Prospect Info: Caps Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024-25

[Ovechkins Wodka]

He really gives me TJ Oshie vibes.

 

[usiel]

I'm calling it now Leonard will setup Ovie to break the goal scoring record.

 

[Marshall]

Mateiko talk on The Athletic Hockey Show's "Emergency Pod" after last night's lovely result. Worth a listen.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

 

[usiel]

Mateiko talk on The Athletic Hockey Show's "Emergency Pod" after last night's lovely result. Worth a listen.

Don't make me google this...

 

[qc14]

Hutson has largely been solid from a fancy stats perspective except when he has been strapped to Savard, and he's still very young. He's smart enough to become elite, and I believe his brother has the same mental makeup.

Yea I largely agree -- should've been clearer that I think he's struggled as a #1 defenseman rather than just in general as a rookie. While Cole's certainly on the right path I just don't think we should get out too far ahead of our skis. Cole still has a ways to go to be Lane, and Lane himself (IMO) still has a ways to go before being a legit 1D in the NHL.

The larger point is I still think the biggest "holes" in the pool is are at offensive defenseman and two-way center. Obviously those are the two hardest slots to fill but all other things equal (BPA, draft position, etc.) those are the two archetypes I'd look to fill rather than another scoring winger or toolsy wing/center combo or complimentary 2-way defenseman.

 

[Marshall]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/podcast/240-the-athletic-hockey-show/episode-924/

 

[Ridley Simon]

Yea I largely agree -- should've been clearer that I think he's struggled as a #1 defenseman rather than just in general as a rookie. While Cole's certainly on the right path I just don't think we should get out too far ahead of our skis. Cole still has a ways to go to be Lane, and Lane himself (IMO) still has a ways to go before being a legit 1D in the NHL.

The larger point is I still think the biggest "holes" in the pool is are at offensive defenseman and two-way center. Obviously those are the two hardest slots to fill but all other things equal (BPA, draft position, etc.) those are the two archetypes I'd look to fill rather than another scoring winger or toolsy wing/center combo or complimentary 2-way defenseman.

I don’t disagree with you here, in as much that the Caps have a lot of wingers in the system. They do.

That said — my dude — they have to always go BPA. Tunnel vision on any one (or even two) position leads to forcing things.

Caps have been excellent at filling their holes. All while seemingly going off their own BPA list. And it’s working superfluously at this juncture.

Stay that course. If a W is the BPA at their pick, you take the W (I personally didn’t want another W in Parascak, but he’s doing great so far)

 

[qc14]

I don’t disagree with you here, in as much that the Caps have a lot of wingers in the system. They do.

That said — my dude — they have to always go BPA. Tunnel vision on any one (or even two) position leads to forcing things.

Caps have been excellent at filling their holes. All while seemingly going off their own BPA list. And it’s working superfluously at this juncture.

Stay that course. If a W is the BPA at their pick, you take the W (I personally didn’t want another W in Parascak, but he’s doing great so far)

Totally agree, just think it's an interesting exercise

 

[Kalopsia]

I don’t disagree with you here, in as much that the Caps have a lot of wingers in the system. They do.

That said — my dude — they have to always go BPA. Tunnel vision on any one (or even two) position leads to forcing things.

Caps have been excellent at filling their holes. All while seemingly going off their own BPA list. And it’s working superfluously at this juncture.

Stay that course. If a W is the BPA at their pick, you take the W (I personally didn’t want another W in Parascak, but he’s doing great so far)

I'm usually an advocate for BPA, but the Caps depth at wing is so insane at this point with guys breaking out and excelling in the minors that I wouldn't want a wing with an early pick next year. Wilson, Protas the elder, and McMichael are already locked in at the NHL level, Leonard and Cristall look like sure things, Paraschek and Protas the younger are looking fantastic, Miro's still only 20, Mateiko looks promising... Aside from Wilson every guy I listed is 23 or younger. Unless a winger is BPA by a mile I don't see why you'd throw another high draft pick into that log jam.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Team USA stream?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yea I largely agree -- should've been clearer that I think he's struggled as a #1 defenseman rather than just in general as a rookie. While Cole's certainly on the right path I just don't think we should get out too far ahead of our skis. Cole still has a ways to go to be Lane, and Lane himself (IMO) still has a ways to go before being a legit 1D in the NHL.

The larger point is I still think the biggest "holes" in the pool is are at offensive defenseman and two-way center. Obviously those are the two hardest slots to fill but all other things equal (BPA, draft position, etc.) those are the two archetypes I'd look to fill rather than another scoring winger or toolsy wing/center combo or complimentary 2-way defenseman.

The takeaway is we DO appear to have a top pair-type talent in the system…

 

[usiel]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/podcast/240-the-athletic-hockey-show/episode-924/

Thanks, Marsh. For letting me briefly live in an era where I didn't have to google something myself. Those were the days.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I found one.LFG USA

 

[Nogatco Rd]

lol at a bunch of guys left off of Team Canada ‘liking’ the IG post announcing the 3-2 loss to Latvia… glad to see Cristall was not among them..

 

[kicksavedave]

lol at a bunch of guys left off of Team Canada ‘liking’ the IG post announcing the 3-2 loss to Latvia… glad to see Cristall was not among them..

Sour grapes is never a good look. Glad AC is above that.

 

[Silky mitts]

Patrick Thomas leads the OHL in assists and had OT goals in back to back games 2 weeks ago

 

[HTFN]

The takeaway is we DO appear to have a top pair-type talent in the system…

Ehhhhh... I'm coming in later on this but since it started around calling someone a 1D:

We could get into semantics territory here but that's not quite how I see it. Maybe it's an outdated understanding of an undefined role but I would expect a defenseman labeled as a true 1D to be a little more well-rounded than either Hutson.

There are kind of exceptions to that among some real elite-caliber players you might think of in recent years, like prime Karlsson, Q. Hughes, Makar when he's on fire, guys who move the needle in some of the same ways but with different methodology... but a lot of the other guys cut from that same cloth still need competent roster building, pairings, and deployment to engage with the best of what they have to offer.

First pairing no doubt but to me a 1D can't be game-planned like a Mike Green was, they need to be competent enough in all phases that you essentially can't mitigate their impact. For better or worse I don't think a lot of the smaller creative D can access that level without basically spontaneously becoming somebody like Spurgeon on top of everything else.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I'm usually an advocate for BPA, but the Caps depth at wing is so insane at this point with guys breaking out and excelling in the minors that I wouldn't want a wing with an early pick next year. Wilson, Protas the elder, and McMichael are already locked in at the NHL level, Leonard and Cristall look like sure things, Paraschek and Protas the younger are looking fantastic, Miro's still only 20, Mateiko looks promising... Aside from Wilson every guy I listed is 23 or younger. Unless a winger is BPA by a mile I don't see why you'd throw another high draft pick into that log jam.

Negative ghost rider.

You reach for another position — any position — and you end up like Ron Rivera’s Skins. Name any example.

They can easily make trades to acquire what they want. They need to choose the player they see as the best one for the NHL and their organization. Period End.

Mahoney had done that for years and we’ve been long rewarded. That doesn’t stop now.

Heck, we are dismissing Protas and CMM as C’s (and even Leonard), they just need to add the best players that they can, and the pro scouts will help to create deals to round out wherever needed.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Negative ghost rider.

You reach for another position — any position — and you end up like Ron Rivera’s Skins. Name any example.

They can easily make trades to acquire what they want. They need to choose the player they see as the best one for the NHL and their organization. Period End.

Mahoney had done that for years and we’ve been long rewarded. That doesn’t stop now.

Heck, we are dismissing Protas and CMM as C’s (and even Leonard), they just need to add the best players that they can, and the pro scouts will help to create deals to round out wherever needed.

Depending on how you value goaltending there's a good chance Ravensbergen is BPA in the 20s if he isn't already gone. Lot of teams undervalue goaltending or have a drafting philosophy that they don't draft goalies high. That's why you end up with guys like Jake Oettinger in the bottom of the first round when clearly he was BPA for like 10-15 picks before he went. Look back at his draft, not a ton of guys picked before him I would take over him now. Less than a handful.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Depending on how you value goaltending there's a good chance Ravensbergen is BPA in the 20s if he isn't already gone. Lot of teams undervalue goaltending or have a drafting philosophy that they don't draft goalies high. That's why you end up with guys like Jake Oettinger in the bottom of the first round when clearly he was BPA for like 10-15 picks before he went. Look back at his draft, not a ton of guys picked before him I would take over him now. Less than a handful.

I’d have zero problem w that. BPA is BPA

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Mahoney has stressed they always take BPA. It makes sense.

 

[Brian23]

Thank God, maybe he gets his mojo back with some time in the AHL. Shouldn't have made the roster out of camp to be honest.

 

[DWGie26]

Thank God, maybe he gets his mojo back with some time in the AHL. Shouldn't have made the roster out of camp to be honest.

This is what Caps do. They cook their prospects when needed. It’s a good reminder that you are a prospect until you are fully established in the NHL. Lots of good players have to go through it.

I love that they kept Lappy on roster as 3C to start the season. Equally love that they made the move for Eller early. Here’s to him getting what he needs in this phase of his development.