The team absolutely was disrespected, and management has been really smart. Their playoff performance doesn't change either of those two things at all
Are Capitals pretenders or real contenders?
- Thread starter User9992
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Disrespected how? By calling the Capitals what they are? Fake contenders?
I don’t know that their management is smart. They’ve committed long term cap dollars to players who will only be good enough to make them a middling team, right when the team was about to cycle through several years of high draft picks. Now they’re a middling team with some long term contracts that will keep them a middling team for quite some time, meaning no top 10 picks to bring in elite level talent on cost-controlled contracts. Sounds like either dumb moves or a franchise that is ok with not winning championships.
I would pretty strongly disagree with the "definitely good" part. Good teams don't look like they belong in the AHL for a good portion of the series.
Golden_Jet
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- Sep 21, 2005
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Well the good news for caps fans, they have a much brighter outlook than pens moving forward.
People expected them to be bad before the start of the year and almost everyone chose them as the team to fall out of the playoffs in the east in favor of NJ. They greatly exceeded expectations this year and at pretty much every point the consensus opinion was that they would end up in a worse spot than where they actually did
They're not a middling team, they're a good team. Management has made them a good team while actually ending up almost net-positive on future assets.
Tear down rebuild does not equal smart and top 10 picks are not a guarantee of nor the only way to get elite talent.
Do they? They have more dollars committed to contracts like PLD that will only serve to keep them in the middle of the pack, away from picks that have a higher chance of becoming elite talent.
Capitals fans have been crying disrespect since at least midway through this season for not being picked as a Cup favorite, which was always crazy.
They’re a middling team that played over their heads this year in a weak division.
And you don’t have to tear your team down to acquire high draft picks. Just don’t sign/acquire guys like Chychrun, Thompson, PLD on long term, large dollar cap hits which will keep you in the middle of the pack, only to lose in the first round or two of the playoffs at their max potential. Have patience for a couple years, acquire some good young players with higher picks, and resume the cycle.
On one hand the Caps finished 31 points and 22 standings places higher than the Pens, won a playoff round, and have a significantly higher rated prospect pool than the Pens.
On the other the Penguins are picking 11th in the draft this year!
This is a loser mentality that will lead to a team being the Buffalo Sabres. One of the worst parts of sports analytics is that it's somehow convinced people that acquiring good players is bad.
Golden_Jet
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Yea they do, it’s going to take several years for the Pens to even get to middle status. Probably getting worse before it gets better in Pittsburgh.
Hoo boy. And this kind of mentality is why the Caps have 1 Cup to the Pens 5.
I’ll wait with patience for the good years. The Pens have already given many years of excellence.
Led the team in goalsAre we allowed to say that Ovi looked like shit yet?
What else did you expect from a 39 year old ?
- Mar 28, 2025
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You're allowed to make a fool of yourself at any time here at HFB's.Are we allowed to say that Ovi looked like shit yet?
I’d also push back on non educated users stating the Pens have some horrific pipeline currently. They rank 20th in the latest pipeline rankings I could find. Yes bottom half but not near the bottom.
Combine that with 3 first rounders in the next two years and a ton of high end picks on top of that (can’t account for player trades that will produce even more)…
They have a decent handful of middling prospects but are missing the 1-2 high end picks that they are finally bad enough to get.
They will be near the top 10 in a couple of years.
But the thing is, pipeline rankings doesn’t mean squat in terms of winning. The ultimate goal is to win Cups. Not care about how the pipeline looks.
Combine that with 3 first rounders in the next two years and a ton of high end picks on top of that (can’t account for player trades that will produce even more)…
They have a decent handful of middling prospects but are missing the 1-2 high end picks that they are finally bad enough to get.
They will be near the top 10 in a couple of years.
But the thing is, pipeline rankings doesn’t mean squat in terms of winning. The ultimate goal is to win Cups. Not care about how the pipeline looks.
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My issue with the Pens is whether they're capable of developing players. I feel like I can only think of maybe 4-5 players drafted in the past 20-25 years that have developed into top 2-line talent. Granted, they haven't had great draft positioning in the past 20 years, often trading away 1st and 2nd round picks. I guess we'll see.
1.) Letang
2.) Guentzel
3.) Fleury
3.) Rust
4.) Murray?
5.) Maatta?
6.) Jarry?
7.) Goligoski?
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Empoleon8771
Registered User
I don't get why people would be taking shots at the Capitals for their season. Did they overperform in the regular season and are still more of a "3rd in the metro" caliber team? Sure, but that's not a bad spot to be in right now and they have a ton of flexibility moving forward to make their team better.
They have their top-6 centers, goalies and top-4 D figured out long-term, have what looks like a great young coach and have a ton of cap space going forward. Even after Ovi retires, they're really well set up to be a force going forward.
They have their top-6 centers, goalies and top-4 D figured out long-term, have what looks like a great young coach and have a ton of cap space going forward. Even after Ovi retires, they're really well set up to be a force going forward.
Skiiiiiiinerrr
Just more of me to love, honey
They had a great season and went up against a superior team. Carolina is clicking on every level. I wouldn't call the Caps pretenders. I think Carolina wins the Cup.
JFedol
🅱🅱🅱 M.I.P Pac 1971-1996, Makaveli Tha Don 🐐
Everything would have to go right with Carolina though. Non-existent high end talent on that team even Svechnikovs scoring. Haven't checked, but their PP has been mid. Their depth would have to raise the bar
And that’s a better argument than anything. You are right in saying they haven’t developed too many young guys outside of sure fire can’t miss prospects.
One argument could be as you already stated that they normally traded them away and if not were extremely low in the first and then ultimately traded away anyways.
And with peak Crosby/Malkin/Letang/Fleury, they could get away with it.
But you started to see the repercussions as that group started showing age, they don’t have anyone there truly supporting them now.
We will see how they develop guys in the next couple of years because they are sure to get some very high picks in the coming drafts.
If there is any knock on the Capitals current young players/team it’s that they don’t seem to have anyone young game breakers. Yes some of them had very good season this year but you’d expect them to revert back a little.
I don’t see anyone on that team who is stepping into OV’s shoes (or close) when he’s done.
It’s funny that they just played them but currently constructed, if I were a betting man, I think the Caps in 5 years will resemble the Hurricanes. A team that is very good but just doesn’t have that top end talent to get over the mountain.
Beautiful thing about it all is that we all get to see and they get to try and prove me wrong.
Edit: also in your points, you state they have their top 6 centers but I would push back a little on if they are good enough top 6 centers.
Dr John Carlson
Registered User
Penguins fans swarming to this thread is hilarious when the only thing they've had to cheer for in the seven years since Washington knocked them out in 2018 was their coach getting fired a few weeks ago. The lack of self-awareness is wild.
Regardless of the outcome, Capitals fans had a great time this year. Probably my favourite season as a fan, all things considered.
Regardless of the outcome, Capitals fans had a great time this year. Probably my favourite season as a fan, all things considered.
Your team won one championship in your life time. Calm down on the “my favorite season as a fan”. We all know that isn't true.
