Speculation: Caps General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2021 Off-Season Pt. 2

[Hivemind]

Re - Oshie to Seattle.

Protecting 4D doesn’t really make sense for this team, so they’ll go 7F+3D. And Oshie is clearly among one of the 7 most valuable/important forwards, so he’ll be protected.

However, they should listen if Seattle comes calling with significant trade offers to leave Oshie unprotected.

 

[Jags]

Of course they needed a true 1C to win it all.

I never said they didn't. 92 was great that year. What I said is that we didn't need two of them to compete, as you keep demanding. Backstrom was hampered after the hand injury, we won games with him (and Wilson) out of the lineup thanks to surprising depth contributions. Eller, Stephenson, and Vrana stepping up to fill those gaps was crucial.

I also never said we didn't need performance from our top players. Of course we do. But they can't carry the whole load. We still have a lot of talent up top, but we need the depth. Losing Kuznetsov would be tough, but IF we MUST, then I don't think a stronger, 200-ft middle-6 is a bad tradeoff, especially if it also gets us the cap room we need to function through the flat cap.

Bottom line: I don't think we absolutely must replace Kuznetsov with a superstar to be competitive. If we have to move him, I don't think being a buyer in a buyer's market is the end of the world. There are serviceable replacements in free agency (and probably via more conservative trades than the bonkers horseshit you've been suggesting).

Stop mischaracterizing my points.

 

[txpd]

I never said they didn't. 92 was great that year. What I said is that we didn't need two of them to compete, as you keep demanding. Backstrom was hampered after the hand injury, we won games with him (and Wilson) out of the lineup thanks to surprising depth contributions. Eller, Stephenson, and Vrana stepping up to fill those gaps was crucial.

I also never said we didn't need performance from our top players. Of course we do. But they can't carry the whole load. We still have a lot of talent up top, but we need the depth. Losing Kuznetsov would be tough, but IF we MUST, then I don't think a stronger, 200-ft middle-6 is a bad tradeoff, especially if it also gets us the cap room we need to function through the flat cap.

Bottom line: I don't think we absolutely must replace Kuznetsov with a superstar to be competitive. If we have to move him, I don't think being a buyer in a buyer's market is the end of the world. There are serviceable replacements in free agency (and probably via more conservative trades than the bonkers horseshit you've been suggesting).

Stop mischaracterizing my points.

Not reading his mind or anything but one 1C wouldn't include Backstrom as a 1C because he clearly isn't that anymore. See his epic drop off.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Re - Oshie to Seattle.

Protecting 4D doesn’t really make sense for this team, so they’ll go 7F+3D. And Oshie is clearly among one of the 7 most valuable/important forwards, so he’ll be protected.

However, they should listen if Seattle comes calling with significant trade offers to leave Oshie unprotected.

Oshie will turn 35 in December. He has four years remaining on his contract of 5.75 million per year.

BMAC work on a deal with Francis to take Brenden Dillon (another individual with a Seattle history) via the expansion draft with the agreement that the Capitals will trade Oshie to the Kraken. I understand fan's reluctance to send a fan favorite to another team, but look what's going on in Chicago with Duncan Keith who was drafted by the Hawks and has played his entire career of 16 seasons with the team and now appears to be getting traded to Edmonton. Caps make a move such as this, they will have shed 9.65 mil from their cap, gotten younger and I would suspect obtained some high draft picks hopefully for the 2022 draft.

 

[Melkor]

Don't mix up underperforming for not giving a shit like 92. A proper intelligent analysis easily identifies multiple problems and doesn’t conflate them.

It's also possible, if not likely that said players who don't care are undermining the entire team effort overall.

If you've put in the effort for aforementioned analysis and came to conclusion there are multiple problems that would serve as a reasonable excuse for them looking terrible then why are you singling out one player of your choice and not giving him the same excuse you give to the other ones? It's not like it was the first year they looked anemic when it counts so that "Kuzy hasn't looked good since the Cup" line doesn't work here. 99% of that roster sucked in playoff games since the Cup.

 

[Melkor]

I'm... actually not sure. Can you choose to protect less than 3 defensemen?

As for the actual choosing itself, if any of them has any positive value (production over cost), why wouldn't you protect them? At the very least, they could be a throw-in candidate for a larger trade. Or at least give me a bag of chips. Kettle-cooked. Salt and malt vinegar. Mmmm.... malt vinegar.

I'm going to be honest. I think Jensen has zero value for them especially when you consider their cap situation, his contributions and his contract. And Dillon has negative - yes, negative - value. He's a dead weight on that payroll.

 

[tenken00]

I'm going to be honest. I think Jensen has zero value for them especially when you consider their cap situation, his contributions and his contract. And Dillon has negative - yes, negative - value. He's a dead weight on that payroll.

So... Schultz? By process of elimination lol

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

If you've put in the effort for aforementioned analysis and came to conclusion there are multiple problems that would serve as a reasonable excuse for them looking terrible then why are you singling out one player of your choice and not giving him the same excuse you give to the other ones? It's not like it was the first year they looked anemic when it counts so that "Kuzy hasn't looked good since the Cup" line doesn't work here. 99% of that roster sucked in playoff games since the Cup.

2 years, Rierden, 1 year significant injuries…..all 3 years….an underperforming/barely cares 8 mil/year “star 1C”.

underperforming is one thing…..underperforming combined with apathy is a nail in the coffin.

Conn Smythe-level Kuzy (or even just a true 1C level performance) might have been enough to have won a few series in those years IMO. Truth is, he’s been a difference-maker and the last 3 seasons he hasn’t been where he’s needed for postseason team success.

You would rather just lump them all together…..sure, you’re not a Kuzy supporter….lol!

 

[txpd]

Who on the Caps is good ? I mean, other than Kuzy

 

[Melkor]

2 years, Rierden, 1 year significant injuries…..all 3 years….an underperforming/barely cares 8 mil/year “star 1C”.

underperforming is one thing…..underperforming combined with apathy is a nail in the coffin.

Conn Smythe-level Kuzy (or even just a true 1C level performance) might have been enough to have won a few series in those years IMO. Truth is, he’s been a difference-maker and the last 3 seasons he hasn’t been where he’s needed for postseason team success.

You would rather just lump them all together…..sure, you’re not a Kuzy supporter….lol!

How do you know one's playing with apathy and the other is not? One player who's usually good at making plays and scoring is not as good as he used to be and he's apathetic and the other who's used to decently defend, block shots and be #1D is not good at that now either but he somehow cares. Share the knowledge how do you know the latter one cares? Because he didn't get caught snorting?

 

[Melkor]

So... Schultz? By process of elimination lol

Yeah, by process of elimination. Not like I give a damn if they keep him lol. I'd rather them protect Samsonov because his perceived market value is higher than Vanecek. And the rest should be forwards and Carlson with Orlov. Sucks if that's not allowed.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

How do you know one's playing with apathy and the other is not? One player who's usually good at making plays and scoring is not as good as he used to be and he's apathetic and the other who's used to decently defend, block shots and be #1D is not good at that now either but he somehow cares. Share the knowledge how do you know the latter one cares? Because he didn't get caught snorting?

Do you watch the games? If we have to get this rudimentary, maybe time for you to watch more sports?

Please tell me all the other Caps "stars" who don't care on a level where it shows on ice like 92.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Who on the Caps is good ? I mean, other than Kuzy

I hear Tampa has a team worthy of fawning over! Our team blows apparently.

 

[tenken00]

Yeah, by process of elimination. Not like I give a damn if they keep him lol. I'd rather them protect Samsonov because his perceived market value is higher than Vanecek. And the rest should be forwards and Carlson with Orlov. Sucks if that's not allowed.

Nope lol. Gotta keep 3 D at least.

 

[twabby]

I never said they didn't. 92 was great that year. What I said is that we didn't need two of them to compete, as you keep demanding. Backstrom was hampered after the hand injury, we won games with him (and Wilson) out of the lineup thanks to surprising depth contributions. Eller, Stephenson, and Vrana stepping up to fill those gaps was crucial.

I also never said we didn't need performance from our top players. Of course we do. But they can't carry the whole load. We still have a lot of talent up top, but we need the depth. Losing Kuznetsov would be tough, but IF we MUST, then I don't think a stronger, 200-ft middle-6 is a bad tradeoff, especially if it also gets us the cap room we need to function through the flat cap.

Bottom line: I don't think we absolutely must replace Kuznetsov with a superstar to be competitive. If we have to move him, I don't think being a buyer in a buyer's market is the end of the world. There are serviceable replacements in free agency (and probably via more conservative trades than the bonkers horseshit you've been suggesting).

Stop mischaracterizing my points.

I think I'm just not as high on the team's top 6 forwards as most people are. Ovechkin and Backstrom are unlikely to be able to carry play at 5v5 like they used to be able to, Wilson has never been a huge play-driver despite being impactful in other ways, and Oshie is more of a defensive and power-play specialist than a play-driving forward these days. I actually like what I saw from Mantha but he's not really a dynamo.

The Capitals have seemingly thrived on opportunistic offense rather than asserting their will on other teams. It's an approach that can work in the regular season but attention to detail is much higher in the playoffs and other teams aren't going to gift opportunities nearly as frequently as they do in the regular season. It's up to the Capitals to generate offense for themselves and I don't think the current lineup has it in them, especially if they are chasing the puck continuously.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think I'm just not as high on the team's top 6 forwards as most people are. Ovechkin and Backstrom are unlikely to be able to carry play at 5v5 like they used to be able to, Wilson has never been a huge play-driver despite being impactful in other ways, and Oshie is more of a defensive and power-play specialist than a play-driving forward these days. I actually like what I saw from Mantha but he's not really a dynamo.

The Capitals have seemingly thrived on opportunistic offense rather than asserting their will on other teams. It's an approach that can work in the regular season but attention to detail is much higher in the playoffs and other teams aren't going to gift opportunities nearly as frequently as they do in the regular season. It's up to the Capitals to generate offense for themselves and I don't think the current lineup has it in them, especially if they are chasing the puck continuously.

I think it’s just most are more accepting of our fate. That fate is to slowly die on the vine until they’re forced to rebuild.

You and a few others want massive team identity altering trades that just are unlikely to happen on a large scale.

absolutely we need guys who can drive offense and produce offense. How exactly do you get enough of those to alter this team’s current course, when other teams covet them also?

the next 4 years is realistically about simply making the playoffs, the goal chase, and then it’s rebuild time. Punchers chance at best.

 

[txpd]

I think I'm just not as high on the team's top 6 forwards as most people are. Ovechkin and Backstrom are unlikely to be able to carry play at 5v5 like they used to be able to, Wilson has never been a huge play-driver despite being impactful in other ways, and Oshie is more of a defensive and power-play specialist than a play-driving forward these days. I actually like what I saw from Mantha but he's not really a dynamo.

The Capitals have seemingly thrived on opportunistic offense rather than asserting their will on other teams. It's an approach that can work in the regular season but attention to detail is much higher in the playoffs and other teams aren't going to gift opportunities nearly as frequently as they do in the regular season. It's up to the Capitals to generate offense for themselves and I don't think the current lineup has it in them, especially if they are chasing the puck continuously.

Driving play. How do you authenticate driving play? You seem to suggest that ONLY Kuznetsov among the top 6 actually drives play.

 

[Melkor]

Do you watch the games? If we have to get this rudimentary, maybe time for you to watch more sports?

Please tell me all the other Caps "stars" who don't care on a level where it shows on ice like 92.

I literally watched every single game and I hadn't seen a person on the ice sucking badder and looking more apathetic than a local icon Nickas Backstrom. By far the most disinterested, slow, stonehanded top-6 player of that series. His overall performance had been shameful, nothing more mothing less.

We have to get rudimentary because you're cherry picking with zero real argument why you're picking specifically on Kuznetsov's game while they have a bunch of over the hill have beens expecting to ride someone's coattails. Kuznetsov is not that guy but it's not the reason giving him shit and excuse everybody else with injuries and coaching. Sorry, they're not getting a pass because they're Ovechkins, Backstroms and Carlsons.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I literally watched every single game and I hadn't seen a person on the ice sucking badder and looking more apathetic than a local icon Nickas Backstrom. By far the most disinterested, slow, stonehanded top-6 player of that series. His overall performance had been shameful, nothing more mothing less.

We have to get rudimentary because you're cherry picking with zero real argument why you're picking specifically on Kuznetsov's game while they have a bunch of over the hill have beens expecting to ride someone's coattails. Kuznetsov is not that guy but it's not the reason giving him shit and excuse everybody else with injuries and coaching. Sorry, they're not getting a pass because they're Ovechkins, Backstroms and Carlsons.

That’s your angle? Backstrom didn’t care?

At least he wasn’t dumb enough to tell it to the press!

What’s this “we” stuff, you recruiting imaginary friends!?

 

[txpd]

You.....want massive team identity altering trades that just are unlikely to happen on a large scale.

My read here is we all know they arent going to trade Tom Wilson to John Carlson. Its an I told you so agenda that sits happily on their plate all season long because no matter how successful they are, it wont matter. Goals, Points, and Wins are all overrated.

We just need to get with the program and realize the Caps ARE the suck. They are the embodiment of the suck.

 

[g00n]

"How do you know Kuzy is apathetic" is on par with "Bondra sucked" for ridiculous places to plant one's flag.

 

[Melkor]

That’s your angle? Backstrom didn’t care?

View attachment 452666

At least he wasn’t dumb enough to tell it to the press!

What’s this “we” stuff, you recruiting imaginary friends!?

It's you who used "we" in the first place, pal. When it comes to trolling...you're not that guy, trust me, you're not that guy.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

It's you who used "we" in the first place, pal. When it comes to trolling...you're not that guy, trust me, you're not that guy.

come on….you invented the word!

 

[twabby]

Driving play. How do you authenticate driving play? You seem to suggest that ONLY Kuznetsov among the top 6 actually drives play.

Generating a high number of quality chances and limiting quality chances against.

Kuznetsov was good this year but his track record of driving play hasn't been very good and it's why I'd prefer they move on from him if they can land an upgrade. If not, I'd rather ride his high variance style and hope we get Good Kuzy because this teams needs a dynamo in the top 6 if they are going to make any noise. Adding a solid but not great second line center in the mold of guys like Danault or Krejci doesn't do much to elevate the overall ceiling of the team.

 

[Melkor]

come on….you invented the word!

Cool story, mate.