Speculation: Caps General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2020 Offseason Pt. 1

[Raikkonen]

A streaky scorer and 0 points in two last playoffs are a bit different. If Lavi doesnt fix him, Caps in in trouble.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

A streaky scorer and 0 points in two last playoffs are a bit different. If Lavi doesnt fix him, Caps in in trouble.

I let Vrana ride out his rookie contract. When he is due big money I start to think about moving on.

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

I let Vrana ride out his rookie contract. When he is due big money I start to think about moving on.

He will be offer sheeted. We will not HAVE to think about moving him. We will have to take picks and cry big tears. If we want to be smart, we have to trade him right now.

 

[trick9]

A streaky scorer and 0 points in two last playoffs are a bit different. If Lavi doesnt fix him, Caps in in trouble.

Sure.

But then again i don't think Vrana is capable of driving the offense on his own line. He's a guy who will suck when his line-mates do. As they have in the last 2 Playoffs.

 

[Roshi]

He will be offer sheeted. We will not HAVE to think about moving him. We will have to take picks and cry big tears. If we want to be smart, we have to trade him right now.

I had a short moment thinking of Vrana+Panik for Domi+Armia kind of a deal..

 

[twabby]

Unless you get an absolute stud in return trading Vrana away is madness. It’s exceedingly frustrating to see his poor playoff performance but you have to at least give a new coach a chance to turn him around given Vrana’s insane production in the regular season.

And no one is getting offer-sheeted. This is the NHL it happens once every like 5 years.

 

[Langway]

He will be offer sheeted.

When does that ever happen? And successfully?

If there's a risk of it they'll move him before then. Say, at next year's draft.

 

[RandyHolt]

Where is Orlov?

He is a hybrid - a tweener. His obvious strong offensive skill set is sadly untapped and instead we have him focusing on D. Despite that I don't think anyone will label him a defensive stalwart. A rock. Sure he is rock solid physically and on a soft ass defense he is one of few that will bring the pain.... albeit only once every 10 games or so.

You know who was a defensive stalwart a rock for us, and is now for Philly. We haven't replaced him, nor Orpik. Goalies need that support short of stealing games.

When I see Orlov on the PK blocking a shot of a league elite and then "cooley" clearing it, or when I see in game 1 period 1 of every playoff round thumping punks on the blue setting the tone making them dump it the rest of the series, he will have graduated to RH/Orpik/Nisky grade rocks. I admit it's slowly becoming a dying art my friend.

 

[txpd]

Sure.

But then again i don't think Vrana is capable of driving the offense on his own line. He's a guy who will suck when his line-mates do. As they have in the last 2 Playoffs.

Oshie sucked this playoffs? Backstrom had 5 goals and 8pts v Carolina. Was Vrana with Kuzy? I forget.

 

[txpd]

He is a hybrid - a tweener. His obvious strong offensive skill set is sadly untapped and instead we have him focusing on D. Despite that I don't think anyone will label him a defensive stalwart. A rock. Sure he is rock solid physically and on a soft ass defense he is one of few that will bring the pain.... albeit only once every 10 games or so.

You know who was a defensive stalwart a rock for us, and is now for Philly. We haven't replaced him, nor Orpik. Goalies need that support.

When I see Orlov on the PK blocking a shot of a league elite and then "cooley" clearing it, or when I see in game 1 period 1 of every playoff round thumping punks on the blue setting the tone making them dump it the rest of the series, he will have graduated to RH/Orpik/Nisky grade rocks. I admit it's slowly becoming a dying art my friend.

Wait....Are you saying they might should have kept Niskanen and maybe traded Orlov instead? What craziness is next? They should have traded Vrana and kept Burakovsky?

 

[Corby78]

We need to give Vrana a chance to evolve. At some point he may turn into a Bura situation where it just wasn't going to happen here, but I don't think we have gotten to that point. He is important to ensuring the window isn't closed, and making the transition to the next "era" comes quicker.

Having said that, if he is indeed going to be one of those "streaky" scorers, than he needs to develop more of a all around game. If you do nothing but score goals, and go 15 games without scoring, your just wasting a sweater.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Unless you get an absolute stud in return trading Vrana away is madness. It’s exceedingly frustrating to see his poor playoff performance but you have to at least give a new coach a chance to turn him around given Vrana’s insane production in the regular season.

And no one is getting offer-sheeted. This is the NHL it happens once every like 5 years.

oh no, you heard it here first....offer sheets are flying!

 

[Hivemind]

All 20-35 goal scorers are streaky. If you’re good enough to not have any significant droughts, you’re scoring 40+.

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

Wait....Are you saying they might should have kept Niskanen and maybe traded Orlov instead? What craziness is next? They should have traded Vrana and kept Burakovsky?

They might should have traded Holtby two years ago after the Cup run.

 

[pman25]

Do we think McMichael slots into the lineup somewhere next season?

 

[txpd]

They might should have traded Holtby two years ago after the Cup run.

They might should have traded Backstrom last off season and Ovechkin this off season. Hell, they might should have let Oshie walk.

Win a championship and then blow your team up. It worked for the Florida Marlins

 

[searle]

Cirelli, Cernak and Sergachev all RFA's for Tampa. Can they afford all of them? If I'm GMBM I'm making cap dumping plans and giving them a call just in case, this team is going to suck for a while in a few years, who cares if we make some enemies by trying to make those years as good as possible.

Up to ~4.2m for a 2nd rounder or 6.3m for a 1st and 3rd... Ok? There are some RFA's out there worth that, especially the former. Even if it's a deal that puts them to free agency after a couple of years

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

You guys talking about trading Orlov are crazy. He's a top-pairing defender that's underpaid and okay with his role. He is another guy that will get better every year over the next few seasons, in the prime D years. He is absolutely part of the core.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Cirelli, Cernak and Sergachev all RFA's for Tampa. Can they afford all of them? If I'm GMBM I'm making cap dumping plans and giving them a call just in case, this team is going to suck for a while in a few years, who cares if we make some enemies by trying to make those years as good as possible.

Up to ~4.2m for a 2nd rounder or 6.3m for a 1st and 3rd... Ok? There are some RFA's out there worth that, especially the former. Even if it's a deal that puts them to free agency after a couple of years

I absolutely love Cirelli and Serge. There's a core player of ours that I'd be willing to give in a deal - with another piece - going for them both. But, I hesitate to mention!

 

[searle]

I absolutely love Cirelli and Serge. There's a core player of ours that I'd be willing to give in a deal - with another piece - going for them both. But, I hesitate to mention!

I'm not talking trades, I'm talking offer sheets - idk if any of them would do 4.2m for 2-3 years, but if they would it could cause Tampa some serious headaches

 

[txpd]

We need to give Vrana a chance to evolve. At some point he may turn into a Bura situation where it just wasn't going to happen here, but I don't think we have gotten to that point. He is important to ensuring the window isn't closed, and making the transition to the next "era" comes quicker.

Having said that, if he is indeed going to be one of those "streaky" scorers, than he needs to develop more of a all around game. If you do nothing but score goals, and go 15 games without scoring, your just wasting a sweater.

10 games drought followed by 8 goals in a month, followed by 2 goals and a 10 game drought in the next month. Personally, i dont see anything wrong that scoring a goal on one of those breakaways in the playoffs wouldnt have fixed.

LIke Kuznetsov the Caps need Vrana to win. Replacing him with the production they need from another player at the same cap hit is a real long shot.

 

[Corby78]

10 games drought followed by 8 goals in a month, followed by 2 goals and a 10 game drought in the next month. Personally, i dont see anything wrong that scoring a goal on one of those breakaways in the playoffs wouldnt have fixed.

LIke Kuznetsov the Caps need Vrana to win. Replacing him with the production they need from another player at the same cap hit is a real long shot.

I agree, but he scored 2 goals in the last 24 games. He did get 8 assists, so that helps, but that's a goal scorer on pace for a 7 goal season. At some point he isn't an asset anymore but a liability. I don't think we are there, but I do think rounding out his game would be needed if this is how "streaky" his goal scoring might be.

 

[txpd]

I agree, but he scored 2 goals in the last 24 games. He did get 8 assists, so that helps, but that's a goal scorer on pace for a 7 goal season. At some point he isn't an asset anymore but a liability. I don't think we are there, but I do think rounding out his game would be needed if this is how "streaky" his goal scoring might be.

I think rounding out his game is in process. Learning to play defense is a process that takes years. Not months. There is no question that if he could learn to and be willing to pk, it would be an impact. His speed and offensive skill would be scary. Carl Hagelin is a great penalty killer because he doesnt have Vrana's hands and Vrana isnt a penalty killer because he does have those hands.

 

[OV Rocks]

Fun thought, any interest in going after Laine? This might get it done?
2020 1st
2021 1st
Oshie
Prospect

I don't mind moving two 1sts for a player that has that much potential. Gives opposing teams an absolute headache to matchup against with Ovechkin and Laine on different lines. Hell of a top-6

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Laine

 

[SherVaughn30]

Fun thought, any interest in going after Laine? This might get it done?
2020 1st
2021 1st
Oshie
Prospect

I don't mind moving two 1sts for a player that has that much potential. Gives opposing teams an absolute headache to matchup against with Ovechkin and Laine on different lines. Hell of a top-6

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Laine

Caps rarely trade 1st round picks. This is over payment for Laine.