.

Schmidt won't sign for 800k again. There could be not enough space for him in the end. And he's not top-4 D really (at least yet). With current expansion draft rules we should expect Schmidt being taken with a very big probability.

Hard to prevent it.

So I'd wait for Caps getting the Cup, then get drunk, then proceed to not caring about Expansion much. And then after draft... maybe we should talk about Schmidt's next contract

Can UFA's go into the Expansion Draft though? That would make Oshie, Shattenkirk, Alzner, Williams, etc be able to be taken.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Schmidt won't sign for 800k again.

Nor should he. What do you guys think Schmidt is worth? I am thinking north of $2.3M per.

 

[trick9]

I'll take Kovalchuk for a cheap contract if Cup is all he wants. He's certainly made more than enough money to make up for that cheaper contract.

If he wants close to what he is actually worth, i would propably pass.

If a cheap contract for even a year was on the table to get him, i would propably go as high as 1st round pick to get him from the Devils. Bargain contracts for guys like him rarely happen though.

And anyone that say he never was a good two-way player should take a long look at him during the Devils run to the Stanley Cup -finals.

 

[kicksavedave]

A first round pick for a 35 year old to come to DC because he wants to win a Cup?

Is that you, McPhee?

 

[txpd]

Yep. Dmitri Khristich. Which I predicted by the way, when the caps said there would be a special announcement at that game. I still remember him walking out of the corner onto the ice during a commerical, and the place went nuts. Was anyone else there, here?

And don't forget about Mikhail Tararinov.

Mogilny plowed the road.

During the Ovechkin all Russians want to be Caps era

 

[OVrocks]

I would look to deal Ovechkin in the off-season while he still has value. I love the guy,but there's no denying that he's on the downside of his career. Get a high pick and some prospects while we still can.

 

[Hivemind]

I always figured Grubauer was the on that would get taken in the expansion draft....now Im worried its going to be Schmidt.

I'm still in favor of pulling some shenanigans and protecting Schmidt as a forward. We're icing 6 other D, aren't we?

 

[Calicaps]

I'm still in favor of pulling some shenanigans and protecting Schmidt as a forward. We're icing 6 other D, aren't we?

This is Caps we're talking about, not Chicago, Pitt, or NYR. The league would never allow it.

 

[trick9]

A first round pick for a 35 year old to come to DC because he wants to win a Cup?

Is that you, McPhee?

I would easily give up 1st round pick for ~1m AAV Kovalchuk.

Easily.

 

[artilector]

Kovy, haha. Right now, I can't imagine where you'd put him to improve the team.

I mean, if you trade 9.5M Ovi and replace him with 1M Kovy, then yeah, you'll probably end up fielding a better team, lol.

But if moving Ovi is an option, and you need to fill the star Russian wing quota, then let's throw money at Radulov. That dude is like Russian Oshie at this point.

 

[txpd]

I would look to deal Ovechkin in the off-season while he still has value. I love the guy,but there's no denying that he's on the downside of his career. Get a high pick and some prospects while we still can.

there are somethings you just don't do. that is one of them

 

[artilector]

there are somethings you just don't do. that is one of them

If I had a penny for each time you said this sort of thing, and then it ended up happening anyway, I'd have... a few dozen pennies.

In fact, come to think of it, when you confidently deny a particular possibility, then it's probably better than even odds that it will, in fact, happen