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

[txpd]

If Kempny gets an offer that's too lucrative to pass up, then good on him and godspeed. But I hope he's back, the D was clearly better with him in the lineup (and I think he could still improve some with a full season on the team). Counting on djoos to play a consistent top four role on a team trying for a repeat seems suspect to me.

Its the same plan as last season and other seasons. Let the young guys play. If they are not ready, find a veteran at the deadline to spell them.

 

[895]

Not sure if this was posted but

Carlson wants Capitals to hire Reirden as coach

Looks like Trotz was indeed a lame duck coach. So uh...goodluck with that NYI.

 

[BondraEra]

I understand that we're all still riding the high of winning the cup, but I was not expecting the level of sentimentality bleeding through some of these posts. But anyway, if Kempny doesn't re-sign, I think Calvin de Haan or Thomas Hickey would be worthy swings in free agency. Hell, we'll already have #44 ready and waiting for de Haan.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

I am in the minority here but I don’t see a need to bring back DSP. During the regular season, DSP played like a $750K 4th liner. He was not good. At all. He generated no offense and his line could not maintain possession. At times, he struggled to maintain his composure and he committed stupid penalties. If it weren’t for ~10 minutes in the playoffs where DSP made a handful of awesome plays, nobody would be talking about bringing him back. IMO.

Guys that can bring it in the playoffs are worth their weight in gold. Druce Smith Pelly coming back would be great. On a reasonable deal, of course.

 

[Revelation]

Holy shit Ottawa didn't qualify Claesson. Just when you think the circus couldn't get any worse. If Kempny moves on I'd love to sign him for 1 million and have him and Djoos battle it out for the spot next to Carlson, he could easily be Kempny 2.0 though less physical.

 

[Raikkonen]

Thinking about Carlson's extension... Thought about how McPhee made sure this team has a future drafting Kuznetsov

If there was no next generation of talented players in Vrana, Bura, Wilson and ofc Kuzy - we could have had a team like Pittsburgh where core guys are old and there is nobody on their level from the young side.

Having Kuznetsov means everyone can look down the road and see that chance every year. Because why the hell not when you have legends like Ovi and league top players like Kuzy?

So this has to have a hand in FA signings. DC is good destination from the cup chances standpoint.

 

[Raikkonen]

Reirden should have all the knowledge GMBM needs to sign Kempny (or pass). Will wait and see.

But I don't believe Kempny or Djoos are what's needed for 2LD. Period. We won a cup with them - great.

Make sure we have a best possible roster for b2b cups but don't pay Kempny through the nose because of one run in the passenger seat largely. Kempny did nothing of the top-4 D variety. Had Caps have better player he would be playing with Carlson over Kempny. That's why Im against 4x4M suggestions and such.

Keep Kempny for cheap and 2 years. If he wants money right now - godspeed.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I know it sucks to see role players leave like beagle and dsp. But over paying 4th liners is a fast track to becoming the kings and Blackhawks. You have to use your cheap hungry contracts in those roles. That's how we won the cup

 

[kmart]

so assuming they fill out the rest of the roster with rookies or cheap grit guys... how does the cap look, is there room for making a trade or fa signing ?

its a bit depressing to see other teams making moves... and the caps have to let players go just to hold the core together, oh well this is what it takes to win it all i guess.

 

[Corby78]

Not exactly the same, but I remember the blackhawks unloading players after their cups. I always told myself I would happily take that problem if it ment hoisting the cup.

IRT Kempny. At what point do you remind him that we pulled his career out of the fire and put his name on the cup? I want him to stay but he isn’t Carlson or Wilson.

 

[Lindemann]

I don’t see how anyone could be apposed to Kempny at like a 3 year deal

He was vital to our run and improved a hell of a lot as games went on. And maybe that’s all on Reirden?

Djoos is still young too. He’s gonna be a good 5/6 d men. He didn’t do anything amazing. Nor did he make mistakes last playoff run. That says a lot for a young kid

 

[txpd]

I know it sucks to see role players leave like beagle and dsp. But over paying 4th liners is a fast track to becoming the kings and Blackhawks. You have to use your cheap hungry contracts in those roles. That's how we won the cup

Careful. Beagle centers the 4th line but like Kempny isn't really a 2nd pair defenseman, Beagle isn't really a 4th line forward. In the playoffs he was 8th among forwards in toi/g. Connolly skates on the 3rd line but is a 4th line player. Beagle's situational usage bumps him solidly out of the 4th line catagory

 

[txpd]

I don’t see how anyone could be apposed to Kempny at like a 3 year deal

He was vital to our run and improved a hell of a lot as games went on. And maybe that’s all on Reirden?

Djoos is still young too. He’s gonna be a good 5/6 d men. He didn’t do anything amazing. Nor did he make mistakes last playoff run. That says a lot for a young kid

Its simple. Some are thinking that because Kempny played with Carlson, he is a top 4 defenseman. If he expects a top 4 d contract, he's not staying. He was a 3rd pair d skating his even strength shifts on the 2nd pair with a Norris Trophy level partner carrying the load. He did no special teams work and was replaced as Carlson's partner late in games with a lead.

Djoos is targeted to be a top 4 player.

Kempny was a product of Trotz and Reirden coaching him up and finding the best way to use 3 top 4 defensemen and 3 3rd pair defensemen to their best use.

 

[Lindemann]

Its simple. Some are thinking that because Kempny played with Carlson, he is a top 4 defenseman. If he expects a top 4 d contract, he's not staying. He was a 3rd pair d skating his even strength shifts on the 2nd pair with a Norris Trophy level partner carrying the load. He did no special teams work and was replaced as Carlson's partner late in games with a lead.

Djoos is targeted to be a top 4 player.

Kempny was a product of Trotz and Reirden coaching him up and finding the best way to use 3 top 4 defensemen and 3 3rd pair defensemen to their best use.

I don’t expect him to get top 4 money. 2.5 - 3 million a year is good with me. GMBM is smart

But even though he’s a 3rd pair, it’s about fit. We struggled to find someone to go with Carlson for a while and Kempny complimented him well

 

[Raikkonen]

I know it sucks to see role players leave like beagle and dsp. But over paying 4th liners is a fast track to becoming the kings and Blackhawks. You have to use your cheap hungry contracts in those roles. That's how we won the cup

Yes and no. We won a cup with expensive 4C in Beagle. Who was paid exactly for being elite defensive 4C. And he did his share of work to win that thing.

We can easily replace DSP (with say L'Oreal) and we can't easily replace Beagle (because Stephenson is LH, less good at FO and less stronger).

 

[txpd]

I don’t expect him to get top 4 money. 2.5 - 3 million a year is good with me. GMBM is smart

But even though he’s a 3rd pair, it’s about fit. We struggled to find someone to go with Carlson for a while and Kempny complimented him well

What is your definition of for a while? Carlson played his entire career next to Karl Alzner up til last season. $3m for Kempny? No

 

[Lindemann]

What is your definition of for a while? Carlson played his entire career next to Karl Alzner up til last season. $3m for Kempny? No

Alzner was not a good compliment to Carlson IMO. Breakouts died when he was on the ice.

But could also be the system

Why no to 3 million? He would be the 2nd cheapest d man on our roster currently

 

[895]

The more I think about it, the more I think Kempny is gone.

The UFA defenseman class is on one the worst ever. Mike Green is best defenseman available. If Kempny goes UFA he will massively overpaid. This guy's career was pretty much over. I think he'll just go chasing the money and I can't blame him for it.

 

[Raikkonen]

In any case Kempny still has the KHL backup option to get more money after. Whenever he wants basically.

 

[HunterSThompson]

I get this feeling that GMBM is angling for a $4-5 million splash or maybe its just Mike Green.

 

[HunterSThompson]

Here is a list from the mainboards of interesting non-qualified RFAs that now become UFAs.

Robin Lehner
Tomas Jurco
Peter Mrazek
Anthony Duclair
Dylan DeMelo
Tobias Reider
Riley Sheahan
Emile Poirier
Derrick Pouliot
Devante Smith Pelley
Alan Quine
Shane Prince
Daniel Carr
Logan Shaw
Tomas Kuhnackl
Nick Shore
Justin Auger
Jordan Subban
Joe Morrow
Freddy Claesson
Nail Yakupov
Duncan Siemens

Nick Shore is an interesting option if Beagle does depart. Faceoffs not as much, but a young solidly defensive 4th liner with good corsi numbers.

Fredrik Claesson is kind of interesting for the left handed defensive defenseman role if Orpik/Kempny are not back and they need someone to kill penalties and play on the bottom pair/7th (if Djoos can step up to play with Carlson).

Dylan Demelo if they move on from Bowey or they don't think he has it and need a depth RHD on the cheap.

Derrick Pouliot and Joe Morrow fit the bill if cheap LHD puck movers are the need.

Tobias Rieder and Anthony Duclair were already mentioned.
.

 

[Red Dread]

Reirden should have all the knowledge GMBM needs to sign Kempny (or pass). Will wait and see.

But I don't believe Kempny or Djoos are what's needed for 2LD. Period. We won a cup with them - great.

Make sure we have a best possible roster for b2b cups but don't pay Kempny through the nose because of one run in the passenger seat largely. Kempny did nothing of the top-4 D variety. Had Caps have better player he would be playing with Carlson over Kempny. That's why Im against 4x4M suggestions and such.

Keep Kempny for cheap and 2 years. If he wants money right now - godspeed.

Agreed. Gotta say, I'd rather Carlson play to his potential with a great LHD vs carrying a Kempny or developing a prospect.

 

[Portable Mink]

Dunno if people saw this

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Its simple. Some are thinking that because Kempny played with Carlson, he is a top 4 defenseman. If he expects a top 4 d contract, he's not staying. He was a 3rd pair d skating his even strength shifts on the 2nd pair with a Norris Trophy level partner carrying the load. He did no special teams work and was replaced as Carlson's partner late in games with a lead.

Djoos is targeted to be a top 4 player.

Kempny was a product of Trotz and Reirden coaching him up and finding the best way to use 3 top 4 defensemen and 3 3rd pair defensemen to their best use.

I'm higher on Kempny than I am on Djoos, and I'm fairly high on Djoos. Kempny is bigger, stronger, and faster than Djoos. Djoos is slicker with the puck but he doesn't have the speed to make up for his lack of size in order to be a top 4 guy.

 

[HunterSThompson]

Dunno if people saw this

Neat statistics. Not surprised about blocked passes as the Caps focus on this and he is great at it. Kind of surprised about stretch passes, i assume that is measured as a pass originating from his own zone that extends onto the other side of center.