Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXXXIV -- The Doggiest Days (Woof!) 2017

[Brian23]

I'm surprised that on the main board so many people listed our 1&2 punch down the middle as the second best. I'm maybe bias after many disappointing playoffs, but honestly i don't see that. Thought they are in the middle of the puck with Kuznetsov being X factor that could swing them to either direction. Strange to see them ranked so high.

Most teams would kill for a center that can go PPG. We have two of them, that's a lot of value.

 

[Caps8112]

About 20 in Hershey and three rookie/Dev camps.



I think he does, at least as much as I see Nate Schmidt having one.

I get that Schmidt is apparently now seen as the next Erik K. but I will stick with 22 year old Bowey over 26 year old Schmidt.

I think Bowey is going to surprise a lot of people.

dont know a lot about bowey but the Schmidt love needs to die already. when he is exposed in vegas next season and eaten alive playing with a bunch of scrubs maybe everyone will settle down. he'll be forgotten. Mojo (I know, was a mojo hater) might be more of a loss depending on how they figure the PP out.

 

[Sam Spade]

dont know a lot about bowey but the Schmidt love needs to die already. when he is exposed in vegas next season and eaten alive playing with a bunch of scrubs maybe everyone will settle down. he'll be forgotten. Mojo (I know, was a mojo hater) might be more of a loss depending on how they figure the PP out.

I don't think they will miss MoJo one bit. If anything Kuzy getting PP1 time (please Forsythe) maybe Burka as well, has me excited.

The Caps had too many of the same type of player they needed to get rid of one of them.

I really hope Vrana comes to camp ready to seize the opportunity he has to know is there. I guarantee you Barber, Stephenson, Walker, etc will be ready.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I don't think they will miss MoJo one bit. If anything Kuzy getting PP1 time (please Forsythe) maybe Burka as well, has me excited.

The Caps had too many of the same type of player they needed to get rid of one of them.

I really hope Vrana comes to camp ready to seize the opportunity he has to know is there. I guarantee you Barber, Stephenson, Walker, etc will be ready.

Using Kuzy in Mojo's spot would be a waste of his skill. Burakovsky or Vrana could fill that role and allow Kuzy to do what he does best on the half boards.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I certainly wouldn't trust Bura or Vrana in the Mojo spot to start.

 

[Sam Spade]

Using Kuzy in Mojo's spot would be a waste of his skill. Burakovsky or Vrana could fill that role and allow Kuzy to do what he does best on the half boards.

I meant Mojo's spot on PP1. Where they actually position him is up to the coaches I suppose.

PP should be Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie (net front), Orlov (or Carlson) and Kuzy.
Backstrom in the Mojo spot down low and Kuzy free to roam/half wall.

Second never gets much time anyway so again, the coaches can figure that out.

 

[RandyHolt]

Some will argue Nick has to be on the half wall, that no one else can push uncontested 15' to 20' passes to our uncovered RH point man. That even though the RH guys can't get pucks to Ovi, we cannot try a LH shot up top.

Give me Kuz a better shooter there as our change-up for next year and Orlov getting reps on PP1. It's time. And Nick would do just fine down low.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Nick is literally the best in the world at the right half boards. I don't see why we would move him elsewhere. You can argue he's the best at orchestrating a PP, period. Kuzy's strength is on the half boards too, makes sense to let him orchestrate the second wave. Leave the Johansson spot for Vrana or something.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'd like to see Kuzy get some time there. Randy has a point about Kuzy's shot. 19 has become very "Oatsian" with his refusal to shoot some nights. Kuzy might just be perfect there if he's willing to snipe some. Then again, I'd like to see the entire PP setup and contributors reevaluated.

Knowing Trotz, "if it isn't broke...."

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I'd like to see Kuzy get some time there. Randy has a point about Kuzy's shot. 19 has become very "Oatsian" with his refusal to shoot some nights. Kuzy might just be perfect there if he's willing to snipe some. Then again, I'd like to see the entire PP setup and contributors reevaluated.

Knowing Trotz, "if it isn't broke...."

By my count, Kuzy and Nicky scored about as many goals from the right side on the PP this season. They both know when to shoot and when to hold on to it. The difference is that Kuzy attemps more risky cross ice passes and he likes to wheel around a bit more, unlike Backstrom who is almost always stationary.

Their shots are accurate but not powerful enough to beat the goalie without a screen from the top of the right circle. 19 and 92 don't have great one timers, it's the only tool missing in their PP arsenal.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'd respect 92's wrister from the half wall much more than 19's were I an NHL goalie....and they don't shoot from the top of the circle on the half wall, certainly lower.

 

[RandyHolt]

Nick plays the PP very slow. It's great in the regular season. High pressure in the playoffs, it's much more difficult.

Outside of 2015, our PP has sucked ass in the playoffs and not a difference maker at all. Even at its best in 2015, we still choked.

Building a dominant RS PP is self defeating, unless it is needed to make the playoffs. It spoils players, masks deficiencies, and seems to impede implementing a viable ES attack. Games often become all about protecting a PPG driven lead #defense.

Nick does not need to be stapled to the halfwall to choke in round 2. If our core will not be shaken up, how they are deployed is our only option. Getting Kuz PP time with our big guns will only help our overall team chemistry. Dumping him on PP2 with the leftovers hasn't really done much other than to prevent padding of his stats.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I'd respect 92's wrister from the half wall much more than 19's were I an NHL goalie....and they don't shoot from the top of the circle on the half wall, certainly lower.

92's wrister is hit or miss. More powerful than 19's but less accurate. Wish they could both do that on the PP:

 

[RandyHolt]

They can try. I don't know why our half board never one times one of the seemingly thousands of passes he gets from our D up top. Catch the G snoozing.

Sure, we have the top PP without it, but everything we do is a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, where we need to be more dynamic to have the same success rate. Or, face a dumbass coach again like Hakstol.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

They can try. I don't know why our half board never one times one of the seemingly thousands of passes he gets from our D up top. Catch the G snoozing.

Sure, we have the top PP without it, but everything we do is a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, where we need to be more dynamic to have the same success rate. Or, face a dumbass coach again like Hakstol.

Have you ever seen Nicky or Kuzy take a one timer? It's not pretty at all. You're lucky if the shot is even on target.

 

[RandyHolt]

Have you ever seen Nicky or Kuzy take a one timer? It's not pretty at all. You're lucky if the shot is even on target.

I kind of call bunk they can't shoot a one timer, or that they cannot get better etc. We are talking elite here. And have seen elites like Ovi Semin and Green miss the net thousands of times themselves.

Now admittedly that specific pass I reference is more difficult, unless they pivot and turn to face the passer. The few times Nick tries to fully uncork one, he seems to score.

I think MJ had a great one timer, but we only saw it seriously once a year. If that.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Hell even Ovy had an average one-timer early in his NHL career. It's called practice. Kuzy can elevate that particular skill. I wouldn't envision a one-timer from the half wall anyway....a simple "laser" wrister will do nicely.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I kind of call bunk they can't shoot a one timer, or that they cannot get better etc. We are talking elite here. And have seen elites like Ovi Semin and Green miss the net thousands of times themselves.

Now admittedly that specific pass I reference is more difficult, unless they pivot and turn to face the passer. The few times Nick tries to fully uncork one, he seems to score.

I think MJ had a great one timer, but we only saw it seriously once a year. If that.

They can shoot one timers but it's not very effective. It's either off target or it doesn't have enough velocity to beat the goalie as he slides over. Ovechkin, Semin and Green missed the net a thousand times but they've scored countless one timers. When their shot is on target and they put all their power behind it, they usually score. Ovechkin in particular beats the goalies with the sheer velocity of his shot.

When Backstrom scores, it's usually the surprise elements that fools the goalies. They expect him to pass and he changes his mind last second. I've seen him score maybe 3 times in his career on one timers.

MJ's one timer was surprisingly good, it's a shame he didn't use it more.

Hell even Ovy had an average one-timer early in his NHL career. It's called practice. Kuzy can elevate that particular skill. I wouldn't envision a one-timer from the half wall anyway....a simple "laser" wrister will do nicely.

Ovi's one timer wasn't average, it was already very good. His first goal ever was a rocket one timer, similar to the 250 other ones he scored in his career. Kuznetsov never winds up because he knows his slap shot and his one timer isn't as good as his wrist shot. He and Nicky are better off firing wrist shots, that's what they do best. I wish they could rip one timers like Kucherov but they just can't.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Ovy shanked or otherwise poorly hit one-timers a LOT in his early career. That is a fact. Call it average or still good, that's what he did. The point is, it's not some born with skill, it's something that can be practiced. I think Kuzy can still improve a lot in shooting. Nicky, maybe not so much.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Ovy shanked or otherwise poorly hit one-timers a LOT in his early career. That is a fact. Call it average or still good, that's what he did. The point is, it's not some born with skill, it's something that can be practiced. I think Kuzy can still improve a lot in shooting. Nicky, maybe not so much.

That's a matter of timing. The technique was there, he probably wasn't used to one timing NHL passes. When he connected with a pass correctly, his shot was just like it is today.

Kuzy's issue is that his technique itself is not that good. He tends to be upright when he winds up, and his blade points towards the ice. His hands are pretty close together and he doesn't quite lean on it. It's far from what the elite shooters do. This is definitely the weakest aspect of his game.

Nicky is turning 30 soon. If he can't rifle a one timer consistenly, he likely never will.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I have a lot of faith in elite level hockey players and one off season of really hard practice, if they want to do it.

 

[g00n]

Guys who are always looking to pass aren't going to wind up for one-timers nearly as much as a gunner like Ovi. They're going to gather the puck and see what shakes out before shooting.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I already said Kuzy wouldn't be shooting the one timer from that spot, yet we're still discussing it lol....

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I already said Kuzy wouldn't be shooting the one timer from that spot, yet we're still discussing it lol....

We wish he could, it's the simplest way I could think of to add new wrinkles in our PP.

 

[Holtbyisms]

This might sound crazy but how would you guys feel about Backstrom in the Mojo spot since he's so calm and collective(which is what Mojo did well in that spot because he had time and space) and Kuzzy taking the Backstrom spot?

Oshie in the slot, Kuzy on the half wall(way scarier shot that Backstrom), Backy in the corner/goal line, Ovechkin in his normal spot and Orlov on the other point.

I know they always say they need a righty to get Ovechkin the shot but Orlov is SUPER creative and can also drop bombs from the point if they overplay Ovi like most teams always do.