Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2022-23 Season Part 3: Drop the puck!

[max21]

Can Peter Laviolette punch Mantha in the back of the head first before they punt him?

Worth a shot, anyway.

I think I watched this gif 100 times

 

[Rayquaza64]

i hope snively clears, that hershey lineup would be absolutely insane

 

[Raikkonen]

honestly im scared NB wont handle it much better than Jovo

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

hahahaha no way daniel sprong is 3rd in 5v5 g/60 and 4th in 5v5 pts/60 (min 250 toi) in the entire nhl

 

[Monsterrain]

So are they going to pull the kucherov move where carlson sits and comes back for the playoffs?

 

[twabby]

hahahaha no way daniel sprong is 3rd in 5v5 g/60 and 4th in 5v5 pts/60 (min 250 toi) in the entire nhl

I remember that goal too! So funny.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

hahahaha no way daniel sprong is 3rd in 5v5 g/60 and 4th in 5v5 pts/60 (min 250 toi) in the entire nhl

Mojo is better on the team anyways.

 

[The Instigator]

Honestly Daniel Sprong could be top 5 total points in the whole NHL and I still wouldn't miss him.

 

[Jags]

My point is more than they've kind of created this self-fulfilling prophecy with many of these controversial players.

Controversial player has decent (or in some cases, very good) per-60 stats.
Controversial player ends up lower in the line-up, playing with less talented linemates and with zero powerplay time.
Despite controversial player producing well in the ice time and situations they get, their total boxcar stats aren't overly impressive.
Unimpressive total box cars are used as justification to push player further down (and then eventually out of) the line-up.

I agree. The recipe is a little different with young players, but with the same result.

I don't really have an issue with the power play time Mantha doesn't get. I'm more concerned with the PP time Kuznetsov DOES get. He's abysmal on the man advantage. Too many low-percentage shots from him. We're good when we cycle and he has that gift, but his shooting tendency is way too high. Mojo down low, Strome on the half wall works really well. In the stretches it didn't we always had a sub at the bumper spot.

But yeah, we do need to recognize that Mantha's actual 5v5 production versus his dodgy deployments has yielded solid results, despite what the eye test says sometimes. I don't get him being a doghouse guy, especially with other forwards contributing less that aren't getting the same discipline.

Maybe there's an attitude issue or whatever, but it doesn't make sense on paper at all.

 

[Jags]

I remember that goal too! So funny.

I like the red Weagles.

 

[DWGie26]

So are they going to pull the kucherov move where carlson sits and comes back for the playoffs?

They could but it won’t be for salary Cap unless we bring someone else in. After a month on LTIR his daily cap will fit through the end of the year.

I still think we should get a RD.

 

[Baszie]

hahahaha no way daniel sprong is 3rd in 5v5 g/60 and 4th in 5v5 pts/60 (min 250 toi) in the entire nhl

He is actually 2nd in 5v5 g/60 and 1th in 5v5 in pts/60 after today’s game.

Top 3 in 5v5 g/60 over the last 3 seasons: Matthews, Vrana, Sprong

 

[RedRocking]

I agree. The recipe is a little different with young players, but with the same result.

I don't really have an issue with the power play time Mantha doesn't get. I'm more concerned with the PP time Kuznetsov DOES get. He's abysmal on the man advantage. Too many low-percentage shots from him. We're good when we cycle and he has that gift, but his shooting tendency is way too high. Mojo down low, Strome on the half wall works really well. In the stretches it didn't we always had a sub at the bumper spot.

But yeah, we do need to recognize that Mantha's actual 5v5 production versus his dodgy deployments has yielded solid results, despite what the eye test says sometimes. I don't get him being a doghouse guy, especially with other forwards contributing less that aren't getting the same discipline.

Maybe there's an attitude issue or whatever, but it doesn't make sense on paper at all.

Yea, I liked earlier in the season when Kuzy was demoted to PP2. His decision-making is frantic, tons of spinning, no-look passes to no one, and when he decides to shoot he telegraphs for like 30 seconds with a big wind up.

I like Strome running the PP, but it will be interesting to see if Nick immediately steps back in on the top unit.

They really do need to put Ovi back with Strome. Kuzy is too erratic, turning the puck over with those blind passes through the slot (which often to lead to breaks and goals the other way). Such an exasperating guy.

I think Mantha’s body language (kinda like JC74) really gives an out-sized impression that he’s dogging it out there. He did seem to respond after being benched in the 2nd last game - he does have a higher motor when he wants to, so I can understand Lavi’s frustration with him.

 

[twabby]

I still think we should get a RD.

I think they should go D but I’m not sure I’d limit it to RD.

Assuming Carlson is back for the postseason I see 5 spots that are currently locked up: Carlson, Gustafsson, Orlov, Jensen, and TVR.

Fehervary has shown some improvement defensively but his offensive playdriving has suffered greatly as a result. For a team that is desperate for offense in the postseason I think it would be wise to look for an upgrade over him in the lineup.

I said it before but I think Shayne Gostisbehere is the guy they should realistically target. He’s very good at driving play offensively at 5v5, he sports the best penalty differential WAR over the past 3 years along with Cale Makar, and he’s capable of playing top 4 minutes and the PP in case of injury. He’s also versatile enough to play LD or RD, which seems like a useful thing for a team likely to be without Carlson until the postseason. And as mentioned earlier if for whatever reason they can’t come to terms with Orlov or Gustafsson for new contracts they’d have the inside track on signing Gostisbehere.

 

[Hivemind]

I like the red Weagles.

Screagle (Screaming Eagle)

The Weagle is the W-Eagle - this thing:

 

[HTFN]

I think I watched this gif 100 times

I can’t remember who it is anymore but dude has this look on his face like “did I just get punched in the f***ing head? okay.” And every loop adds more color lol

 

[Raikkonen]

it has to be ville leino, right?

 

[The Instigator]

it has to be ville leino, right?

Tale as old as time.

He'll go on a good run, some GM will think he's more than what he is, he'll get his contract, he'll get more ice time, play against tougher line matchups, and those per 60s will coming spiraling down.

 

[Portable Mink]

I don’t think I’ve seen MoJo play as well ever as he has for us this season. Is great in tight spaces and keeps his speed. Call me shocked.

 

[g00n]

I don’t think I’ve seen MoJo play as well ever as he has for us this season. Is great in tight spaces and keeps his speed. Call me shocked.

He was good in the playoffs last year, too. If he wasn't I doubt they'd have brought him back.

 

[twabby]

I think these are the right choices for now. Both will likely get another opportunity, but right now the best 12 forwards are going to be playing tonight.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I think these are the right choices for now. Both will likely get another opportunity, but right now the best 12 forwards are going to be playing tonight.

I’m going to be surprised if Mantha isn’t traded at the deadline. He is now officially in Lavi’s dog house and that is hard to get out of.

 

[Devil Dancer]

What a wild season this has been, and it's only game 42.

I still have no idea where this team is going. So much depends on Backstrom's hip and Wilson's knee. And Carlson's recovery.

 

[895]

Mantha scratched? Oh no we've lost the trade again!

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I’m going to be surprised if Mantha isn’t traded at the deadline. He is now officially in Lavi’s dog house and that is hard to get out of.

I wonder if he’s not nursing an injury. He was playing well enough that Lavi promoted him to a top six role and his play promptly has fallen off a cliff. As someone who thinks he was a fairly solid and under appreciated player I have no problem admitting that he’s been abysmal the past few weeks.

Still, the trade deadline is two months away. Guys could get injured or Backstrom’s awesome story could easily have a short and unhappy ending if his hip doesn’t hold up and then there’s a need for him again.