Speculation: Acq/ Rost. Bldg./ Cap Part XXIX

[CapitalsCupReality]

He's beloved by the organization and it would set a horrid precedent for players considering singing long term with the Caps.

If like to see a new precedent with the Caps. One that doesn't involve earning a big extension then falling apart (either by health or mental vacation).

 

[Brian23]

He's beloved by the organization and it would set a horrid precedent for players considering singing long term with the Caps.

How? If you sign with a team and you get injured and can't play should you just expect a free pay check?

Brooks not playing and soaking up 4+ of the cap is ridiculous. You don't pay him because he's a good guy. This is a business and he's wasting space.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Maybe brooks has trade value and a buyout isnt needed?

haha yeh right

 

[Brian23]

Maybe brooks has trade value and a buyout isnt needed?

haha yeh right

They'd probably have to eat salary to trade him, even if they get an okay prospect out of the deal.

I just think a buy out would be better for the team.

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

Maybe brooks has trade value and a buyout isnt needed?

haha yeh right

We could've traded him before the latest surgery, but that ship has sailed.

 

[artilector]

I don't mind MoJo-Beagle-Ovi, at least until Grabo comes back. Ovi needs to play with fast, hard-working and defensively responsible players. At the very least this line should stop the bleeding at ES.

Of all Ovi-lines I liked Fehr-Grabo-Ovi the best..

The real benefit in separating Backstrom-Ovi should be in creating a viable scoring line with Backstrom. Really crossing fingers for chemistry between Backstrom and Kuznetsov.

Speaking of Backstrom, if he can't get going even with a guy like Kuz, and Grabo is re-signed... I wouldn't mind considering trading Backstrom for somebody less skilled but faster & more aggressive. Not calling for a trade, since he has a nice contract and still lots of potential, but if something comes up... At some point Backstrom needs to start carrying a line that will be useful at ES.

Oh yeah, and I would be perfectly fine with buying out Laich, especially if there's any kind of issue with cap space (unlikely, but still).

 

[Devil Dancer]

If like to see a new precedent with the Caps. One that doesn't involve earning a big extension then falling apart (either by health or mental vacation).

IIRC Ovie improved significantly after signing his contract, and went on a tear to win his first Hart... but that's Ovie. He's the exception to the rule in Capland on a regular basis.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Did the Nylander situation stop players from signing in Washington? Has any of the Flyers' **** appeared to cost them signings? Has there been a single instance of reporting that indicated this kind of thing was a factor in a free agent's decision? Separately, you really think that Laich's injury problems make his situation look that much different from any other CBO? Are UFAs going to avoid Toronto now because they bought out Grabovski?

There is a basic, fundamental logic accepted by players that your job depends on your performance. No organization functions outside of that. They aren't going to look at a team that bought out a player and see an exception. That's just how it is.

NBTW's right, ya know. Caps have become NHL lepers since buying out Schultz. Not sure they can take another franchise hit like that one.

And Green has never been the same.

If Laich gets bought out, that may spell the end of Brouwer leading the team.

I shudder to think what else could happen. Oates could have Calle mentor the goalies, and Olaf reposition the defensemen.

George might even go scarfless next fall.

Lots of bad juju

 

[Calicaps]

Oh FFS! Get competent management and build a competitive team around our generational talent. Players will want to be part of it.

The end.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

IIRC Ovie improved significantly after signing his contract, and went on a tear to win his first Hart... but that's Ovie. He's the exception to the rule in Capland on a regular basis.

Absolutely the exception thankfully....

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Oh FFS! Get competent management and build a competitive team around our generational talent. Players will want to be part of it.

The end.

Seems like it should be a simple concept....

 

[Acallabeth]

I don't mind MoJo-Beagle-Ovi, at least until Grabo comes back. Ovi needs to play with fast, hard-working and defensively responsible players. At the very least this line should stop the bleeding at ES.

Yeah, Beagle centering AO is horrible, but much better than 90-19-8 or 21-19-8. At least he crashes the net.

 

[RandyHolt]

I notice some jump in Beagle's legs when he is on the top line. Not unexpected, and at least Oates is trying to address the lame duck ES play of Ovi with Nick

 

[g00n]

I notice some jump in Beagle's legs when he is on the top line. Not unexpected, and at least Oates is trying to address the lame duck ES play of Ovi with Nick

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2014/03/18/jay-beagle-wants-to-run-with-opportunity-playing-with-alex-ovechkin/

With both Brooks Laich and Mikhail Grabovski out of the lineup, with a groin injury and sprained left ankle respectively, Oates has tinkered with the top six frequently not only between games but as they progress. He’s searching for combinations that offer balance while perhaps throwing off opponents by splitting up Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.

In several recent contests, one of the frequent units has featured Ovechkin with Beagle and Marcus Johansson as left wing. Beagle’s ability to push his more prominent teammates directly up ice is one of the reasons why Oates has liked putting the 28-year-old Calgary native in that spot. Given the lack of depth among two-way players with Laich and Grabovski sidelined, there’s bound to be some experimentation as well.

“It frees up both Ovi and Backy a little bit in terms of matchup,†Oates said, citing when Toronto Coach Randy Carlyle responded to the split by taking Phil Kessel off the Maple Leafs’ top line. Beagle’s “skating and his power, his relentlessness at 200 feet drives them down the ice and that’s good for them sometimes. You’ve got to get away from the cute hockey sometimes and [they] need reminders that sometimes you’ve also got to play ths way.â€

 

[RandyHolt]

Throwing off opponents splitting up Nick and Ovi

That's a laugh, as those 2 together throws us off kilter playing cute hockey.

At least Oates is trying something. We all remember last playoffs he adjusted nothing at all. Well, other than being forced to fill Erats spot when he got trucked by Ovi.

Not one lineup change. While Torts was doing his thing, even benching Richards over just plugging him on 4 as Oates does. And sure enough, the Rangers 4th line potted a huge goal on us.

 

[Liberati0n*]

Arbitrarily switching lines around is not a real adjustment.

 

[Hivemind]

Arbitrarily switching lines around is not a real adjustment.

Only if you change the lines to ones the fans like is it a real adjustment.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

How? If you sign with a team and you get injured and can't play should you just expect a free pay check?

Brooks not playing and soaking up 4+ of the cap is ridiculous. You don't pay him because he's a good guy. This is a business and he's wasting space.

Yes, you should. That's why contracts are guaranteed.

Buying out your alternate captain and NHLPA rep when you've got a ton of cap room because he's been injured isn't the greatest message to send.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Did the Nylander situation stop players from signing in Washington? Has any of the Flyers' **** appeared to cost them signings? Has there been a single instance of reporting that indicated this kind of thing was a factor in a free agent's decision? Separately, you really think that Laich's injury problems make his situation look that much different from any other CBO? Are UFAs going to avoid Toronto now because they bought out Grabovski?

There is a basic, fundamental logic accepted by players that your job depends on your performance. No organization functions outside of that. They aren't going to look at a team that bought out a player and see an exception. That's just how it is.

Yes, injuries absolutely make the situation that much different.

Under-performance when healthy is a completely different animal.

Has there been any instance of players being bought out due to injury?

 

[txpd]

No it wouldn't. They don't care.

I quick read of Katie's post about Laich's surgery says that neither buyout option can be used on an injured player. He can not be bought out til he is cleared to play.

 

[txpd]

How? If you sign with a team and you get injured and can't play should you just expect a free pay check?

Brooks not playing and soaking up 4+ of the cap is ridiculous. You don't pay him because he's a good guy. This is a business and he's wasting space.

the pa made sure that the team's responsibilities to injured players are serious. the caps are responsible for laich til he is cleared to play or until his contract expires.

I would be the cap implications of keeping laich on LTIR are much more favorable than cutting him in any way available.

this would be why they kept tom poti all that time. buying him out while injured is just not an option.

conversely if the guy is cleared to play and is so diminished that he can't the team could then buy him out and be justified. we are not there yet

 

[Hivemind]

I would be the cap implications of keeping laich on LTIR are much more favorable than cutting him in any way available.

Not if it's a compliance buyout.

 

[BobRouse]

Why buy out Laich at this point?

We have tons of cap space so may as well see if he gets back into form. He's actually looked very good since the Olympic break in the sparse games I've watched.

If he gets back to being healthy he is a much needed player.

Can a compliance buyout even be used on an injured player?? If so isn't the last year to use our 2nd and last compliance buyout this summer?

If its this summer and Laich isn't cleared to play can we even buy him out?

 

[g00n]

Why buy out Laich at this point?

We have tons of cap space so may as well see if he gets back into form. He's actually looked very good since the Olympic break in the sparse games I've watched.

If he gets back to being healthy he is a much needed player.

Can a compliance buyout even be used on an injured player?? If so isn't the last year to use our 2nd and last compliance buyout this summer?

If its this summer and Laich isn't cleared to play can we even buy him out?

Welcome back.

Laich is a tough question because I agree he did look a hell of a lot better after all that time off. Problem is he may not have many games left in him if this cycle of re-injury continues. Hard to say. I looked at Fehr the same way since he was so injury prone early in his career. He's turned out to be a decent player but not quite the scoring threat he was projected by some to be. For Laich to justify the money he's getting we need him healthy, and with his type of injury and injury history how likely is that?

I'm not a capologist so I don't know what makes the most sense regarding LTIR vs buyout.

 

[BobRouse]

Welcome back.

Laich is a tough question because I agree he did look a hell of a lot better after all that time off. Problem is he may not have many games left in him if this cycle of re-injury continues. Hard to say. I looked at Fehr the same way since he was so injury prone early in his career. He's turned out to be a decent player but not quite the scoring threat he was projected by some to be. For Laich to justify the money he's getting we need him healthy, and with his type of injury and injury history how likely is that?

I'm not a capologist so I don't know what makes the most sense regarding LTIR vs buyout.

Thanks g00n.

I agree with all that you say first off. Fehr is a decent comparison too.

But I thought this summer was the last year a team could use one of the 2 compliance buyouts they were given? I would imagine that is what we'd want to use.

But if we miss the playoffs then Laich won't even have a chance to come back...can he be medically cleared at that point?

This is not an easy situation. If we were short on cap space and had the opportunity then it would be kinda easy. But we aren't short on cap space and not even sure we can use the buyout on him.

I don't think we'd want to do a regular buyout and have that count against the Cap for years to come.