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

[hb13xchamps]

Trotz will probably be fired and replaced by Reirden and this place will go bananas

 

[AOSC]

I have not read a lot of the previous posts as I am new to the Caps forum, I've posted a couple of times. The Capitals are my favorite team but I am from Minnesota so I usually just posted on their page. Not sure what you guys will think of this plan, but here it goes:

Cap goes up to 76 Million. Vegas selects Grubauer. Trade Orpik to Vegas or New Jersey for a mid pick no retention. Trade Eller for a 1st. Resign Oshie 6Mx5. Resign Kuznetsov 5.5x7. Resign Burakovsky 3Mx2. Resign Orlov 4.5Mx5. Resign Schmidt 2Mx3. Resign Winnick 1.25M. Sign Dominic Moore or Brian Boyle to 1M/3M. Sign Del Zotto for 2M. Let Alzner, Shattenkirk, & Williams walk or trade their rights.

FORWARDS: 44.2M/46.2M
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie=15.7M
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson=17.04M
Johansson-Moore/Boyle-Vrana=6.46M/8.46M
Winnik-Beagle-4th Liner/Connolly=5M

DEFENSE:19.71M
Orlov-Niskanen=10.25M
Schmidt-Carlson=5.96M
Chorney+Del Zotto-Bowey=3.5M

GOALIES: 7.6M
Holtby-6.1M
Johnson/Backup-1.5M

TOTAL: 71.51M or 73.51M

 

[OV Rocks]

Makes no sense to keep Ovechkin here in DC. This year was it. That window is officially closed. He's making 9.5mil to be a one-dimensional (PP) specialist. That money would be better allocated elsewhere. Finding a trade partner could be tricky, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Lets not forget Ovechkin has 58 more goals than the next closest person over the last 5 years.

It was one season where he bought into less ice time, contribution from more players, and a focus on buying into the teams structure. I am giving him a pass for the playoffs, I really think that Kadri hit busted something pretty bad.

If after next season he is still a 30 goal scorer and no ES contribution then maybe its time to look at a move but come on everyone Ovi is the one person in this franchise who deserves some slack

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

I want Eller, winnik Beagle, alzner, Orpik off the team immediately

 

[Capitlols]

No one on this team is clutch. No one. How anyone can say that about any player on this team is beyond me.

 

[Efactor]

One or more of Ovechkin, Backstrom,Carlson, or Holtby needs to go or I believe we will always have the same result.

 

[hockeykicker]

One or more of Ovechkin, Backstrom,Carlson, or Holtby needs to go or I believe we will always have the same result.

and the goalie will be who? since grubauer is most likely off to vegas

 

[Hivemind]

Trade Orpik to Vegas or New Jersey for a mid pick no retention. Trade Eller for a 1st. Resign Oshie 6Mx5. Resign Kuznetsov 5.5x7.

None of this is realistic. Eller doesn't return a 1st. Orpik likely costs them an asset to trade away. Oshie signs for longer term and possibly more money. For a contract with significant term, Kuznetsov will top $6M at the very least, if not $6.5M. You could potentially drag his cap hit down underneath $6M with a bridge deal, but not for a long term one.

 

[AOSC]

None of this is realistic. Eller doesn't return a 1st. Orpik likely costs them an asset to trade away. Oshie signs for longer term and possibly more money. For a contract with significant term, Kuznetsov will top $6M at the very least, if not $6.5M. You could potentially drag his cap hit down underneath $6M with a bridge deal, but not for a long term one.

Why couldn't Eller return a late first? It is a weaker draft and he is a 3rd Line Center. Orpik isn't a liability, just over payed. I'm probably wrong on the Oshie signing because of the term. Kuznetsov might be a tad low but not 6.5 million. Scheifele got barely over 6. Barkov got 5.9 million. 6 Million is probably fair.

If you look at my last post again, they still had extra cap left over. Like 3-5 Million.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

So Ovie with a minus 2 last night and either was directly or indirectly responsible for the goals IMHO. Oveckin's skating was never outstanding but it's gotten worse, choppy strides no fluidity, and he's slower, has no separation speed, rarely do I see him win a 1v1 against a defenseman these days. His board play is not great either. He's pretty much been reduced to a shooting specialist for PK purposes and when given space to shoot and of course the he's still a physical threat when it comes to laying checks. Overall he's just been inconsistent and seemed disinterested at times. 9.5 for another four years just not interested in it.

Ovechkin was a great player, he'll go in to the HOF and his number will be retired and hang from the rafters at VC, that's for sure. But every retired Cap jersey that hangs from the rafters had played for other teams besides the Capitals and that includes the likes of Bondra and Kolzig as well. Caps fans should not get too emotional about this, it's time to turn the page and move on from the Ovie era. Hopefully, Ted will see it that way but Ovie does fill the seats and moves the merchandise.

I see the team benefiting from his departure. Crosby makes those around him better, I just didn't see that with Ovie, he didn't make those around him better and at times I think the way the team was constructed/coached, Ovechkin was more of a distraction to play and the team.

Having a modified no trade clause (can select 10 teams not to be traded to), I'm still going with Montreal and Las Vegas as potential teams. BMAC has already had experience dealing with the Montreal GM last season with the Eller deal and GMGM well . . .

As far as the rest of the team goes I wouldn't make too many more changes, sign all the rfas, re-sign Oshie, let Shattenkirk, Winnik and Alzner go, would love to see Williams back just from his experience and attitude. Team needs to get faster and get some players that are good in the dot.

 

[twabby]

Why couldn't Eller return a late first? It is a weaker draft and he is a 3rd Line Center.

No one is paying a first round pick for a 3C with one year left on his deal before he's a UFA.

 

[hockeykicker]

No one is paying a first round pick for a 3C with one year left on his deal before he's a UFA.

martin hanzal?

 

[Chokingdogs]

No one is paying a first round pick for a 3C with one year left on his deal before he's a UFA.

yep. even with a better contract he still doesnt, unless it's a trade to the defending cup champs.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

martin hanzal?

TDL acquisition prices are higher than normal because you are paying a premium at the TDL. Also, with regards specifically to Eller, despite playing the most games he has played in a single season since his career began in 2010-11, he finished this season with the 2nd fewest points of his 7-year career. He also contributed 0 G and 5 A in 13 games this postseason and only won just over 47% of his faceoffs. Not exactly the kind of production you want from your 3C and certainly not the type of performance that will return a 1st round pick.

 

[twabby]

martin hanzal?

Touche!

Still don't think the abilities or perception of Eller are nearly as high as those of Hanzal.

 

[Langway]

TDL acquisition prices are higher than normal because you are paying a premium at the TDL. Also, with regards specifically to Eller, despite playing the most games he has played in a single season since his career began in 2010-11, he finished this season with the 2nd fewest points of his 7-year career. He also contributed 0 G and 5 A in 13 games this postseason and only won just over 47% of his faceoffs. Not exactly the kind of production you want from your 3C and certainly not the type of performance that will return a 1st round pick.

This. I'm not sure they'd get two seconds back. It seemed like he was on the market for quite some time. Plus, his salary is $4.75M next season.

Whether it's Orpik or Eller or Connolly or never having adequate forward depth, I don't know how MacLellan escapes blame as part of the bigger problem at hand. Many of the fundamental issues that have plagued them have come from management not understanding what makes a difference and what doesn't. It can't just be Trotz at fault here. MacLellan waltzed in believing that patching glaring holes is all it takes. Not so much. More is required and blame for their lack of performance can't escape him.

 

[OV Rocks]

This. I'm not sure they'd get two seconds back. It seemed like he was on the market for quite some time. Plus, his salary is $4.75M next season.

Whether it's Orpik or Eller or Connolly or never having adequate forward depth, I don't know how MacLellan escapes blame as part of the bigger problem at hand. Many of the fundamental issues that have plagued them have come from management not understanding what makes a difference and what doesn't. It can't just be Trotz at fault here. MacLellan waltzed in believing that patching glaring holes is all it takes. Not so much. More is required and blame for their lack of performance can't escape him.

EXACTLY

Patch a hole in a wall or build a better wall, which is fundamentally stronger

Eller was better than Richards, but was he the best option available

I was very vocal of adding Duchene when he was "available". If we keep building "decent" 3rd lines this team will never compete. The third line has to be scoring. Looking back the worst thing that could've happened to this team was the crazy stretch of high scoring games. The third line scored every night for two weeks, completely unsustainable and GMBM and Trotz couldn't see past that two week stretch until it was too late.


Caps have to add as much talent as possible to this lineup until the day Ovechkin calls it quits. Perfect example is LeBron James. He demands high end talent because guess what SKILL OVER WILL

 

[Tweedsuitcase]

EXACTLY

Patch a hole in a wall or build a better wall, which is fundamentally stronger

Eller was better than Richards, but was he the best option available

I was very vocal of adding Duchene when he was "available". If we keep building "decent" 3rd lines this team will never compete. The third line has to be scoring. Looking back the worst thing that could've happened to this team was the crazy stretch of high scoring games. The third line scored every night for two weeks, completely unsustainable and GMBM and Trotz couldn't see past that two week stretch until it was too late.


Caps have to add as much talent as possible to this lineup until the day Ovechkin calls it quits. Perfect example is LeBron James. He demands high end talent because guess what SKILL OVER WILL

was just thinking how BMac didn't have any say in hiring Trotz.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

This. I'm not sure they'd get two seconds back. It seemed like he was on the market for quite some time. Plus, his salary is $4.75M next season.

Whether it's Orpik or Eller or Connolly or never having adequate forward depth, I don't know how MacLellan escapes blame as part of the bigger problem at hand. Many of the fundamental issues that have plagued them have come from management not understanding what makes a difference and what doesn't. It can't just be Trotz at fault here. MacLellan waltzed in believing that patching glaring holes is all it takes. Not so much. More is required and blame for their lack of performance can't escape him.

I have maintained that if this year wasn't the year then they should clean house, to include GMBM and his staff. In my opinion, what they need now is a fresh set eyes from someone with zero emotional attachment to the franchise or any of it's players. They need someone who will judge everyone in the organization objectively and not be blinded by any pre-existing relationships.

 

[Langway]

I have maintained that if this year wasn't the year then they should clean house, to include GMBM and his staff. In my opinion, what they need now is a fresh set eyes from someone with zero emotional attachment to the franchise or any of it's players. They need someone who will judge everyone in the organization objectively and not be blinded by any pre-existing relationships.

Yeah, it's time. I tend to doubt it happens because ownership is deluded but it should. It requires ownership being open to the possibility that anything could happen for the sake of the franchise and I don't think they actually value it that way. I don't think they want to do whatever it takes to win. They just want it conveniently on their terms and the performance of the team falls right in tune with it. As long as the regular season is entertaining whatever else happens happens.

For all of MacLellan's tough talk, that was part of the reason why he was still a relatively safe choice at the time. He spoke like an outsider toward some of the defects in the core but nonetheless with the understanding that it's something that has to be managed and is here to stay. That's not a real outsider and I still don't think ownership wants one.

 

[capswon]

Like many Caps fans, I have been through the gauntlet rooting for this team in my 45 years on this earth. Never did a loss sting this bad. I just don't understand the lack of compete in game 7. The flip the switch mentality only works so long. I don't know what the answer is but my feeling is make a trade to unload Ovie. Go back and look at the trade that helped to put the Caps on the map wayback, Langway, Engblom Jarvis and Laughlin. Eventhough there was no cup win, it established winning. Make a deal with a team that will pick up some of Ovie's ticket and move on. Oshie is the next Captain and needs to be paid as such. That is the guy I want leading this team. Orpik we all know is a road cone and with Bowey and Djoos in the wings they are in solid shape. All I know is this is numbing more than any other year. But come October they will drag me right back in, right when I thought I was out.

 

[Midnight Judges]

You guys are nuts. Ovie could get healthy and start scoring 50 goals again. You would unload him and for what? So Oshie - a guy whose career year is worse than Ovechkin's worst - can be the captain?

 

[AOSC]

No one is paying a first round pick for a 3C with one year left on his deal before he's a UFA.

Fair enough. I put a first down because he acquired two seconds from us.

 

[thelebaron]

One thing I want to see next season, move bura & kuzy to the top line, wilson to the 2nd line(or first?), get some new blood in with those waiting in the wings at hershey. See how the season unfolds, I'd rather the youngsters get their reps in and squeak into the playoffs than push that same old boulder up the hill. If the trajectory seems awful by the midway point can always revert to the past reliance on the old core but they're a known quantity at this point.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

One thing I want to see next season, move bura & kuzy to the top line, wilson to the 2nd line(or first?), get some new blood in with those waiting in the wings at hershey. See how the season unfolds, I'd rather the youngsters get their reps in and squeak into the playoffs than push that same old boulder up the hill. If the trajectory seems awful by the midway point can always revert to the past reliance on the old core but they're a known quantity at this point.

Man I know Kuzy is a center now but I REALLY want him and Backstrom on the same line