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

[Langway]

Leaves $1,223,227 in cap space. Could add an extra depth forward (Stephenson or Boyd) at 650K to drop it to $573,227.

I'd figure Stephenson due to waivers/PK/versatility purposes. Graovac would be slightly cheaper but there seems to be less in his game suggesting versatility. He's bigger, has a bit more experience and maybe there's also some internal justification leading to keeping him on the roster since they gave up a pick for him but they also invested time and a third round pick on Stephenson.

As I mentioned in the Grubauer thread, they could sign a $1M veteran as an upgrade over Bowey or Djoos and still be compliant. That's probably worth looking into whether it's Campbell, Beauchemin or Oduya. It's also worth considering whether the likes of Rasmussen, Chiasson or Pirri would make for cheap worthwhile forward depth competition. Failing that, Hershey seems like they can still use a couple of scoring wingers to replace Carey/Galiev/Thomas.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I'd figure Stephenson due to waivers/PK/versatility purposes. Graovac would be slightly cheaper but there seems to be less in his game suggesting versatility. He's bigger, has a bit more experience and maybe there's also some internal justification leading to keeping him on the roster since they gave up a pick for him but they also invested time and a third round pick on Stephenson.

As I mentioned in the Grubauer thread, they could sign a $1M veteran as an upgrade over Bowey or Djoos and still be compliant. That's probably worth looking into whether it's Campbell, Beauchemin or Oduya. It's also worth considering whether the likes of Rasmussen, Chiasson or Pirri would make for cheap worthwhile forward depth competition. Failing that, Hershey seems like they can still use a couple of scoring wingers to replace Carey/Galiev/Thomas.

I like Campbell, if they go that route. Seems like he's got a bit left in the tank and I think he'd do well with a good skater like Carlson. Let Djoos/Bowey/Lewington/Chorney battle it out for the 6/7D positions.

Graovac seems like a Trotz player. Big-bodied, slow, and offensively limited.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I like Campbell, if they go that route. Seems like he's got a bit left in the tank and I think he'd do well with a good skater like Carlson. Let Djoos/Bowey/Lewington/Chorney battle it out for the 6/7D positions.

Graovac seems like a Trotz player. Big-bodied, slow, and offensively limited.

This made me laugh.....as if Trotz prefers those types lol.

GMBM: Barry how about we sign this guy, he's got size, speed and nice hands?

Trotz: do you have anyone slower with less skill?

 

[Ridley Simon]

I like Campbell, if they go that route. Seems like he's got a bit left in the tank and I think he'd do well with a good skater like Carlson. Let Djoos/Bowey/Lewington/Chorney battle it out for the 6/7D positions.

Graovac seems like a Trotz player. Big-bodied, slow, and offensively limited.

Or Oduya. Won 2 cups, he can come "home". But honestly, any of the 3 mentioned would be nice to plug into the line-up

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

This made me laugh.....as if Trotz prefers those types lol.

GMBM: Barry how about we sign this guy, he's got size, speed and nice hands?

Trotz: do you have anyone slower with less skill?

GMBM: ...

Trotz: You know, heavy guys. Guys that are tough to play against. Heavy guys.

 

[hockeykicker]

One thing I noticed is that caps are young this year. Only one player is older then 31 and

Niskanen,Oshie,Chorney are 30

Ovechkin and Beagle are 31

This might be one of the youngest teams the caps have had in a while

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

GMBM: ...

Trotz: You know, heavy guys. Guys that are tough to play against. Heavy guys.

GMBM: Barry you know you can have hard nosed players who can skate and not trip over a puck right?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

We need someone who can draw to make us comic GMBM's & Trotz cartoon characters we can copy/paste into stuff like this.

 

[Roughing]

One thing I noticed is that caps are young this year. Only one player is older then 31 and

Niskanen,Oshie,Chorney are 30

Ovechkin and Beagle are 31

This might be one of the youngest teams the caps have had in a while

Frankly, by next season I'd make sure Chorney, Beagle, and Alex are gone. Get a couple good, young Fs and it's a one year rebuild.

 

[Corby78]

We don't want to go to far back. Or we will hit the point when you had standards and expectations.

Standards and expectations are great, but they need to be realistic. This franchise has NEVER won a cup and how many times have we got past the second round??? We just iced two of the best rosters we have ever had, had a GM who went all in, a franchise player, and grabbed 2x number one seeds. Yes we lost and we can debate why and what to do next. But guys want to run people out on a rail after they gave us the best two years of hockey ever in DC. Did we make the ultimate goal? No. But even Chicago, Montreal, Philadelphia, ny fans shouldn't have a "either cup or they are losers" mentality. Let's come down to earth a bit and maybe enjoy some good hockey when you get to see it.

 

[Corby78]

So I have....

Bura - Kuzy - Oshie
Ovie - Backstrom - Vrana
Connolly - Eller - Wilson
Walker - Beagle - Smith-Pelly

Orlov - Niskanen
Djoos - Carlson
Orpik - Bowey
Chorney

Holtby
Grubi

Leaves $1,223,227 in cap space. Could add an extra depth forward (Stephenson or Boyd) at 650K to drop it to $573,227.

I think this is going to be close to puck drop game one. Bank a little room and trade grubs at the deadline for futures. Hopefully we have a carlson signing in the near future.

 

[Hivemind]

I like Campbell, if they go that route. Seems like he's got a bit left in the tank and I think he'd do well with a good skater like Carlson. Let Djoos/Bowey/Lewington/Chorney battle it out for the 6/7D positions.

Graovac seems like a Trotz player. Big-bodied, slow, and offensively limited.

Graovac isn't actually that slow. He can move for someone his speed. The problem is that he doesn't use his body to protect the puck, doesn't use his size or speed to control the ice defensively, and is (as you mentioned) offensively limited. If Bruce Boudreau wouldn't put up with his lack of engagement defensively, I don't think Trotz will, either.

 

[RandyHolt]

Latta was not a great fourth liner. He was too slow ....

I call bunk that a slow 4C cannot fit in a Trotz lineup. I even question how slow he is. He got sat vs Pitt and the tag was he was too slow. Half our lineup and Trotz himself is too slow vs Pitt. Lats was a 12/13 the entire year and never far from a scratch anyways. We lost with him far far away from the lineup.

For all our efforts to play fast, it ain't happening anytime soon.

Sure he is now a fringe NHLer at best, but many players in our lineup next year will be fringe as well.

 

[Stewie G]

I call bunk that a slow 4C cannot fit in a Trotz lineup. I even question how slow he is. He got sat vs Pitt and the tag was he was too slow. Half our lineup and Trotz himself is too slow vs Pitt. Lats was a 12/13 the entire year and never far from a scratch anyways. We lost with him far far away from the lineup.

For all our efforts to play fast, it ain't happening anytime soon.

Sure he is now a fringe NHLer at best, but many players in our lineup next year will be fringe as well.

Many? Which players that you think will get more than a couple games do you consider as fringe NHLers?

 

[Hivemind]

If there's one position they don't need fringe NHL help at, it's center. They still have Jay Beagle as the 4C. I'd rather roll the dice with Chandler Stephenson and Travis Boyd as the 5Cs than Latta. Latta is a more proven commodity than either of Stephenson or Boyd, but his proven value is that of a player who should be a healthy scratch. Could Boyd or Stephenson end up worse? Sure. But the good news is that we don't need to rely on them as centers when the team is healthy.


Now if Latta was a defenseman, this may be a different story.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Graovac isn't actually that slow. He can move for someone his speed. The problem is that he doesn't use his body to protect the puck, doesn't use his size or speed to control the ice defensively, and is (as you mentioned) offensively limited. If Bruce Boudreau wouldn't put up with his lack of engagement defensively, I don't think Trotz will, either.

Maybe Trotz is the perfect coach for him then? I don't think Bruce is known for developing the defensive games of forwards. If Graovac can skate and Trotz can teach him how to be defensively responsible then he could turn out to be a useful 4th liner. Or I could just be grasping at straws and talking out of my ass and totally wrong, like normal.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

We need someone who can draw to make us comic GMBM's & Trotz cartoon characters we can copy/paste into stuff like this.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Perfect

 

[Backstrom #19]

I wonder if Trotz will want to keep the 3rd line of Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky together? They were good together last year and that would spread the talent out a little bit.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Connolly - Eller - Burakovsky

The powerplay set up will be interesting as well. I've seen many people say that Kuznetsov will go up to the first unit but who would center the 2nd unit?

Oshie-Backstrom-Burakovsky
Ovechkin-Carlson

Connolly-Kuznetsov-Vrana
Bowey-Orlov

 

[Corby78]

I wonder if Trotz will want to keep the 3rd line of Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky together? They were good together last year and that would spread the talent out a little bit.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Connolly - Eller - Burakovsky

The powerplay set up will be interesting as well. I've seen many people say that Kuznetsov will go up to the first unit but who would center the 2nd unit?

Oshie-Backstrom-Burakovsky
Ovechkin-Carlson

Connolly-Kuznetsov-Vrana
Bowey-Orlov

I would be double shifting Ovie like crazy..

 

[strungout]

Im pretty sure the plan is to move Burakovsky into the top 6.

To me...these are the only set forward spots....

Ovechkin - ??? - Oshie
Burakovsky - ??? - ???
??? - Eller - ???
??? - Beagle - ???

92 could be 1st or 2nd line center. Same can be said with Backstrom. Depends on how they want to do it this time around. with linemates. I think its time to move Kuzy up there and go with it.

Me?

Ovie - Kuznetsov - Oshie
Burakovsky - Backstrom - Wilson
Vrana - Eller - Connolly
Walker - Beagle - Smith-Pelly/Boyd

 

[SpinningEdge]

Why the hell isnt Orpik moved yet? He's such a liability and frees up sooooo much room

 

[strungout]

Does Djoos have to pass through waivers next season?

Crap...he does.

 

[hockeykicker]

Why the hell isnt Orpik moved yet? He's such a liability and frees up sooooo much room

cause no one wants him lol

 

[Roughing]

Why the hell isnt Orpik moved yet? He's such a liability and frees up sooooo much room

Because GMBM has zero interest in moving him. He may very well move next off season but not right after we already lost three vet Dmen.