Speculation: Caps General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) -- 2018-19 We Are The Champions Edition - Pt. 1

[Hivemind]

Well, then that makes even more sense. If the Caps are stuck with a $2.5m award, I can easily see that they have no cap space to make that work or anything like that. Like I said. They didn't QO him because they didn't want to be obligated to him beyond what they have budgeted.

The Capitals have $13M in cap space right now and only need to sign a handful of guys. They can absolutely afford $2.5M for DSP unless they give $6M to Tom Wilson, $4M to Michal Kempny, and $3M to Jay Beagle. They just don't want to.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[HunterSThompson]

Somehow I didn't realize that is how they played the Connolly business last year. Almost identical situations, so perhaps they would rather do it UFA wise than go through arbitration process.

 

[strungout]

I'm also now starting to be afraid that they're going to give a botload of money to Tom Wilson.

5mil per for 5 years works for me!

 

[OviTaughtMe]

I hate overpaying for unsustainable performances in the past but dammit I really want DSP back.

He’s so great for this town.

But i get it if they let him walk

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[txpd]

The Capitals have $13M in cap space right now and only need to sign a handful of guys. They can absolutely afford $2.5M for DSP unless they give $6M to Tom Wilson, $4M to Michal Kempny, and $3M to Jay Beagle. They just don't want to.

I think Kempny is gone too. Ok...they just don't want to. I think if they had a choice between keeping Beagle and DSP, they would take Beagle. I think Kempny wants term. I think the Caps expect Djoos to be playing his ice time sooner than later.

 

[peterthegreat12]

What kind of message does that send to our young players such as Gersich, Walker and others. I'd rather just focus within and develop our own. Right now there's only one foreseeable position opened and that's the one vacated by Chiasson's departure, don't want to see that opportunity go to someone being imported.

Well, if Beagle isn't signed, that gives Boyd a spot, and Stephenson a spot. What other young players are you referring to? Barber? I'm not sold that he has earned a spot.

 

[Corby78]

I normally hate to see guys I like leave, but this championship team makes it worse. That team will forever be the team I hold closest to my heart. Even when we win again it will never be the first. I guess I wish we could just freeze this team in time just a little bit longer before we have to move on.

 

[HunterSThompson]

I think Kempny is gone too. Ok...they just don't want to. I think if they had a choice between keeping Beagle and DSP, they would take Beagle. I think Kempny wants term. I think the Caps expect Djoos to be playing his ice time sooner than later.

That very well may be true of the Kempny deal. I am never afraid of term if the evaluation of the player is reasonable.

 

[peterthegreat12]

Well, if Beagle isn't signed, that gives Boyd a spot, and Stephenson a spot. What other young players are you referring to? Barber? I'm not sold that he has earned a spot.

Gersich...Pinho....they need time in Hershey to develop.

 

[Hivemind]

I will be very upset if they lose Kempny. They let Schmidt go last year and got lucky that a replacement fell in their lap with Kempny. They shouldn't tempt fate like that again.

 

[HunterSThompson]

I will be very upset if they lose Kempny. They let Schmidt go last year and got lucky that a replacement fell in their lap with Kempny. They shouldn't tempt fate like that again.

The only reason would be to sign a guy with a little more special teams usage ability. There has to be a drop dead number on Kempny that you do not pass. There are a bunch of middle pairing left handed guys available. If they do not re-sign Orpik or pick up a PK LHD, they may feel they could use that money better to fill that void. a 2nd pairing LHD that PKs is the dream.

 

[stanleycaps18]

The Capitals have $13M in cap space right now and only need to sign a handful of guys. They can absolutely afford $2.5M for DSP unless they give $6M to Tom Wilson, $4M to Michal Kempny, and $3M to Jay Beagle. They just don't want to.

As I said before, I would guess they would like DSP back, but they have to get through some higher priorities like Wilson and Kempney, before they know what they have left to spend.

 

[twabby]

The only reason would be to sign a guy with a little more special teams usage ability. There has to be a drop dead number on Kempny that you do not pass. There are a bunch of middle pairing left handed guys available. If they do not re-sign Orpik or pick up a PK LHD, they may feel they could use that money better to fill that void. a 2nd pairing LHD that PKs is the dream.

Kempny would be a fine PKer. No reason to believe otherwise.

 

[txpd]

That very well may be true of the Kempny deal. I am never afraid of term if the evaluation of the player is reasonable.

My evaluation is that Kempny proved to be a solid 3rd pair defenseman. That's better than where he was in Chicago, but because he was skating with Carlson on the 2nd pair its possible he can get top 4 d money somewhere. I wouldn't pay him that.

 

[txpd]

Kempny would be a fine PKer. No reason to believe otherwise.

No reason? I can think of 2. 1. he didn't pk. 2. in close games with a lead, Orpik took his shifts with Carlson.

 

[Hivemind]

The only reason would be to sign a guy with a little more special teams usage ability. There has to be a drop dead number on Kempny that you do not pass. There are a bunch of middle pairing left handed guys available. If they do not re-sign Orpik or pick up a PK LHD, they may feel they could use that money better to fill that void. a 2nd pairing LHD that PKs is the dream.

I don't see why they couldn't give Kempny more regular PK duty. It's not like he's Djoos.

Of the LHD on the free agent market, only Tobias Enstrom, and Dan Hamhuis really intrigue me as 2LD options (and both would have similar if not more risk than Kempny on multi-year deals). The rest of the LHD UFAs either suck (Luca Sbisa, John Moore), are dramatically overrated (Jack Johnson), or are elder statemen who aren't really relevant beyond 3rd pairing duty (Orpik, Oduya, Martin).

 

[Hivemind]

No reason? I can think of 2. 1. he didn't pk. 2. in close games with a lead, Orpik took his shifts with Carlson.

Which of those don't also apply to Nate Schmidt last year? Or Orlov before those playoffs? Both of them turned out to be fine PKers once they got the opportunity.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Sounds like they're working with DSP, but the not qualifying thing is because they have a pretty firm cutoff point where they're not willing to cross and they're nervous it goes there.


For the life of my I can't understand why his Arbitration would get him over a million.

 

[twabby]

Further to what @Hivemind said, I think pretty much anyone with NHL level talent can be an effective PKer. It’s a matter of choosing which players should be used there vs. saved for other situations such as ES and the PP. I also think scheme and coaching is more important on the PK rather than pure defensive ability.

I think most people would agree that Backstrom is probably their best defensive forward at ES, but he’s behind Beagle and Eller on the PK rotation because why waste his energy on a job that others could do? Not that that’s why Kempny wasn’t used there, but it makes much more sense to play Orpik in a heavy PK role because he is not an effective ES player and has no role on the PP. And Trotz was likely just more content to stick with Orlov as the #2 LD on the PK due to familiarity.

 

[Hivemind]

I don't know if I'd go quite so far as to say "anyone with NHL level talent can be an effective PKer." I would be scared if Djoos was sent out there as a primary option on the PK, for instance. That would be playing fully against his strengths as a player and putting him almost purely into a situation of in-zone coverage (which is the weakest part of his game).

That being said, I also don't think the PK skillset is exceedingly rare, especially for defensemen.

 

[Corby78]

Further to what @Hivemind said, I think pretty much anyone with NHL level talent can be an effective PKer. It’s a matter of choosing which players should be used there vs. saved for other situations such as ES and the PP. I also think scheme and coaching is more important on the PK rather than pure defensive ability.

I think most people would agree that Backstrom is probably their best defensive forward at ES, but he’s behind Beagle and Eller on the PK rotation because why waste his energy on a job that others could do? Not that that’s why Kempny wasn’t used there, but it makes much more sense to play Orpik in a heavy PK role because he is not an effective ES player and has no role on the PP. And Trotz was likely just more content to stick with Orlov as the #2 LD on the PK due to familiarity.

So how long would it take to make bura a Pker? While yes you don’t want some guys killing because yo want them on the next shift out or fresh for pps, but not everyone can just get thrown in there. Some are better than others

 

[twabby]

I don't know if I'd go quite so far as to say "anyone with NHL level talent can be an effective PKer." I would be scared if Djoos was sent out there as a primary option on the PK, for instance. That would be playing fully against his strengths as a player and putting him almost purely into a situation of in-zone coverage (which is the weakest part of his game).

That being said, I also don't think the PK skillset is exceedingly rare, especially for defensemen.

Djoos is literally one of the 2 or 3 smallest D in the NHL so maybe I was a bit liberal describing my set of D who can PK. But Kempny certainly seems to have the necessary tools to PK.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I think Kempny is gone too. Ok...they just don't want to. I think if they had a choice between keeping Beagle and DSP, they would take Beagle. I think Kempny wants term. I think the Caps expect Djoos to be playing his ice time sooner than later.

I dont think so. When they come out and say that they (GMBM) want something, it usually happens. Have not heard a thing by them about Beagle or DSP. But they specifically stated Kempny. And also a bought out Orpik.

So..... I’d trust that. You usually take GMBM for his words. Not sure why you wouldn’t now?