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

[txpd]

1.) Flat cap and 2.) the team is still playing and may be right up until mere days before the draft. Their GM is assuredly prepared to make moves but they're in a tough situation. The NTCs for Killorn & Johnson could greatly complicate moving them and/or getting much of a return. Even if they manage to move both with no salary coming back it may be difficult to complete their roster as-is. Getting Cirelli, Sergachev & Cernak to each sign bridge deals would be ideal but a number of factors open them up for the possibility of offer sheets if not squared away rather quickly. A team could, in theory anyway, target one and then the other. If that sort of thing is going to happen this would be the off-season for it.

We'll see how their situation goes but the flat cap and the institution of internal budgets alone will cause a lot of movement. Arizona will reportedly be moving a lot of money out. Many other teams are up against it, be it Anaheim, St. Louis, Vegas or Toronto. Pittsburgh reportedly wants to clear out space for free agency. Many RFAs may go unqualified by teams in order to avoid arbitration raises and gamble on being re-signed for less. There's an opportunity for Washington, if they play their cards right, to pick up some value. They may need to move out their first round pick via trade in the search for more immediate value. Whoever they pick at 25 is probably not going to leapfrog McMichael or MF/AA in the next year or two. They could pick a right-handed winger or D that may help sooner given the lack of internal options but trading for a readymade option at the right cap hit may be preferable, esp. given their window. Cernak pretty much checks all of the boxes for a young Niskanen type. He doesn't carry quite as much offense but is otherwise about as solid as it gets for a potential partner for Orlov. Among RFA RD whose cap hits fit it's him, Myers or Bear with TBL's situation the most tenuous.

Yup. Cernak would be nice. I just think that its a pipedream. Lets see if any rumors surface about the Caps trying.

 

[txpd]

No, let him rob the club and kill all purpose of hiring Laviolette and all this "window is still open" talk. With 12M Ovechkin on a payroll that window is getting loudly shut for good.

And I return you to, let him walk then? Trade him now? You just hired Lavy. Spent big on him. Now, lets move Ovechkin?

Ok...12m is too much. your alternative is?

 

[txpd]

I live in the UK so I often forget that Washington is a pretty lame place to live compared to most of the league - must definitely play against them.

If I'm pitching to my wife a gig in Washington vs. a gig in Florida/Nashville/LA/etc..... that's a toughie

Washington is a lame place to live??

 

[Melkor]

And I return you to, let him walk then? Trade him now? You just hired Lavy. Spent big on him. Now, lets move Ovechkin?

Ok...12m is too much. your alternative is?

Negotiate him under 10 whatever it takes. If you can't you explore all options. I'm not that sentimental about people. If he wants to be the highest paid hockey player in the world at the age of 35 then good luck with that. Trade him to the highest bidder. Done.

 

[searle]

Washington is a lame place to live??

I'm not super knowledgeable, but as I said Washington as a place to live compared to a lot of the other cities in the league is missing a lot of things they have (e.g. beaches, distinctive music scenes, distinctive food).

Not saying it's a bad place to live, but do you think "living in Washington" would be a plus when picking between offers from WSH, LA, TBL, NSH, VGK, NYR etc.?

Like, no offence if you live there

Going to bow out of it as a topic as you americans will probably know more

 

[tenken00]

Not interested in Dumba, but it would be interesting to see what he is traded for now that he's supposedly on the move very shortly. The first big name as a cap casualty and might set the trade market.

Edit: ah nevermind. thought it said Dumba trade was imminent. But they are talking to several teams working things out.

 

[blindsideheadshot]

I'm not super knowledgeable, but as I said Washington as a place to live compared to a lot of the other cities in the league is missing a lot of things they have (e.g. beaches, distinctive music scenes, distinctive food).

Not saying it's a bad place to live, but do you think "living in Washington" would be a plus when picking between offers from WSH, LA, TBL, NSH, VGK, NYR etc.?

Like, no offence if you live there

Going to bow out of it as a topic as you americans will probably know more

As a DC native that has moved to San Diego, then on to LA... DC is certainly not a "lame" place to live especially given your stated priorities. DC lags NY and LA in terms of the food scene but I have watched over the past several years as it truly comes on strong. It definitely has a music scene, and while it's not particularly close to beaches, it has plenty accessible nature and beaches are within a 3-4 hour drive. Some of the places you cite like TB or Vegas would definitely be better places to visit than live. Vegas is basically a gambling trap in the desert that is great for a weekend trip every now and then. Tampa has beaches and.... strippers and blow? Even Nashville, unless you love country music and barbecue so much that you can live on that every day of you live, has none of the vibrancy and diversity of options DC offers. My wife and I often discuss where we ultimately want to settle, DC remains on that list, high on it. If I were choosing from cities in the league, DC has to be in the top ten at the absolute worst, and could be top 5. That's not factoring things like tax evasion or whatever else rich people care about, though. Then, go ahead and have a blast in Florida with the old people.

 

[Hivemind]

Washington is a lame place to live??

I thought so, which is why I moved away as fast as I could.

 

[blindsideheadshot]

I thought so, which is why I moved away as fast as I could.

 

[txpd]

DC is one of the most unique and interesting large cities in the league. IIRC Bondra still lives in Annapolis. Dont talk down Nashville. It might be the hottest city in America right now. Going to country music and bbq is just playing to stereotypes. Yes, its big in the music industry now but its the entire music industry. The live music scene there rivals NY and LA and Austin.

 

[txpd]

Negotiate him under 10 whatever it takes. If you can't you explore all options. I'm not that sentimental about people. If he wants to be the highest paid hockey player in the world at the age of 35 then good luck with that. Trade him to the highest bidder. Done.

Good for you. You said it. Trade him.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Not interested in Dumba, but it would be interesting to see what he is traded for now that he's supposedly on the move very shortly. The first big name as a cap casualty and might set the trade market.

Edit: ah nevermind. thought it said Dumba trade was imminent. But they are talking to several teams working things out.

They want a 1C or 2C from everything I've read. That pretty much leaves us out of the running

 

[hb13xchamps]

Negotiate him under 10 whatever it takes. If you can't you explore all options. I'm not that sentimental about people. If he wants to be the highest paid hockey player in the world at the age of 35 then good luck with that. Trade him to the highest bidder. Done.

There is just so much wrong with this. You don't trade your franchise player to another team over $2 million in salary.

 

[Hivemind]

Negotiate him under 10 whatever it takes. If you can't you explore all options. I'm not that sentimental about people. If he wants to be the highest paid hockey player in the world at the age of 35 then good luck with that. Trade him to the highest bidder. Done.

Just when I thought the terrible takes on this forum couldn't get even more terrible

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I am surprised at the report about Ovechkin wanting 12.5. maybe it's true maybe it's not.

I was hoping/thinking he wanted to win more Cups and also chase 895+. I was thinking he could ask for 8, because it's 8. The extra millions won't make any difference to the quality of his or his heir's life, so the only issue is bragging rights. But that makes it harder to win more Cups and get Zamboni-loads of goals.

Best creative solution, IMHO, was take 3.5 million/yr (spending money, lol), and a post retirement stake in ownership/lifetime contact as Cap's Ambassador at 2.5 million per year (excuse to stay in USA and watch his American citizen kids play in the NHL). Surround him with extra talent with the savings and win 3-5 more Cups and get 1000 goals and more endorsement money than ever as he achieves those goals..

And still be sitting on whatever pile of millions he has now.

If it were me I would want that!!

 

[Calicaps]

I thought so, which is why I moved away as fast as I could.

It was--except for the '80s music scene which killed but is over now. It's changed a lot in terms of food, arts, and night life. So much so that I've occasionally considered moving back, especially as my adopted state burns to ash.

 

[Kalopsia]

No. The Caps are from what Ive heard one of the best jobs in the NHL. I am saying that its unlikely that this player will be left unsigned by the Lightning, unlikely that the Caps will be willing to put forth an offer sheet that both forces TB to not match and outbid every other NHL team interested.

The Caps are a salary cap strapped team and going offer sheet doesnt make a lot of sense

C’mon man, I and some other posters just ran you through Tampa’s contracts to show you why they’d struggle to sign Cernak, went through went over the top half of the league to show the market for him from contenders will be limited, and ran the numbers to show he fits the Caps salary structure. If you think that’s wrong give me arguments, not axioms.

 

[tenken00]

I am surprised at the report about Ovechkin wanting 12.5. maybe it's true maybe it's not.

I was hoping/thinking he wanted to win more Cups and also chase 895+. I was thinking he could ask for 8, because it's 8. The extra millions won't make any difference to the quality of his or his heir's life, so the only issue is bragging rights. But that makes it harder to win more Cups and get Zamboni-loads of goals.

Best creative solution, IMHO, was take 3.5 million/yr (spending money, lol), and a post retirement stake in ownership/lifetime contact as Cap's Ambassador at 2.5 million per year (excuse to stay in USA and watch his American citizen kids play in the NHL). Surround him with extra talent with the savings and win 3-5 more Cups and get 1000 goals and more endorsement money than ever as he achieves those goals..

And still be sitting on whatever pile of millions he has now.

If it were me I would want that!!

My secret dream was to give Ovechkin a Mario Lemieux type deal with a lower salary but with a large equity stake in the team. And sometime after he retires, take over for Ted and becomes the new owner of the Caps. Well not so secret anymore. Besides, not sure if the NHL banned giving those types of contracts now, I know they did in other leagues.

 

[txpd]

C’mon man, I and some other posters just ran you through Tampa’s contracts to show you why they’d struggle to sign Cernak, went through went over the top half of the league to show the market for him from contenders will be limited, and ran the numbers to show he fits the Caps salary structure. If you think that’s wrong give me arguments, not axioms.

Wrong? I am not saying any of that is wrong. I am saying that all that being true, that guy being a Capital is a long shot at best. Come at me after the Caps sign or trade for him.

 

[Hivemind]

It was--except for the '80s music scene which killed but is over now. It's changed a lot in terms of food, arts, and night life. So much so that I've occasionally considered moving back, especially as my adopted state burns to ash.

The music scene in the 00s, when I moved away, sucked in DC. I do enjoy a handful of DC bands and have friends in the DC music scene now, but even if I was going to move back to the DMV, Richmond has a much stronger music scene than DC these days.

 

[txpd]

My secret dream was to give Ovechkin a Mario Lemieux type deal with a lower salary but with a large equity stake in the team. And sometime after he retires, take over for Ted and becomes the new owner of the Caps. Well not so secret anymore. Besides, not sure if the NHL banned giving those types of contracts now, I know they did in other leagues.

I am sure that kind of contract is illegal under the salary cap. On the other hand, I have said before that I think Ov and Ted have an understanding that when he is done playing he will have a piece of the team and a legit front office job.

 

[txpd]

The music scene in the 00s, when I moved away, sucked in DC. I do enjoy a handful of DC bands and have friends in the DC music scene now, but even if I was going to move back to the DMV, Richmond has a much stronger music scene than DC these days.

I worked at WHFS(if anyone even knows what that is) in the 90s and DC was still a good music garden. Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris came out of that. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin came out of that. The Birchmere in Old Towne is still like The Troubadour one of the top 5 music clubs in America.

But things change. I am retired from the music business and live in the country and have no interest in being in a large metro anymore. So, who knows what i really know about modern day

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

The music scene talk is funny. In covid America no city has a music scene now.

As for DC music all the big name artist would normally have a tour date in the area.

 

[tenken00]

I worked at WHFS(if anyone even knows what that is) in the 90s and DC was still a good music garden. Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris came out of that. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin came out of that. The Birchmere in Old Towne is still like The Troubadour one of the top 5 music clubs in America.

But things change. I am retired from the music business and live in the country and have no interest in being in a large metro anymore. So, who knows what i really know about modern day

I still remember when the HFStival was big.
edit: Damn, Look at this lineup from 2000:

Sunday, May 28, 2000
Bloodhound Gang
Blue Man Group
Brickfoot
Charles Feelgood
Cypress Hill
DJ Feelgood
Deftones
Eve 6
Filter
Godsmack
Good Charlotte
Jepetto
Kottonmouth Kings
Lake Trout
Mary Prankster
Nine Days
Phaser
Rage Against the Machine
SEV
SR‐71
Slipknot
Smartbomb
Staind
Stone Temple Pilots
Third Eye Blind
Tugboat Annie
Vertical Horizon

 

[txpd]

I still remember when the HFStival was big.

I still have my staff jacket in the closet. That said my career was mainly in country music.