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

[895]

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.

His poor play over the last two years is what makes him available in the first place. Otherwise obviously Arizona would keep their captain and franchise player.

He's only 29 and he has had no major injuries. His poor form is mental. A perfect candidate for a change of scenery.

 

[Melkor]

Vrana is much better than Keller.

Vrana is a f***in janitor if you compare those two. Keller has more playoff goals in 2 series than Vrana in his entire playoff career. And Keller has been able to score those under a strictly defensive system of Tocchet that decreased offensive output of all their leaders.

 

[caps4cup]

Vrana is a f***in janitor if you compare those two. Keller has more playoff goals in 2 series than Vrana in his entire playoff career. And Keller has been able to score those under a strictly defensive system of Tocchet that decreased offensive output of all their leaders.

Okay so Keller is better than Vrana because he has more playoff goals than him?

Last three seasons 5v5 points:
Vrana: 101 points in 224 games
Keller: 87 points in 234 games

That’s including their rookie years where they had a 40 point gap, and have headed in opposite directions since with Vrana getting better and Keller getting worse. So Vrana is the better even strength producer, is the better overall producer even with 250 less minutes of power play time over the last two seasons, and has been better defensively 2 out of the last 3 seasons according to their actual and expected goals against numbers (even playing in Tocchet’s supposedly strict defensive system). But yeah, Keller is better because he has more playoff goals.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Vrana a shocking move? Is that a joke? I don't think that would be a shocking move at all. Do you think that GMBM doesn't see the flaws in his game?

Jesus dude get a grip with your Vrana hate. It absolutely would be a shocking move to trade Vrana now. He's the youngest and fastest skater on the team and losing him would immediately diminish the overall skill the team has.

 

[hb13xchamps]

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.

I don't think they should trade any of those guys. Just odd that TEB writes about a possible shocking move and then says it isn't Carlson or Kuznetsov

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Moving Orlov wouldn't make sense unless they are getting a similar player in return or unless he asked to be moved. I'd venture that moving him for a RD behind Carlson makes some sense if they think Fehervary is capable of playing second pairing minutes next year. But still, there are some decent second tier options in free agency that would make somewhat more sense.

FWIW, he does have a 5 team no trade clause attached to his contract that kicked in last year and his actually salary lowers the next few seasons

Dmitry Orlov - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

another value add for the acquiring team....

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Jesus dude get a grip with your Vrana hate. It absolutely would be a shocking move to trade Vrana now. He's the youngest and fastest skater on the team and losing him would immediately diminish the overall skill the team has.

sure if you assume there’s nobody coming back....(which seems foolish)....

 

[Corby78]

I hope GMBM isn’t reading this thread. Pick a coach first, then evaluate the roster with his desired style of play. Lavi could be the answer for vrana, Gallant could be the catalyst for kuzy or Kempny. Babcock might create a spark for Orlov and Hagelin.

I know it’s offseason talk and we’re all waiting, but all these suggestions seem dumb to me right now.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I've always thought OEL was overrated

I don’t understand the want for players who are always on losing teams. Give me winners everyday

 

[tenken00]

I hope GMBM isn’t reading this thread. Pick a coach first, then evaluate the roster with his desired style of play. Lavi could be the answer for vrana, Gallant could be the catalyst for kuzy or Kempny. Babcock might create a spark for Orlov and Hagelin.

I know it’s offseason talk and we’re all waiting, but all these suggestions seem dumb to me right now.

I agree, until we have a coach its hard to even know what we should be looking at with the team. But you are right, its just offseason talk and people are bored until the playoffs are finished. And it feels like the playoffs are dragging now. Maybe its just how the whole situation is, but I just want the playoffs over with now more so than other years so we can hurry and start the process.

 

[txpd]

I hope GMBM isn’t reading this thread. Pick a coach first, then evaluate the roster with his desired style of play. Lavi could be the answer for vrana, Gallant could be the catalyst for kuzy or Kempny. Babcock might create a spark for Orlov and Hagelin.

I know it’s offseason talk and we’re all waiting, but all these suggestions seem dumb to me right now.

All of that COULD be true. All of it may NOT be true. Thats why management gets the big bucks. Any legit movement of any of those players must be done in the off season. So they have one shot to improve the roster and the locker room.

Not sure why either Orlov or Hagelin need a spark. Care to fill that in a little? Also, Kempny is a different situation. I expect he will be replaced

 

[Rayquaza64]

please can the team just announce the coach already

 

[Corby78]

All of that COULD be true. All of it may NOT be true. Thats why management gets the big bucks. Any legit movement of any of those players must be done in the off season. So they have one shot to improve the roster and the locker room.

Not sure why either Orlov or Hagelin need a spark. Care to fill that in a little? Also, Kempny is a different situation. I expect he will be replaced

i was just naming guys people wanted to trade, I wasn’t putting specific thought into it. My only point was we can’t start talking about the roster until we know what kinda style of play we will be trying to execute, as well as giving up on anyone until a more proven coach has gotten a hack at it.

 

[Hivemind]

please can the team just announce the coach already

Not likely going to happen until after the Stanley Cup is awarded. The finals aren't far away now, and typically there's an unofficial freeze on other hockey activity during the finals as to not distract from them.

Also, there's a chance they want to talk to an assistant on a team that's still playing, and can't interview them until after the finals.

 

[hb13xchamps]

sure if you assume there’s nobody coming back....(which seems foolish)....

Yeah obviously not assuming there isn't anyone coming back. Moving him for futures would be dumb at this point. If it's an upgrade to Vrana you definitely pull the trigger. But moving him because he has "flaws" to his game seems foolish for a guy who was one of the top ES goal producers in the league. Especially when the majority of the team completely underperformed under TR down the stretch while cast offs like Stephenson and Burakovsky flourished in their new environments.

 

[txpd]

i was just naming guys people wanted to trade, I wasn’t putting specific thought into it. My only point was we can’t start talking about the roster until we know what kinda style of play we will be trying to execute, as well as giving up on anyone until a more proven coach has gotten a hack at it.

2 things.

1. It makes pretty good sense that the Caps arent going to significantly change their style. Right? They have a roster constructed to play a specific style of hockey. Maybe its just me Ov, Wilson, Oshie, Eller, Hathaway among others is Caps hockey.

2. As you cant make legit roster changes once the season starts, you are saying the Caps should run with what they have minus Holtby and maybe Dillon. I am confident that they are going to make decisions on some players before they play a game for the new coach

 

[txpd]

Yeah obviously not assuming there isn't anyone coming back. Moving him for futures would be dumb at this point. If it's an upgrade to Vrana you definitely pull the trigger. But moving him because he has "flaws" to his game seems foolish for a guy who was one of the top ES goal producers in the league. Especially when the majority of the team completely underperformed under TR down the stretch while cast offs like Stephenson and Burakovsky flourished in their new environments.

Not sure how much Stephenson has flourished. In 19 post season games this season, he has 2g 2a. In 24 games in the cup run he had 2g and 5a. Seems to me its about the same.

 

[Corby78]

2 things.

1. It makes pretty good sense that the Caps arent going to significantly change their style. Right? They have a roster constructed to play a specific style of hockey. Maybe its just me Ov, Wilson, Oshie, Eller, Hathaway among others is Caps hockey.

2. As you cant make legit roster changes once the season starts, you are saying the Caps should run with what they have minus Holtby and maybe Dillon. I am confident that they are going to make decisions on some players before they play a game for the new coach

no I’m saying let the new coach (hopefully soon) be a part of the discussion. I’m also saying there is a good chance we will have “new players” by simply giving them a new voice. So I’m not sure we need all the changes some people think.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Not likely going to happen until after the Stanley Cup is awarded. The finals aren't far away now, and typically there's an unofficial freeze on other hockey activity during the finals as to not distract from them.

Also, there's a chance they want to talk to an assistant on a team that's still playing, and can't interview them until after the finals.

Since this team periodically likes to get the band back together, how 'bout Halpy? Although it's unlikely TB would let him leave for an AC position. Caps need someone who can help Kuzy improve his FO %.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Not sure how much Stephenson has flourished. In 19 post season games this season, he has 2g 2a. In 24 games in the cup run he had 2g and 5a. Seems to me its about the same.

Yeah if you want to just cherry pick playoff stats, sure. He also had a career year in the regular season by a fair margin since joining Vegas. He has scored more points in 41 games with Vegas than he has in any other regular season of his career in Washington. He went from .16 ppg in Washington this season to over .5 ppg with Vegas. To me, it's pretty clear that he's flourishing there.

 

[txpd]

no I’m saying let the new coach (hopefully soon) be a part of the discussion. I’m also saying there is a good chance we will have “new players” by simply giving them a new voice. So I’m not sure we need all the changes some people think.

I think the roster is pretty locked in. Kempny is gone but there's really very little room for adjustment

 

[txpd]

Yeah if you want to just cherry pick playoff stats, sure. He also had a career year in the regular season by a fair margin since joining Vegas. He has scored more points in 41 games with Vegas than he has in any other regular season of his career in Washington. He went from .16 ppg in Washington this season to over .5 ppg with Vegas. To me, it's pretty clear that he's flourishing there.

Ok....His last 20 games(rs). 2 goals.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Ok....His last 20 games(rs). 2 goals.

That's really you're argument? He went from 4! points to 22. That's a major, major step in only 41 total regular season games. His career best was 18 going into the season. If you can't see that he's clearly having a much better time in Vegas I don't know what else to tell you.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Arguing over how much more a 26pt scorer is flourishing?

Color me not impressed by Chandler’s “breakout”.....get back to me after next season.


Chandler Stephenson Stats | Hockey-Reference.com

I love these “similarity scores“....his top comparison so far....

Yvon Corriveau....can’t make that up lol!

 

[twabby]

Stephenson has also skated alongside the likes of Mark Stone who may be one of the best wingers in the game and Max Pacioretty who is excellent himself. He's very much a product of his wingers IMO.

He's made some improvements to his game but he is very much still a passenger in Vegas like he was in DC and hasn't really shown much in the playoffs either.