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

[CapitalsCupReality]

CMM found his game again in Hershey. Not sure Protas or Siege stalled either due to “Hershey”.

That said, I’d stay in Boston another year, even knowing it might delay the NHL a year.

 

[Silky mitts]

To

No, it really isn't. This isn't 1955. He can get film and imaging at any decent hospital in the country, and they can immediately be read by the top medical minds on the planet in real time, with physical exams directed by those same doctors. Everybody wins. The player gets the best care, the remote docs are paid by the NHL team, and the local docs bill as they normally would.

Again, EVERYONE is properly incentivized to give this kid the best medical treatment available. The standard of care in those situations would be identical. He's not going to get a knee operation from Cooter McGee at Jasper's Meddicul Kare and Tire Center just because he got injured playing the Gooberville Swamp Rats.



He'll be driven to be a champion in whichever league he plays in. That's how athletes work. And no one said anything about the prestige of the corresponding achievement.

In the AHL he'll play an NHL schedule. Twice the games, similar game frequency and travel, playing versus experienced international pros with NHL trajectories and experience, for and against coaches that fit the same bill, development that's tailored for the pro game and for their specific benefit.

The pace, structure, rigor, and complexity of the AHL game is better suited to a player that figures to see the NHL sooner rather than later. The difference in physicality is higher, yes, but the more important thing is that it better reflects what he'll endure in a pro career. It's not about getting his ass kicked.

The accountability factor is also huge. A pro player plays hockey. That's their job, and they're held accountable for it on and off the ice, fostering professional habits and discipline. NCAA stars are probably held to a similar standard, but less of the time, and playing in a league where a sizable percentage of players without that trajectory have academics and jobs to focus on. AHL players are pros who play with pros and versus pros, 24/7.

D1 college hockey is no joke. I'm a big fan. But it's not the same thing. Hutson has shown a mastery of the NCAA game. Not all the time or on every phase. There's still rungs to climb there, and he could benefit from that. But if we're arguing that he could possibly be a full-time NHLer after next season, yeah, I think a year of pro hockey would be good for him AND the Caps. He needs to meet the pro game head-on and we need to see how he handles it.

Sorry for the novel, but disingenuous I ain't.

You’re asking him to give up leverage when he’s blocked, you’re telling his family it’s an equivalent level of medical care, how do you think the weight room and training staff compare at Hershey and BC? What are some of the recent successes in Hershey for player development? Protas and CMM noticeably improved in the juniors and while with the Caps, Hershey was the only place they didn’t get better. I don’t know if Lane could have looked any more like a pro so far, and Iorio looked wildly out of place in the playoffs.

 

[qc14]

It is my general philosophy that prospects after dominating their current level should move up to the next level as soon as they can. CHL < NCAA ~= European Leagues < AHL < NHL.

Hutson has dominated the NCAA this season. If I were the Caps and was completely in charge of every decision all of our prospects made, I'd have Hutson in Hershey next year. Play a pro schedule, learn pro habits, and play in a winning environment for the best minor league franchise in hockey. Anyone claiming that Hershey is a bad place or has a bad track-record with prospects is being completely disingenuous. Signing an NHL deal also gives him the chance of actually playing in the NHL next year too if he forces the issue or the Caps deal with injury trouble.

That being said, going back to the NCAA (and especially BU) is also completely fine for him. He'd probably make more money, the lifestyle is more fun especially as a teenager, and BU is also a world-class program with great support staff.

There are no bad options for him next year.

 

[hb13xchamps]

To

You’re asking him to give up leverage when he’s blocked, you’re telling his family it’s an equivalent level of medical care, how do you think the weight room and training staff compare at Hershey and BC? What are some of the recent successes in Hershey for player development? Protas and CMM noticeably improved in the juniors and while with the Caps, Hershey was the only place they didn’t get better. I don’t know if Lane could have looked any more like a pro so far, and Iorio looked wildly out of place in the playoffs.

Guess who was the coach for those two in Hershey when they spent the majority of their time there? Carbs and Scott Allen. The guys who you are now crediting for helping their development in the NHL.

Iorio was thrown into a playoff series against the presidents trophy winning team. He was not ready for it. He was 150 lbs soaking wet and he was man handled. It had nothing to do with Hershey Jesus Christ buddy just let it go

 

[Silky mitts]

CMM accomplished everything he could in Hershey. He was team MVP during the Covid season and had established himself as an NHL player at that point. His development stalled under Lavi. His demotion to the AHL and the CC playoff run helped him tremendously. You can say the same thing about Protas. His skating improved a ton since his draft year. Guess Hershey gets no credit for helping with that?

Siegs is the only one Hershey fans would agree with. He stunk in Hershey for whatever reason. That doesn’t mean it was the Bears fault

So BC gets no credit getting Lane ready for college? London and Prince Albert no credit for CMM and Protas’s development their draft +1 year? The athletes themselves? Or just your team?

 

[kicksavedave]

If I had my choice of places to play, I'd rank them like this:

3 Hershey
2 BU
1 Caps

So I'm not sure I would bypass a year at BU for a year at Hershey. I would only play in Hershey if I had neither other option.

Also, it doesn't matter at all what the team wants him to do... its his choice entirely.

 

[hb13xchamps]

So BC gets no credit getting Lane ready for college? London and Prince Albert no credit for CMM and Protas’s development their draft +1 year? The athletes themselves? Or just your team?

Of course they do. But you are completely minimizing and criticizing the time they spent in Hershey. I guess after they took the leap from juniors they didn’t learn a damn thing in Hershey? But as soon as they got to Washington they automatically developed? They had the same coaches in Hershey as they do now, outside of having Nelson for the CC playoff run. Washington is heavily involved in the day to day operations of Hersheys team and the progression of their prospects. This isn’t early 2000s and 2010s Hershey where Yingst was in charge and didn’t give a shit what Washington wanted. The Caps new affiliation agreement gives them more control. It allowed Hershey to hire a third coach for the team. They had the goaltending coach and video coach added to their staff. Chris Patrick was the GM and architect of the Bears for the past two championship teams. You are minimizing the amount of development that goes on at that level.

I don’t give a shit if Hutson turns pro next year or not. He can do what he feels is best for his development path. That could be the Bears or it could be another year at BU. Either way, I want what’s best for the player and his development to become a future star for the Capitals.

 

[Jags]

Since you're ignoring 98% of my post in favor of just repeating yourself, I'll punt and just respond to this...

Hershey was the only place they didn’t get better.

When we were focused on our closing window and had coaches in DC that didn't give a shit about young players. Now our coaching staff is led by the exact guy that DID help them get better, and the organization as a whole is fixated on developing and giving chances to their prospects.

Regimes change. Live in the now.

As for the training room and staff... Hershey's facilities and staff are ideally suited for the proper conditioning of a hockey roster. This does not require a Training Department with massive facilities supporting hundreds of athletes across multiple sports. When your organization only has to care for like 30 guys at a time, you can achieve the same result with less.

And again, live in the now. His medical care would be backstopped by the best AHL franchise in the league and an NHL franchise we're pretty proud of. It only takes a decent wifi signal to ensure that care is the best available. Ted's never been known to skimp on the important things. The Caps are as laser-focused on the health of their players and prospects as any college program.

 

[Silky mitts]

Of course they do. But you are completely minimizing and criticizing the time they spent in Hershey. I guess after they took the leap from juniors they didn’t learn a damn thing in Hershey? But as soon as they got to Washington they automatically developed? They had the same coaches in Hershey as they do now, outside of having Nelson for the CC playoff run. Washington is heavily involved in the day to day operations of Hersheys team and the progression of their prospects. This isn’t early 2000s and 2010s Hershey where Yingst was in charge and didn’t give a shit what Washington wanted. The Caps new affiliation agreement gives them more control. It allowed Hershey to hire a third coach for the team. They had the goaltending coach and video coach added to their staff. Chris Patrick was the GM and architect of the Bears for the past two championship teams. You are minimizing the amount of development that goes on at that level.

I don’t give a shit if Hutson turns pro next year or not. He can do what he feels is best for his development path. That could be the Bears or it could be another year at BU. Either way, I want what’s best for the player and his development to become a future star for the Capitals.

I think Hershey does a good job getting guys ready to play, but BU does a great job, the top 2 rookie scorers are from BU, Brady Tkachuk seems prepared for his star turn despite playing in a smaller city, whether you think they’re getting the cream of the crop or not BU has a tremendous recent history developing guys, I trust in Hurson’s process just assume he’ll follow Lane or Lenny’s path where a ton of talented players have had success.

 

[DWGie26]

There is no bad path. Hershey is a Top Class organization. Players are honored to play there.

But there is a reason why many of the top players each year choose to go the college path. it’s a great 1-3 year development path. 4 college years gets long in the tooth if you are really are an NHL player. So this is a good path and chosen by many of the best.

Bottom line. Hutson needs another year of development before NHL.

 

[usiel]

I also worry about the Caps/Heshey's ability to develop defensemen whether or not they're top pairing. I think that's one reason they traded for Sandin -- they haven't been able to develop a comparable player. I assume they've taken steps to correct this issue, but until they can develop another top 4 defenseman, it's fair to question them.

Honestly I don't there is anything on Hershey here. It is more the Capitals trying to compete for the playoffs so they prefer veteran (or somewhat young veteran) dmen. They have not hit on any offensive dman in several years. Seigs/AA/Iorio seem mostly 3rd pairing dmen that stay at home.

 

[Cush]

Protas Jr 1+3

 

[Silky mitts]

Since you're ignoring 98% of my post in favor of just repeating yourself, I'll punt and just respond to this...



When we were focused on our closing window and had coaches in DC that didn't give a shit about young players. Now our coaching staff is led by the exact guy that DID help them get better, and the organization as a whole is fixated on developing and giving chances to their prospects.

Regimes change. Live in the now.

As for the training room and staff... Hershey's facilities and staff are ideally suited for the proper conditioning of a hockey roster. This does not require a Training Department with massive facilities supporting hundreds of athletes across multiple sports. When your organization only has to care for like 30 guys at a time, you can achieve the same result with less.

And again, live in the now. His medical care would be backstopped by the best AHL franchise in the league and an NHL franchise we're pretty proud of. It only takes a decent wifi signal to ensure that care is the best available. Ted's never been known to skimp on the important things. The Caps are as laser-focused on the health of their players and prospects as any college program.

The other post was a lot of words for minor league hockey would prepare him better for the NHL than Hockey East based on various hardships and I hate acknowledging the argument that people aren’t creating enough hardships for themselves. It’s like you’re 19 and 175 lb, definitely should play twice as many games against men for your development.

 

[Langway]

From the prospects board:

https://i.ibb.co/cfnXN18/ezgif-729ee885415cb5.gif

Sykora GWG and series-winner in the Czech men's league for Trinec.

 

[Kolzilla]

It is my general philosophy that prospects after dominating their current level should move up to the next level as soon as they can. CHL < NCAA ~= European Leagues < AHL < NHL.

Hutson has dominated the NCAA this season. If I were the Caps and was completely in charge of every decision all of our prospects made, I'd have Hutson in Hershey next year. Play a pro schedule, learn pro habits, and play in a winning environment for the best minor league franchise in hockey. Anyone claiming that Hershey is a bad place or has a bad track-record with prospects is being completely disingenuous. Signing an NHL deal also gives him the chance of actually playing in the NHL next year too if he forces the issue or the Caps deal with injury trouble.

That being said, going back to the NCAA (and especially BU) is also completely fine for him. He'd probably make more money, the lifestyle is more fun especially as a teenager, and BU is also a world-class program with great support staff.

There are no bad options for him next year.

I generally agree with this logic, but I think for an undersized guy like Cole, I think the NCAA route makes more sense because he can both develop skill-wise and have more latitude to put on some mass. That's very hard to do simultaneously if playing ~80 games over ~8 months vs. ~50ish games over 6 months.