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

[caps4cup]

Why would Caps trade Oshie or Orlov? There is no need for that seemingly.

Trading Eller is not that shocking and does little to help.

Trading Vrana is the only option that would be shocking and could help the team.

The only scenario I see a Vrana trade helping the team is if they trade him for a young top 4 LHD, and have CMM take his spot. I don’t think you’re getting a better forward in a trade for Vrana, at least one that would fit under the cap and allow other holes to be filled as well.

 

[Langway]

Outside of moving on from Kempny or Panik I'd largely hold this off-season unless there are off-ice reasons for making a move. Otherwise I'd wait to see how players look hands-on before doing anything hasty or to make a move just to make one.

Given how Samsonov's season ended I wonder if he wouldn't be the leftfield trade candidate. Maybe a clean sweep in net is preferred with one clear-cut starter added for around $3-4M (perhaps via trade) and then a cheap back-up via UFA as spots are filled. If he's not considered the heir apparent it might be time to cash in for someone that will more assuredly help them the next couple seasons, esp. if he retains strong value. Could they get something like Kuemper+Fischer for him+Panik? Might be worth it. Maybe throw in Kempny if they do indeed move out three or four of their D elsewhere and don't get any back. I wouldn't move 92/13 unless there are off-ice concerns and they get very strong value back.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Outside of moving on from Kempny or Panik I'd largely hold this off-season unless there are off-ice reasons for making a move. Otherwise I'd wait to see how players look hands-on before doing anything hasty or to make a move just to make one.

Given how Samsonov's season ended I wonder if he wouldn't be the leftfield trade candidate. Maybe a clean sweep in net is preferred with one clear-cut starter added for around $3-4M (perhaps via trade) and then a cheap back-up via UFA as spots are filled. If he's not considered the heir apparent it might be time to cash in for someone that will more assuredly help them the next couple seasons, esp. if he retains strong value. Could they get something like Kuemper+Fischer for him+Panik? Might be worth it. Maybe throw in Kempny if they do indeed move out three or four of their D elsewhere and don't get any back. I wouldn't move 92/13 unless there are off-ice concerns and they get very strong value back.

Re. Sammy - considering that he hasn't played since his injury during the shutdown, it might be difficult to find a trading partner who would offer much of value. If it was bad enough for the Caps to not take him to the bubble as one of their three goalies, this doesn't seem to be a "sell high" situation. He's cheap for another season and then an RFA, which makes him attractive to both the Caps and potential trading partners. There's something intriguing about a clean sweep of netminders, but it's hard to see a decent return given the uncertainties.

 

[Raikkonen]

The only scenario I see a Vrana trade helping the team is if they trade him for a young top 4 LHD, and have CMM take his spot. I don’t think you’re getting a better forward in a trade for Vrana, at least one that would fit under the cap and allow other holes to be filled as well.

Vrana is sell high + no need to sign him for 6M+ next Summer. So there is a gain in assets + cap space.

While Vrana is not scoring in playoffs, Orlov and Oshie still play key roles. Thats the difference.

Anyway its the only shocking option I can imagine.

Trading Sammy doesnt look like possible due to that has to be sell low due to injury and unprofessionalism.

 

[tenken00]

TEB didn't exactly say something shocking is coming. Just that if something shocking did happen, he wouldn't really be all that shocked. A bit of a nuanced difference.

 

[tenken00]

I kind of feel like the Caps will go into the season not remaking the roster over drastically except for a new coach. Time to see if a new coach can come in and squeeze the most out of the guys. If there are still major roster concerns by the end of the year, the best time to deal with that would be... the expansion draft.

Can clear out some major cap space then.. probably the best time to clear out cap space in a cap freeze.

 

[Raikkonen]

I kind of feel like the Caps will go into the season not remaking the roster over drastically except for a new coach. Time to see if a new coach can come in and squeeze the most out of the guys. If there are still major roster concerns by the end of the year, the best time to deal with that would be... the expansion draft.

Can clear out some major cap space then.. probably the best time to clear out cap space in a cap freeze.

What contract do you consider as a major cap space clear candidate?

There are very few big contracts on the team.

Ovechkin.
Backstrom.
Carlson.

Wont happen, right?

Next tier are Orlov, Oshie and Wilson. All of those are good at bang for the buck ratio in my opinion.

The tier below those 3 - Eller (3,5M) and so on (all others below 3M) - are almost peanuts. Moving any of those wont clear much. We did see how you can clear (say, Connolly) and then use that cleared cap space to add Panik. Lateral moves at best.

So only two players stick out: Kuzy with 7,8M as top-6 C and Vrana to be RFA at the moment of expansion. Do you consider not protecting Vrana as cap space clearing opportunity?

Do you consider moving Kuzy as cap space clearing? I doubt it either.

Honestly, if some team has a middle-6 forward who is a bit expensive for their salary structure going forward, maybe Caps should try to get that forward and solid picks/prospects for Vrana? That's kind of a hockey move that could save from 6M+ Vrana, add futures and solid roster player in one transaction. I can see that.

Kuzy 99% should be given a chance with new coaching stuff though.

 

[tenken00]

What contract do you consider as a major cap space clear candidate?

There are very few big contracts on the team.

Ovechkin.
Backstrom.
Carlson.

Wont happen, right?

Next tier are Orlov, Oshie and Wilson. All of those are good at bang for the buck ratio in my opinion.

The tier below those 3 - Eller (3,5M) and so on (all others below 3M) - are almost peanuts. Moving any of those wont clear much. We did see how you can clear (say, Connolly) and then use that cleared cap space to add Panik. Lateral moves at best.

So only two players stick out: Kuzy with 7,8M as top-6 C and Vrana to be RFA at the moment of expansion. Do you consider not protecting Vrana as cap space clearing opportunity?

Do you consider moving Kuzy as cap space clearing? I doubt it either.

Honestly, if some team has a middle-6 forward who is a bit expensive for their salary structure going forward, maybe Caps should try to get that forward and solid picks/prospects for Vrana? That's kind of a hockey move that could save from 6M+ Vrana, add futures and solid roster player in one transaction. I can see that.

Kuzy 99% should be given a chance with new coaching stuff though.

Kuzy would bring back the biggest haul, but i agree he needs to be given a chance first as well. If things go south we could revisit this at the TDL anyways.

 

[895]

I think we need more offense from D.

I think Arizona wants to move on from OEL.

 

[caps4cup]

I think we need more offense from D.

I think Arizona wants to move on from OEL.

I agree with your first statement but OEL isn’t what he once was and his contract looks horrid right now

Breaking Down the TSN Trade Bait List Using Analytics (Part I)

 

[txpd]

But every thing we’ve ever read about Backstrom is that he does things the “right” way.

Backstrom is a 1C on a big money/long term contract. That is what i was referring too

 

[txpd]

I think we need more offense from D.

I think Arizona wants to move on from OEL.

Yes and no. Yes, they need more offense. I suspect they let Dillon go and replace him with someone that is more mobile and more active. They wont be looking for an expensive 1D for a team that has no pp1 time available.

 

[WanderingCapsFan]

I agree with your first statement but OEL isn’t what he once was and his contract looks horrid right now

Breaking Down the TSN Trade Bait List Using Analytics (Part I)

As someone who gets to see OEL a lot here in AZ, I'm a hard no. His game looks to have declined, and his give-a-damn seems non existent. Plus that contract. No thanks.

 

[Hivemind]

Only interested in OEL if Arizona eats nearly half of that cap hit, which Arizona would obviously refuse.

 

[Melkor]

I'd gladly take Vrana for Keller trade straight up but you can bet your house the Coyotes would laugh at that proposal and hang up.

 

[g00n]

Why on Earth would we be looking for more offensive D-men when the team defense has been so horrid? Caps were 2nd in the NHL in GF/GP last year and lower middle of the pack in key ES defensive stats. Offense is not a problem. Coaching and team defense (and roster) are the problems.

Carlson is an elite D-man and Orlov is very solid as a 3-4 that can also move the puck (if he avoids the pizza deliveries). According to Spotrac the Caps have something like 10M in cap space without trading anyone, and 4D signed next year. They should be looking to move some of those bottom 6 contracts (except Boyd which is dirt cheap) to replace what they lost in 2018 versions of Niskanen and Orpik. Let Holtby walk. Then fill in the rest of the roster behind Sam. Use rookies on the 4th line if you have to, but get that defensive roster back up to spec.

 

[txpd]

Why on Earth would we be looking for more offensive D-men when the team defense has been so horrid? Caps were 2nd in the NHL in GF/GP last year and lower middle of the pack in key ES defensive stats. Offense is not a problem. Coaching and team defense (and roster) are the problems.

Carlson is an elite D-man and Orlov is very solid as a 3-4 that can also move the puck (if he avoids the pizza deliveries). According to Spotrac the Caps have something like 10M in cap space without trading anyone, and 4D signed next year. They should be looking to move some of those bottom 6 contracts (except Boyd which is dirt cheap) to replace what they lost in 2018 versions of Niskanen and Orpik. Let Holtby walk. Then fill in the rest of the roster behind Sam. Use rookies on the 4th line if you have to, but get that defensive roster back up to spec.

Needing more offense from the defense doesnt mean needing more offensive defensemen. Niskanen wasnt an offensive void. Jensen is. When your offense starts from your defense and is maintained by the defense, the team needs points from more than just Carlson and Orlov. Kempny's offense evaporated. In his last 47 regular season games he had 7 assists. Including post season he had 0 goals in his last 52 games. You cant have 8pts and zero goals from Jensen in 76 games and 71 games and 9pts from Siegenthaler and 1 assist in 18 games from Dillon(plus Gudas who had 3pts in his last 22 regular season games).

Niskanen had 25 pts in his season with Washington. All 4 of the Caps defense not Orlov and Carlson werent performing at that rate combined.

They need more offense from the defense.

 

[g00n]

Needing more offense from the defense doesnt mean needing more offensive defensemen. Niskanen wasnt an offensive void. Jensen is. When your offense starts from your defense and is maintained by the defense, the team needs points from more than just Carlson and Orlov. Kempny's offense evaporated. In his last 47 regular season games he had 7 assists. Including post season he had 0 goals in his last 52 games. You cant have 8pts and zero goals from Jensen in 76 games and 71 games and 9pts from Siegenthaler and 1 assist in 18 games from Dillon(plus Gudas who had 3pts in his last 22 regular season games).

Niskanen had 25 pts in his season with Washington. All 4 of the Caps defense not Orlov and Carlson werent performing at that rate combined.

They need more offense from the defense.

Is that a function entirely of playing style or quality of the player?

Again, Caps were 2nd in the league in scoring last year. The defense was substandard. Clearly they need better d-men. If they can pot a few goals or assists so much the better. But their overall game, especially defense, has to be there.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Lol he was a bad fit on the president cup roster but shatenkirk would have been pretty nice when Carlson was hurt

 

[TheLegendOfPatPeake]

Lol he was a bad fit on the president cup roster but shatenkirk would have been pretty nice when Carlson was hurt

I was thinking that might be a player they look at because I imagine he would be in the range they can afford.

 

[txpd]

Is that a function entirely of playing style or quality of the player?

Again, Caps were 2nd in the league in scoring last year. The defense was substandard. Clearly they need better d-men. If they can pot a few goals or assists so much the better. But their overall game, especially defense, has to be there.

Both. Right? Skill set and overall quality both. MacLellan was clearly trying to stuff two low budget, unqualified defensemen into the top 4. One of Kempny or Jensen has proven successful. Going to 2 was just too much. That said, adding Dillon added a legit top 4 defenseman but again he brought no puck movement.

The cup winning top 4 was
Carlson Kempny
Orlov Niskanen.

That is effectively 4 offensive defensemen. There isnt a single defensive(Dillon/Oprik/Jensen) defenseman in that bunch.

 

[caps4cup]

I'd gladly take Vrana for Keller trade straight up but you can bet your house the Coyotes would laugh at that proposal and hang up.

Vrana is much better than Keller.

 

[895]

Why on Earth would we be looking for more offensive D-men when the team defense has been so horrid? Caps were 2nd in the NHL in GF/GP last year and lower middle of the pack in key ES defensive stats. Offense is not a problem. Coaching and team defense (and roster) are the problems.

Carlson is an elite D-man and Orlov is very solid as a 3-4 that can also move the puck (if he avoids the pizza deliveries). According to Spotrac the Caps have something like 10M in cap space without trading anyone, and 4D signed next year. They should be looking to move some of those bottom 6 contracts (except Boyd which is dirt cheap) to replace what they lost in 2018 versions of Niskanen and Orpik. Let Holtby walk. Then fill in the rest of the roster behind Sam. Use rookies on the 4th line if you have to, but get that defensive roster back up to spec.

I thought the Caps play in the offensive and defensive zones was fine. It was the neutral zone play that was terrible. Their defense was fine, they were just defending too much because they couldn't get out of the zone.

Offensive defensemen only helping offense is an outdated way of thinking.

 

[maacoshark]

I agree with your first statement but OEL isn’t what he once was and his contract looks horrid right now

Breaking Down the TSN Trade Bait List Using Analytics (Part I)

I've always thought OEL was overrated

 

[g00n]

I thought the Caps play in the offensive and defensive zones was fine. It was the neutral zone play that was terrible. Their defense was fine, they were just defending too much because they couldn't get out of the zone.

Offensive defensemen only helping offense is an outdated way of thinking.

Where did I say the D men have to be one type or the other? Pretty sure I talked about the overall game, and the overall team D. If you want to nitpick terms, someone who is strictly an offensive defenseman is fine if he's more of a benefit than a liability. Do we have a roster full of D men like that, or not?

Didn't OEL have a reputation as a one dimensional player in decline? I haven't been keeping track of him or his team.