Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2022-23 Season Part 1: Free Agent Edition

[um]

who were all those young regular lineup guys again? My check shows Vrana as the youngest in terms of experience and he was in his 2nd year in 2018. Bura was in his 4th. Djoos barely played...anyone else?


well, if you want to fail and not make the playoffs, definitely start Lujo on the top pair and sprinkle in the other partially ready guys in key roles as well.

- Wilson was 23, got a spot on the top line. Quite possibly a franchise altering breakout season for Wilson.
- Vrana was 21, got a spot on the 2nd line.
- Burakovsky was 22, got a spot on the 3rd line.
- Stephenson was 23, got a spot on the 4th line.
- Djoos was 23, got a spot on the 3rd pairing.
- Connolly was 25, bounced around the NHL before settling on the third line.
- DSP was 25, also bounced around a lot before settling on the 4th line.
- Grubeaur was 26, was a backup before stealing the starter job and dragging the Caps into the playoffs.

All these guys had major impacts on the Caps winning the Cup.

Its not just about having young guys on the roster, but putting players in a situation that they can excel in, which they all did. McMichael as the 13th forward or whatever he ends up in is not putting him in a position to succeed.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

- Wilson was 23, got a spot on the top line. Quite possibly a franchise altering breakout season for Wilson.
- Vrana was 21, got a spot on the 2nd line.
- Burakovsky was 22, got a spot on the 3rd line.
- Stephenson was 23, got a spot on the 4th line.
- Djoos was 23, got a spot on the 3rd pairing.
- Connolly was 25, bounced around the NHL before settling on the third line.
- DSP was 25, also bounced around a lot before settling on the 4th line.
- Grubeaur was 26, was a backup before stealing the starter job and dragging the Caps into the playoffs.

All these guys had major impacts on the Caps winning the Cup.

Its not just about having young guys on the roster, but putting players in a situation that they can excel in, which they all did. McMichael as the 13th forward or whatever he ends up in is not putting him in a position to succeed.

25/26 year olds are in their prime, not “young guys”….

this is not the same as comparing to a 21 yr old unestablished CMM with less than a season of NHL experience.

Bura - was in his 4th year, hell Djoos barely did shit in the postseason, Connolly parts of 7 seasons, DSP parts of 7 seasons. Stephenson I’ll give you even though he was a callup the previous 2 seasons 17-18 was his first full season AND he carried a full playoff load.

Wilson was another well established NHLer…..in his 5th season then.

so yeah, come back to me with actual options that won’t tank the regular season….the “youth” we have now pales in comparison. please don't suggest Lujo, CMM, and Jimi as Cup differentiators today….because that’s what we have….

All CMM needs to do is dominate and win the job. Many here just expect youth to be gifted roster spots. Well F that I say….earn your way.

 

[g00n]

Young teams are usually rebuilding teams.

The core is older and they're not going to rebuild right now when they have so many contracts expiring next season.

Half of the forwards have contracts that expire after this season. The entire D-corp is in the final year of their contracts, except for Carlson.

If you want a youth movement it'll probably come next year at the earliest. Unless the team craters by the TDL and become sellers.

The sooner we accept that the better we'll all feel.

 

[Corby78]

And? The post I was responding to was about noticing jersey ads. Minor leagues don't wear some entirely different type of hockey jersey. AHL jersey ads are hardly noticeable, even when using very distinct colors (like baby blue on chocolate brown).

The NHL jersey ads are much the same. You'll forget they're there, just like you forgot the helmets had ads on them.

I notice the adds on any jersey, it isn’t about size or thread use. I accept them on lesser leagues because they are needed to keep the leagues running. Top professional leagues used to look ……. wait for it….. professional. They didn’t need gymic uniforms, crazy antics with fans during breaks, or extra adds on helmets. But here we are. Bending to the almighty extra buck and looking like a Midwest bowling team, or a little league baseball team. Next they will look like euro soccer teams where the team logo is the small patch on the shoulder and the sweater looks like the hood of a race car.

No I don’t like it

 

[g00n]

Who gives a shit about ads anymore. It's all about money. There are no illusions of purity in professional sports anymore.

Let them get Cap1 facial tattoos for all I care.

Just f***ing win.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

DSP was 25? has to be the oldest looking 25 year old. someone check his ID

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Young teams are usually rebuilding teams.

The core is older and they're not going to rebuild right now when they have so many contracts expiring next season.

Half of the forwards have contracts that expire after this season. The entire D-corp is in the final year of their contracts, except for Carlson.

If you want a youth movement it'll probably come next year at the earliest. Unless the team craters by the TDL and become sellers.

The sooner we accept that the better we'll all feel.

this….as soon as this vet core can no longer sustain a playoff qualification path, we‘ll see more dramatic changes….next year is VERY likely we see a significant retool of sorts, not a rebuild.

DSP was 25? has to be the oldest looking 25 year old. someone check his ID

I was stunned too….hard living….Hell Connolly has looked 40 forever lol…

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I notice the adds on any jersey, it isn’t about size or thread use. I accept them on lesser leagues because they are needed to keep the leagues running. Top professional leagues used to look ……. wait for it….. professional. They didn’t need gymic uniforms, crazy antics with fans during breaks, or extra adds on helmets. But here we are. Bending to the almighty extra buck and looking like a Midwest bowling team, or a little league baseball team. Next they will look like euro soccer teams where the team logo is the small patch on the shoulder and the sweater looks like the hood of a race car.

No I don’t like it

Not a big fan either…..I don’t mind a few, but if we turns into this someday….or worse…

 

[um]

25/26 year olds are in their prime, not “young guys”….

this is not the same as comparing to a 21 yr old unestablished CMM with less than a season of NHL experience.

Bura - was in his 4th year, hell Djoos barely did shit in the postseason, Connolly parts of 7 seasons, DSP parts of 7 seasons. Stephenson I’ll give you even though he was a callup the previous 2 seasons 17-18 was his first full season AND he carried a full playoff load.

Wilson was another well established NHLer…..in his 5th season then.

so yeah, come back to me with actual options that won’t tank the regular season….the “youth” we have now pales in comparison. please don't suggest Lujo, CMM, and Jimi as Cup differentiators today….because that’s what we have….

All CMM needs to do is dominate and win the job. Many here just expect youth to be gifted roster spots. Well F that I say….earn your way.

Haha I knew you’d move the goalpost

Our cup winning team was full of young players, its a fact.

 

[twabby]

All CMM needs to do is dominate and win the job. Many here just expect youth to be gifted roster spots. Well F that I say….earn your way.

I don't think McMichael should be given a spot over Eller/Hagelin/Johansson because he's younger than them. I think he should be given a spot over them because he's a better player right now and showed it last year, and he's also at an age where forwards typically keep getting better while they are all at an age where decline starts hitting hard.

I'm not really interested in a youth movement for the sake of youth. See my comments on Fehervary earlier this summer for proof of that (he's really the one who needs to earn his spot in the lineup IMO). I'm interested in the team playing the best players they have, especially if their better players are likely to continue improving.

 

[usiel]

One week till rookie camp!

 

[Devil Dancer]

25/26 year olds are in their prime, not “young guys”….

this is not the same as comparing to a 21 yr old unestablished CMM with less than a season of NHL experience.

Bura - was in his 4th year, hell Djoos barely did shit in the postseason, Connolly parts of 7 seasons, DSP parts of 7 seasons. Stephenson I’ll give you even though he was a callup the previous 2 seasons 17-18 was his first full season AND he carried a full playoff load.

Wilson was another well established NHLer…..in his 5th season then.

so yeah, come back to me with actual options that won’t tank the regular season….the “youth” we have now pales in comparison. please don't suggest Lujo, CMM, and Jimi as Cup differentiators today….because that’s what we have….

All CMM needs to do is dominate and win the job. Many here just expect youth to be gifted roster spots. Well F that I say….earn your way.

That's not fair, the Caps played their best hockey of the season last year when all the kids were in the lineup.

You're right that the kids shouldn't be gifted slots, but neither should the vets. That's the concern, that the team will throw away potential performance increases to play vets who they trust more, but who aren't actually very good.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Haha I'd knew you move the goalpost

Our cup winning team was full of young players, its a fact.

Again…..you‘re the one comparing our current young and inexperienced players of today, to a bunch of guys who had varying years of service from 1-7. Please continue your apples to oranges comparison.

do you think Lujo, CMM, and Jimi are Cup differentiators this season?

that’s what I thought….


I have no problem with anyone who EARNS their job.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That's not fair, the Caps played their best hockey of the season last year when all the kids were in the lineup.

You're right that the kids shouldn't be gifted slots, but neither should the vets. That's the concern, that the team will throw away potential performance increases to play vets who they trust more, but who aren't actually very good.

I guess, but that lineup wasn’t winning a first round matchup against Florida either.

if you can show me a recent clear cut example of a Caps youngster outplaying a vet for his same specific role out of camp, and getting the shaft, I‘m all ears….

I think the coaching staff will select the player’s they think they can win the most regular season games with. I hope the kids can outplay some vets, but I’m not whining when the roster comes out either.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I don't think McMichael should be given a spot over Eller/Hagelin/Johansson because he's younger than them. I think he should be given a spot over them because he's a better player right now and showed it last year, and he's also at an age where forwards typically keep getting better while they are all at an age where decline starts hitting hard.

I'm not really interested in a youth movement for the sake of youth. See my comments on Fehervary earlier this summer for proof of that (he's really the one who needs to earn his spot in the lineup IMO). I'm interested in the team playing the best players they have, especially if their better players are likely to continue improving.

Then let him clearly outplay someone…..ANYONE. He needs to start finishing to do that IMO. I personally think CMM has sucked at wing so far, so the real battle is Eller, barring an injury spot opening….

Fever for certain earned his roster spot, but I know you like to shit on him. I’m going to enjoy seeing him not improve the rest of his NHL career as you have suggested. “It’s only down from here Marty!”…..

 

[John Price]

 

[Marshall]

x-post for awareness - the HFCaps fantasy hockey league is live. Join now.

(Sorry for the cross-posting, mods. I throw myself upon what sliver of mercy yet gleams within your dark, omnipotent hearts.)

 

[John Price]

Not a big fan either…..I don’t mind a few, but if we turns into this someday….or worse…

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View attachment 582728

it won't get to that point though

 

[twabby]

Then let him clearly outplay someone…..ANYONE. He needs to start finishing to do that IMO. I personally think CMM has sucked at wing so far, so the real battle is Eller, barring an injury spot opening….

Fever for certain earned his roster spot, but I know you like to shit on him. I’m going to enjoy seeing him not improve the rest of his NHL career as you have suggested. “It’s only down from here Marty!”…..

I think the concern that most of us have is that there won't really be an even playing field for McMichael this preseason when he's competing for a spot. That was certainly the case last season, when he was clearly a better option than guys like Eller and Hagelin for most of the season yet still regularly rode the pine in favor of the latter two.

They need impact top 6 players. Maybe McMichael can be that guy. It's an open question IMO. But we know that Eller/Johansson/Hagelin certainly aren't those guys. For a team that has slipped further and further away from contention, I'd rather go with the mystery box that stands to improve as the year goes on.

 

[g00n]

They're going to ride or die with vets and Lavi this season. Next year there will be a purge.

Embrace it

 

[Langway]

Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure there's going to be some purge of vets next summer. I don't doubt Lavi gets an extension and they just keep doing their thing until it falls apart at some point.

 

[g00n]

Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure there's going to be some purge of vets next summer. I don't doubt Lavi gets an extension and they just keep doing their thing until it falls apart at some point.

The entire D-corp minus Carlson and half the forwards are at the end of their runway after this season.

The point being, if people are looking for drastic change it won't happen this year unless they're sellers at the deadline. The real window for it is next year.

Will they decide to resign a lot of guys? Maybe. Depends on performance, I suppose. But looking for a youth movement out of the gate this season for any reason other than injury is a path to disappointment.

 

[Langway]

Meh. One or two spots isn't really a youth movement and I don't think anyone is calling for much beyond that. Maybe three if you add Snively but he's 26 (a year older than Strome). That's a pretty normal amount of youth for most teams with a decent system most years. It's just for them they don't net seamless transitional type prospects all-around or kill it with development so much.

For them to trigger a more seismic sort of rethink of how they operate likely requires missing the playoffs. Otherwise they'll probably extend whoever they can, lose a few and largely replace them in free agency at value prices. If Backstrom's status becomes finalized and he's done that's yet more room to either put toward expiring players or new ones. It stands out at the moment since it's, like, almost half the roster up potentially but I'm sure they'll engage some eventually. There will be turnover just like there is every year but I'm not sure it stands to be a significant departure. Make the playoffs, keep it on the rails and I don't doubt Lavi is back and they're still fundamentally very similar to what we'll see this season. There's a potential opportunity for a departure to be sure but I tend to doubt MacLellan is close to switching gears to that extent without being forced.

 

[HTFN]

who were all those young regular lineup guys again? My check shows Vrana as the youngest in terms of experience and he was in his 2nd year in 2018. Bura was in his 4th. Djoos barely played...anyone else?

I guess, but that lineup wasn’t winning a first round matchup against Florida either.

if you can show me a recent clear cut example of a Caps youngster outplaying a vet for his same specific role out of camp, and getting the shaft, I‘m all ears….

I think the coaching staff will select the player’s they think they can win the most regular season games with. I hope the kids can outplay some vets, but I’m not whining when the roster comes out either.

Why do you always add extra qualifiers the second and third time around? “Show me youth” becomes “show me young regulars” and now this has to suddenly be right out of camp, and we can’t just look at last year over the course of the year?

In that case I guess Siegenthaler and Chara is a good place to start

 

[John Price]