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

[tenken00]

Why would you do that? Tired of him? 2nd on the team in goals. 3rd in even strenth goals. One of a handful of guys that showed up and performed in the playoffs. I thought the idea was to demote or move the guys with work ethic problems, not the guys that deliver.

Just poking you with a stick a bit lol. You said not Oshie so I said Oshie haha.

As for Granlund and how he would fit, I dont know, haven't thought about it that much when I posted that. Just saw an article where his agent said yesterday that he is going to test free agency and seems like a good buy low candidate. Just bouncing the idea off you guys in here.

 

[txpd]

Just poking you with a stick a bit lol. You said not Oshie so I said Oshie haha.

As for Granlund and how he would fit, I dont know, haven't thought about it that much when I posted that. Just saw an article where his agent said yesterday that he is going to test free agency and seems like a good buy low candidate. Just bouncing the idea off you guys in here.

No, I get it. He is a good player that looked to have adjustment issues with a new team. I am just not sure if they got him, how they would use him. He is a left shot player. He is a pp guy. 18 of his 49pts in his last season with the Wild were pp points.

Interesting question is if Lavy is the new coach, would he want him?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Sure Carlson might have been hurt this postseason but that excuse doesn't hold water for his poor play at the end of this regular season and last postseason. It's also not entirely clear the injury impacted his play and I don't think we'll ever know for sure. The fact that he did struggle down the stretch of the regular season makes it harder to just pin his poor play against the Islanders on the injury.

I'm not saying Vrana's play hasn't been subpar the past 2 postseasons. No one in their right mind would say that. I'm saying his poor play is probably more due to the entire team playing poorly due to coaching issues rather than some critical flaw he has in his game that warrants him being traded.

Come on dude...

whatever....it seems with Kuzy and Vrana some of you guys need to be slapped in the face by their future (probably still lacking) performances under a new coach to see it.

I fully expect Vrana to have a gangbuster regular season where you’ll be puffing your chest gloating.....and then the games that count will be played and Vrana will come back to earth.

I hope I’m wrong on the last part.

 

[OV Rocks]

Lets try this a different way. The Capitals forecheck with their wings. They play a heavy game. Look at the top line wings and then the bottom wings. Vrana and Kuznetsov would be a waste of time. Unless its a pure race for a loose puck. They got Oshie for a reason. They can abide Vrana because they have Ov, Wilson and Oshie.

That is how they have played, under Trotz and under Reirden- who had said there wasn't a lot of systems difference between him and Trotz. That doesn't mean that under a new coach they will maintain that same style, nor do I think that they should. Would you say that the style of forecheck is even a successful one? Under Reirden it clearly wasn't sustainable in the playoffs.

I will be shocked if we see a similar style forecheck under the new coach.

A new coach will come in and say holy crap look at the playmaking talent I have to work with, lets put them into a system that optimizes their skill, that is the trend of the new NHL

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Trading Vrana is crazy talk. Every team in the league would pick up the phone to ask the price if he was made available.

 

[txpd]

That is how they have played, under Trotz and under Reirden- who had said there wasn't a lot of systems difference between him and Trotz. That doesn't mean that under a new coach they will maintain that same style, nor do I think that they should.

Its simple. They have to play a style of hockey that fits their personel. MacLellan builds the roster. They will hire a coach that will coach a style of play that fits the team MacLellan puts in the locker room.

 

[OV Rocks]

Its simple. They have to play a style of hockey that fits their personel. MacLellan builds the roster. They will hire a coach that will coach a style of play that fits the team MacLellan puts in the locker room.

But you just said the style doesn't fit for Kuznetsov and Vrana???

The style they played was 100% from Trotz, even with Todd as the head coach, it was still the same style. A new coach will come in and see Kuznetsov and Vrana as high ceiling creative speed players, not forecheckers. Wilson can also play that creative high speed game, not up to those two but close.

You have 3 younger guys in Kuzy, Vrana, and Wilson then 3 older guys in Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Oshie. Two of the 3 younger guys are not great on the forecheck, I don't want to see Ovi or Backstrom expending too much energy there, so that leaves 2 out of the current top 6 to play that hard forecheck style, that is insane.

Open up the ice, get someone like a Domi who can play 2C with high end talent around him and spread out the ice with skill, speed, and creativity. Look at Tampa

 

[shtorm2005]

Trading Vrana is crazy talk. Every team in the league would pick up the phone to ask the price if he was made available.

And as usual, he will be awesome for other team.

I hope Caps won't trade players because of bad performance under a crappy coaching.

 

[txpd]

But you just said the style doesn't fit for Kuznetsov and Vrana???.

The style doesnt fit Kuznetsov as a winger as opposed to as a center. Yea. It doesnt fit Vrana either. With Ovechkin, Wilson and Oshie in the other 3 spots they can role with Vrana. Playing Vrana and Kuzy together on the wing forces a change in identity

 

[txpd]

And as usual, he will be awesome for other team.

I hope Caps won't trade players because of bad performance under a crappy coaching.

You are good with standing pat then

 

[hb13xchamps]

I don't think the forward group gets a huge shake up. Maybe some bottom 6 guys that are moved for salary cap reasons and to make room for some youth.

The defense is more likely to get some sort of shakeup IMO. I'd say Kempny and Siegs are at risk at being moved, especially with Fehervary playing fairly well in the playoffs. An Orlov trade would surprise me since he's signed to a fairly team friendly deal for his level of play.

Dillon is a candidate to be brought back, but I think that depends on the coach being hired first at this point. You don't want to sign him to a long term contract and then have him riding the bench, similar to Matheson in Florida who is in Coach Q's doghouse after signing a long term deal.

 

[OV Rocks]

The style doesnt fit Kuznetsov as a winger as opposed to as a center. Yea. It doesnt fit Vrana either. With Ovechkin, Wilson and Oshie in the other 3 spots they can role with Vrana. Playing Vrana and Kuzy together on the wing forces a change in identity

A change in identity might be exactly what this team needs, clearly things are stagnant. The hard hockey that we had played, the Kings and Bruins played, is leaving the NHL. Speed, creativity, and skill dominates now, and will only continue to dominate even more going forward, lets shift and be proactive instead of trying to be the dinosaur playing hard and slow.

I know that it is unlikely the Caps do something major like move Kuzy to the wing and bring in a new 2C, but my opinion is that a move like that would give them the best opportunity to win and sustain success over the next few years.

Which brings me to another point, the Caps should be doing everything to maintain success for the next 3-5 years, and hell with what happens after that. Maximizing OV's window/playing career is all that should matter at this point. I think that means adjusting styles right now

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Trading Kuzy instead of Vrana is more appealing to me in bunch of ways.


Kuzy is a critical piece, having a broken 1C that is inconsistent will essentially limit your team’s ceiling. At a certain point if you move on it allows you to look for a replacement 1C. Sticking with him maybe just prolongs then problem.


Kuzy also is a tone setter. He’s the 1C, he’s on a long term/big money deal, he’s clearly not shy, etc. For better or worse he sets the standard for younger players. I think Jake still is seen as a kid, he’s not going to be the guy other guys look at and think “if he does it I can do it”. So in that sense I think Kuzy’s apathy is more destructive.



Also I think the return on Kuzy would be a windfall, and I think Vrana would end up under valued for his potential.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Mostly hoping that GMBM plugs a few gaps and avoids major moves unless something like an overall change in game strategy calls for moving out certain types of players.

This offseason requires mgmt to figure out life under a flat cap, and ownership to determine whether they want to spend to the cap with reduced revenues. They also have to consider building a roster that can compete in what is likely to be a condensed schedule. If we're looking at fewer off days and more b2bs, I'd expect more emphasis on youth and stamina, accompanied as much as possible by speed. Guessing that many GMs will seek upgrades by moving or not resigning slower vets.

 

[Langway]

Seravalli: At least 17 NHL teams have reduced pay amid COVID-19 crunch - TSN.ca

No mention of the Caps among those teams. The piece mentions PIT going with a $75M budget, which is roughly where they're already at. That presumably means Murray is all but out and then another piece or two in addition. Arizona seems likely to move at least $10-15M. Overall, it's a good year to have a need in net. One way or another the Caps ought to be able to bring in a 1b if they want one. Also a good time for teams like New Jersey that should be able to take on contracts for assets or otherwise on the cheap.

 

[txpd]

They also have to consider building a roster that can compete in what is likely to be a condensed schedule. If we're looking at fewer off days and more b2bs, I'd expect more emphasis on youth and stamina, accompanied as much as possible by speed. Guessing that many GMs will seek upgrades by moving or not resigning slower vets.

This is plugging a few gaps?

 

[txpd]

Kuzy also is a tone setter. He’s the 1C, he’s on a long term/big money deal.

This would describe Backstrom who could be argued plays a more important role.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

This is plugging a few gaps?

My statement was that NHL GMs in general would be moving toward youth and speed if the league is operating under a compressed schedule. And that as far as the Caps are concerned, GMBM plugs only a few gaps now, under that presumption that individual player performances might improve under a new coach.

For the Caps to evince youth and speed, more than a few roster changes are necessary. Just not thinking that wholesale changes happen pre-season.

 

[txpd]

My statement was that NHL GMs in general would be moving toward youth and speed if the league is operating under a compressed schedule. And that as far as the Caps are concerned, GMBM plugs only a few gaps now, under that presumption that individual player performances might improve under a new coach.

For the Caps to evince youth and speed, more than a few roster changes are necessary. Just not thinking that wholesale changes happen pre-season.

You are hoping for plugging a few gaps and letting the new coach improve the team or structural roster changes for more youth and speed? I am not clear on which you want to see?

 

[Empty Goal Net]

You are hoping for plugging a few gaps and letting the new coach improve the team or structural roster changes for more youth and speed? I am not clear on which you want to see?

For the Caps, I'm expecting the former (gap-plugging/new coach) influenced by the latter (youth/speed) to the extent $ and personnel permits. And teams with more roster flexibility (read: cap space) and/or an ownership-mandated max that's below the cap, a trend toward youth since that's generally cheaper.

Does the prospect of a compressed schedule not motivate roster decisions favoring younger guys who can recover more quickly?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Trading Vrana is crazy talk. Every team in the league would pick up the phone to ask the price if he was made available.

yes you’re right...I bet most GM’s would do their job and make a simple call.

 

[Ridley Simon]

yes you’re right...I bet most GM’s would do their job and make a simple call.

Not every “GM” on here would —-

just sayin’

 

[Melkor]

You'd tell that Vrana is Pastrnak's twin or some sort reading some comments here when in reality a player of Pasta's ability wouldn't even let him lace his skates.

 

[SpinningEdge]

Trading Vrana is crazy talk. Every team in the league would pick up the phone to ask the price if he was made available.

We are already old and slow. Can’t trade Vrana bc of that.

oshie, backstrom, Ovi, and Oshie are all slow or average at best speed wise these days. It’s why you can’t move kuzy or Vrana

 

[Marshall]

Getting Kuznetsov back to top form should be among the highest priorities for the Caps heading into the 20-21 season, whenever that actually is - only improving the D is as important IMHO.