C Connor McMichael - London Knights, OHL (2019, 25th, WSH)

[The Winter Soldier]

He's leading the OHL (and CHL) in pt/gm though, so regardless of whether the OHL scoring is up or not, he's still ahead of all his current peers.

A good and valid point worth repeating. Regardless if OHL scoring is up across the board. Connor's PPG production is unmatched. You can say that for Tomasino and Kaliyev too. All 3 are having outstanding D+1's.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Is OHL scoring up over average? It has to be.

At the 40 GP mark OHL scoring was at 3.86 GPG, the highest mark in over two decades. Although, to be fair, it was 3.85 in 2006-07.

At the 46 game mark QMJHL was at 3.46 GPG.

I haven't checked WHL.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Hard to tell if he's going to be NHL dominant, but I believe he'll be a very solid player for the Capitals in the future.

But I see him making the NHL line-up by 2022-23.

 

[Habsfann]

If he was available for the up coming draft, where would he get drafted overall?

 

[EXTRAS]

Hard to tell if he's going to be NHL dominant, but I believe he'll be a very solid player for the Capitals in the future.

But I see him making the NHL line-up by 2022-23.

You think they will keep him in the OHL another year after destroying this season so badly? Seems like a waste to keep playing vs kids.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

You think they will keep him in the OHL another year after destroying this season so badly? Seems like a waste to keep playing vs kids.

Can't send him to the AHL and no room on the Caps, let him get all the ice-time he can get. But he'll also need to adapt to the adult level in the AHL, unless he proves us all wrong.

 

[koalabear9301]

Can't send him to the AHL and no room on the Caps, let him get all the ice-time he can get. But he'll also need to adapt to the adult level in the AHL, unless he proves us all wrong.

He'll definitely get a chance to make the Caps next year. Feel like he has a very real shot at making the team as 3LW.

 

[GRob83]

If he was available for the up coming draft, where would he get drafted overall?

No lower than Top 10

 

[GRob83]

I thought he already made it pretty tough to cut him this last preseason, if the Capitals weren’t among the league’s deeper teams I think he’d have already been there, so my gut says yes. At least a small cup.

Depending what happens in the playoffs would it be possible to trade Kuznetsov and/or Orlov to upgrade the defense and slot McMichael as 2C between Backstrom and Eller. Kuznetsov is terrible at faceoffs and the Caps have nothing behind Carlson on the right side of the defense. Jensen and Gudas are not top 4 defenseman and if McMichael has legit 1C potential then he shouldn't be wasted on another year in the OHL.

 

[EXTRAS]

Depending what happens in the playoffs would it be possible to trade Kuznetsov and/or Orlov to upgrade the defense and slot McMichael as 2C between Backstrom and Eller. Kuznetsov is terrible at faceoffs and the Caps have nothing behind Carlson on the right side of the defense. Jensen and Gudas are not top 4 defenseman and if McMichael has legit 1C potential then he shouldn't be wasted on another year in the OHL.

Slotting McMichael in as a 2C on a cup contending team in his rookie year is likely reaching quite a bit.

 

[Langway]

Slotting McMichael in as a 2C on a cup contending team in his rookie year is likely reaching quite a bit.

Yes, much more likely he plays wing on the third line with Eller initially.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Depending what happens in the playoffs would it be possible to trade Kuznetsov and/or Orlov to upgrade the defense and slot McMichael as 2C between Backstrom and Eller. Kuznetsov is terrible at faceoffs and the Caps have nothing behind Carlson on the right side of the defense. Jensen and Gudas are not top 4 defenseman and if McMichael has legit 1C potential then he shouldn't be wasted on another year in the OHL.

Let's give it time to see how he does at the pro level before making any silly trades. There have been a crap load of dominating junior players that take a few years to catch their stride in the NHL....

And a crap load that never catch their stride

 

[NuxFan09]

Depending what happens in the playoffs would it be possible to trade Kuznetsov and/or Orlov to upgrade the defense and slot McMichael as 2C between Backstrom and Eller. Kuznetsov is terrible at faceoffs and the Caps have nothing behind Carlson on the right side of the defense. Jensen and Gudas are not top 4 defenseman and if McMichael has legit 1C potential then he shouldn't be wasted on another year in the OHL.

This is a textbook HF post. Lol, nice job.

I'm not a Caps fan but the answer is No.

 

[Melkor]

Kuznetsov is not going anywhere unless it's a trade of Johansen-Jones nature or in a package for an absolute superstar center.

 

[GRob83]

Yes, much more likely he plays wing on the third line with Eller initially.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

 

[GRob83]

Yes, much more likely he plays wing on the third line with Eller initially.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

 

[GRob83]

Yes, much more likely he plays wing on the third line with Eller initially.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Interesting looking at other first rd picks in their D+1 seasons.

Notable OHL players PPG

Marner 2.03
Strome 1.98
Frost 1.67
Suzuki 1.56

McMichael 2.18 through 38 games.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

McMichael has played on the wing at times so this wouldn't be too much of an issue for him

 

[Dominance]

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

I wouldn’t worry about it, you can never have too many good centres. Worst case scenario, he becomes a winger at the NHL level. Best case scenario, he takes the path of so many other great players and learns the NHL game at the wing before forcing the trade of Kuznetsov.

There’s no reason to make room for him, outside of ensuring a spot in the top-9 as every team should do for incoming top prospects, until he forces your hand.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Vrana - Backstrom - Oshie
Hagelin - Eller - McMichael
Leipsic/Panik - Dowd - Hathaway

Backstrom and Kuznetsov are both signed until 2025 and Eller is signed until 2023 so is McMichael going to be a Center in the Pros or is there a chance Kuznetsov gets moved to a wing at some point?

Barring any substantial changes, this is how I see the Caps next season.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
McMichael-Eller-Panik
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway

Initially CMM will be on the 4th line but by the playoffs he'll supplant Hagelin. Leipsic is not tendered in this scenario. No issues with McMichael starting as a bottom six winger -- Kuznetsov started as 4LW when he came over and he was older and had played against men in the KHL.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Depending what happens in the playoffs would it be possible to trade Kuznetsov and/or Orlov to upgrade the defense and slot McMichael as 2C between Backstrom and Eller. Kuznetsov is terrible at faceoffs and the Caps have nothing behind Carlson on the right side of the defense. Jensen and Gudas are not top 4 defenseman and if McMichael has legit 1C potential then he shouldn't be wasted on another year in the OHL.

Orlov is their second best defenseman and has a great contract. It's more likely they trade Kempny, in my opinion, to make room for Fehervary.

Kuznetsov was the missing piece to their 2C problems. Trading him during Ovi's twilight years and relying on a rookie at 2C would be bad for business.

 

[discobob]

Best case scenario, he takes the path of so many other great players and learns the NHL game at the wing before forcing the trade of Kuznetsov.

He'll be 19 at the start of next season. Even if he surprises us, and makes the Caps roster... he'd be a winger for ~2 yrs. If he really can play C at that point, Backstom is almost 35 and slots in as your 3rd C (what a luxury). You trade Eller (who only has one yr left on his contract), or make him the #4C (another luxury), and you role Kuzy and McMichael as 1C/2C.

I don't see the case where Kuzy is traded.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

You know you are doing good when your PPG average goes down when you have a 2 point night against a tough Saginaw team. Standing at 2.179 PPG through 39 games in his D+1.

 

[lilmaxo]

Marner had a 2.06 ppg during his D+1 season and had dvorak and tkachuk.

mcmichael is at 2.179 and I don’t think hes getting the same quality of linemates.

If mcmichael can get the same production has marner in the nhl ill be pumped for my fantasy!