Speculation: Caps General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) -- 2018-19 We Are The Champions Edition - Pt. 4

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Well with Wilsons cap hit these suspensions really hurt us

 

[txpd]

Well with Wilsons cap hit these suspensions really hurt us

Yup. They hurt. At the same time the development of Wilson's game kicked the Caps playoff game up and provided some of what got them over the hump. His suspensions hurt. His play is a difference maker.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I'm not sure it has to be that painful, depending on the timing/what's available in FA, etc. You can do a lot with 9.5M in cap space. And I don't see a need to force changing team-wide identity & structure, except on the PP.

A lot of things are carefully put in place to make Ovechkin the center piece. Without him, about 25% of the goal production disappears and the team lacks an elite finisher. At the end of the day, Kuznetsov and Backstrom need someone to pass the puck to.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

You don’t think it will be be easy to transition to Kuzys team? If Vrana and Samsonov hit the train should keep rolling.

I'm not sure Kuzy alone will be enough to remain competitive in 5-6 years. We will need another star/superstar level player.

 

[txpd]

A lot of things are carefully put in place to make Ovechkin the center piece. Without him, about 25% of the goal production disappears and the team lacks an elite finisher. At the end of the day, Kuznetsov and Backstrom need someone to pass the puck to.

lets see where they are when Ovechkin is 35 plus and scoring 25 to 35 a year. As he declines the team will transition.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

lets see where they are when Ovechkin is 35 plus and scoring 25 to 35 a year. As he declines the team will transition.

I fear there might not be that much of a decline and his departure would be quite the shock for the organization. I think he can stay in the 30-40 goal range for a while and then retire before turning 40.

 

[txpd]

I fear there might not be that much of a decline and his departure would be quite the shock for the organization. I think he can stay in the 30-40 goal range for a while and then retire before turning 40.

My point is that as he ages his goal scoring dominance will slide enough that opportunities will be there to develop alternator sources of goals. As long as Backstrom is effective the Caps will have one center for 8 and another one for someone new.

If Ov is scoring 35, that is more normal for a team leader and the team will change and develop that way

 

[Carlzner]

I never said he wouldn't make the roster I said he wouldn't play.

Uh huh

 

[Sam Spade]

Uh huh

My exact post from Sept. 16 in the closed thread:

Full time is playing in games. My bet is Walker is behind Shumakov, Ikonen, Gersich, AJF, and probably Pinho, as wingers in the organization. As to playing time you are more than likely correct they would rather have Walker eating nachos than any of the guys I listed, but if a regular spot opened up I doubt Walker would be the guy filling it.

Nothing has changed, except now he has to jump another player.

FYI, I would love Walker to find success here I just think his offense is so limited, muffin shot, not a great passer, that the Walker ship has sailed. Would be cool to be wrong.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Uh huh

in fairness, the question was "will Walker be a regular". That to me means playing a lot.

unless injury, he prob won't. I stress PROB part

 

[maacoshark]

I'm not sure Kuzy alone will be enough to remain competitive in 5-6 years. We will need another star/superstar level player.

We are going to need to add a sniper. Unless they think Vrana or Burakovsky are going to step up.

 

[Carlzner]

Making the roster of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion with only 1 forward leaving is an accomplishment, period. You wrote him off as if he had no chance, and he does.

My entire point from the beginning of this was it's ridiculous to write a player off like you did with the amount of hard work each and every one of them puts in with the goal of making the roster.

Nice job on that bet of the winger depth, though.

 

[g00n]

We are going to need to add a sniper. Unless they think Vrana or Burakovsky are going to step up.

You have been pounding the table that these two need to focus on defense and stop being "one-dimensional" offensive players, and now you want them to step up as major offensive threats. If I were one of those two players and I'd been stifling my offensive instincts due to constant emphasis on defense, I'd be sure to point that out when the coaches come back to me and say "we need more offense from you".

 

[Portable Mink]

Vrana has all the tools. I’m not worrried at all about him turning into a real good player. Loses confidence off the ice and that playoff run and big goal in game 5 will be the launch of this young man.

 

[Portable Mink]

If that’s Wilson the dude doesn’t get up because of Wilson physics. Has a broken jaw and Tom gets a 5 game suspension.

 

[Corby78]

If that’s Wilson the dude doesn’t get up because of Wilson physics. Has a broken jaw and Tom gets a 5 game suspension.

While 100% correct, Wilson needs to understand that too and adjust.

 

[maacoshark]

You have been pounding the table that these two need to focus on defense and stop being "one-dimensional" offensive players, and now you want them to step up as major offensive threats. If I were one of those two players and I'd been stifling my offensive instincts due to constant emphasis on defense, I'd be sure to point that out when the coaches come back to me and say "we need more offense from you".

I have said they need to learn to be defensively responsible. And they do. I didnt say they have to be shutdown guys. You can be a sniper and defensively responsible. Do you think all goal scorers ignore their defensive responsibilities? Do you not believe in players playing a 200 foot game?
Once again you are trying to stir the pot. Either that or you truly are an uneducated hockey fan. Probably the first. Either way another ridiculous comment.

 

[ovikovy817]

How much games did Wilson get?

 

[Jacoby4HOF66]

How much games did Wilson get?

No word yet but Locker thinks 8-12 games.

 

[RandyHolt]

I got cut off by some dude in DC yesterday. He had a Hartford Whaler Cap in the back of his Jaguar, in the long forgotten area above the back seats where we used to put our speakers and stuffed animals. Its nice they always put a rug in there. Career SUV drivers have no idea what I am talking about.

Long live the Whale!

 

[Devil Dancer]

Is anyone doing a fancy GDT for today or are we going to half ass it like we always do?

I vote for half assing. Maybe just a pic of calicap's meet up sticker.

 

[g00n]

I have said they need to learn to be defensively responsible. And they do. I didnt say they have to be shutdown guys. You can be a sniper and defensively responsible. Do you think all goal scorers ignore their defensive responsibilities? Do you not believe in players playing a 200 foot game?
Once again you are trying to stir the pot. Either that or you truly are an uneducated hockey fan. Probably the first. Either way another ridiculous comment.

It's not ridiculous. You just think you know more than everyone else.

I think you're walking back your comment by playing semantics with "sniper".

I'm pointing out how you want to have it both ways, just like your hockey players, but the fact of the matter is some guys are just going to be better at offense than defense, and if they're young/developing you can stunt their offensive growth (at least temporarily, maybe permanently) by modifying the offensive instincts and habits that got them this far. And practice time is limited during the season, so you can't expect a young player to spend all year focusing on defense only to come out the next year as a "sniper".

It's ludicrous to expect any player who isn't an elite, complete package to make the NHL based on offense and speed, dial it back to play defense during formative years, and then explode offensively all of a sudden aka "step it up". Aside from the skills and learning aspects, modern contracts and the CBA do not reward such progressions anymore.

Oh, and just because you're pissed off at having your rhetoric challenged doesn't mean someone is stupid or stirring the pot, m8.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Sam Spade]

Is anyone doing a fancy GDT for today or are we going to half ass it like we always do?

I vote for half assing. Maybe just a pic of calicap's meet up sticker.

As long as "Cup Champs" is in the title of the GDT I'm happy.

I can't do anymore though because the two pre-season games I did ended up with an injury and a suspension. Sorry guys.

 

[RandyHolt]

I hope Jaskin did the right thing, and cleared taking 23 with Kaminski Gould and Jurcina.