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

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

I don't use spreadsheets any more. I use neural networks and cloud AI.

I also utilize the blockchain. It takes me 4 hours and 15 megawatts of power to retrieve the final score of a game. I am single-handedly responsible for the destruction of 2000 acres of rainforest every year.

Go Caps!

ChatGPTwabby

 

[twabby]

Mantha is one of the few forwards that has actually posted better numbers with Kuznetsov than without him this year. And Mantha is a perfect complement for Kuznetsov when it comes to providing some defensive aptitude. I'd pair those two together. I think 2 games as a scratch is probably enough for Mantha to get the message.

I guess Wilson has to play 2RW because otherwise they'd have either Oshie or Wilson playing LW on the third line and that doesn't seem ideal.

As everyone else has said go back to Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary on the first line. It was working and they need lines that work.

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Mantha-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Milano-Backstrom-Oshie
Johansson-Dowd-Hathaway

They can't keep making the lineup all wonky just to have Eller in it. He's not good enough to do that to the rest of the team. He should be fighting with the other healthy scratches right now to earn a lineup spot.

I'm also putting Johansson back on PP1 and getting Kuznetsov off the first unit.

 

[twabby]

I also don't want this to be overlooked either: the players just have to play better. It's not all the coaches' fault.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Eller Eller Eller…like a dog with a bone…


Forget $8 mil a year Kuzy sucking ass too much when you can focus on a lesser player who makes less money and less impact.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I feel like Lavi is making this way more complicated that it needs to be. This is what he should run:

8-17-73
15-92-43
39-19-77
90-26-21

And Eller can be available (along with some combos of Mantha or Mojo) for one of the 2 bottom 6 LW spots.

We know that top line works. Wilson helps shelter Kuzy and Milano defensively, plus Kuzy and Wilson have worked well together for years. Mantha helps shelter Nick, and provides him another good playmaker/scorer to go with Oshie. Remember: 39-19-77 was a pretty successful line last year, when healthy.

Boom - you’re basically just left trying to figure out which 2 out of Mojo, Eller, and Mantha you really need in the lineup on a nightly basis. So, just experiment with those bottom 6 LW spots, without blowing up the whole friggin’ team.

My preference would be for Nick to gradually play well enough to phase out Eller, and for Mantha to get out of the doghouse, resulting in the above lines.

Very much this. These lines. Stop f***ing around and make it so. If you need to flip Oshie and Wilson, that’s fine. Can also flip Marge and Mo. I thought Mo was good w the 4th line. Marge’s speed would be good for Backstrom.

But stop being a dick, Lavi.

 

[twabby]

Eller Eller Eller…like a dog with a bone…

Hey Lars might not be the most intelligent hockey player in the world, but that's just rude!

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Eller Eller Eller…like a dog with a bone…


Forget $8 mil a year Kuzy sucking ass too much when you can focus on a lesser player who makes less money and less impact.

Kuznetsov sucks ass in many regards but he’s an elite playmaker and he’s actually a pretty good penalty killer. Eller is average at some things and good at…? I think that Kuzy is probably the most overpaid player on the team for what he brings but I also think that this team can’t win without Kuznetsov playing at a top level. Eller doesn’t have that ability to elevate the team so the infatuation with him from the coaching staff is frustrating. He’s not a difference maker. At his best he’s an above average 3C which is valuable but he’s not that player any more and, assuming Nick comes back to some semblance of form, he’s the worst center on the roster. The fifth best center normally doesn’t play. Is he so good that it’s worth playing him out of position when there are better options in Mantha and NAK on the bench?

I have no problem having him compete with Johansson for that 4LW spot but the fact that he’s entrenched in a lineup when his play and production hasn’t earned him that right is why people are hatin’.

Also, I don’t have any problems benching Backstrom if he can’t hack it. His comeback is a great story but if he’s not one of the twelve best forwards he shouldn’t be playing. He’s afforded some latitude to get back into shape because of how good he can be (and let’s be real, because of his cap hit) but it’s a disservice to the locker room to play him just because of the name on his jersey and the size of his paycheck. I guess after typing that out, that’s my biggest issue with Lavi. He has standards for some that are higher than others and he gives the benefit of the doubt to some and not others.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Kuznetsov sucks ass in many regards but he’s an elite playmaker and he’s actually a pretty good penalty killer. Eller is average at some things and good at…? I think that Kuzy is probably the most overpaid player on the team for what he brings but I also think that this team can’t win without Kuznetsov playing at a top level. Eller doesn’t have that ability to elevate the team so the infatuation with him from the coaching staff is frustrating. He’s not a difference maker. At his best he’s an above average 3C which is valuable but he’s not that player any more and, assuming Nick comes back to some semblance of form, he’s the worst center on the roster. The fifth best center normally doesn’t play. Is he so good that it’s worth playing him out of position when there are better options in Mantha and NAK on the bench?

I have no problem having him compete with Johansson for that 4LW spot but the fact that he’s entrenched in a lineup when his play and production hasn’t earned him that right is why people are hatin’.

Also, I don’t have any problems benching Backstrom if he can’t hack it. His comeback is a great story but if he’s not one of the twelve best forwards he shouldn’t be playing. He’s afforded some latitude to get back into shape because of how good he can be (and let’s be real, because of his cap hit) but it’s a disservice to the locker room to play him just because of the name on his jersey and the size of his paycheck. I guess after typing that out, that’s my biggest issue with Lavi. He has standards for some that are higher than others and he gives the benefit of the doubt to some and not others.

8 million vs 3…….the constant ignoring of a massive expensive wart to focus a much less impactful (wart) player is frustrating.

Kuzy smiles and has nice dangles and celly’s when he’s trying….I get it, but no less frustrating, in fact much more so IMO.

As a manager of people, I’m sure you understand the dynamics that necessitate this at times….and who cares if we need a guy who won’t deliver the top-level performance we require to advance In the playoffs?

 

[bacchist]

Kuzy takes a bunch of dumb penalties, and he somehow gets away with at least a couple that should get called every game. I'm not sure what the answer is with him, but I don't think 1C is where he belongs.

 

[YippieKaey]

Not sure why Mantha doesn't hang out in front of the net more, since that's where all the goals he doesn't score live. He has the size to establish and hold position, and everyone tells me his hands are good, but you can't really see it when he's mostly taking perimeter shots. I mean Sheary and MoJo go to the front of the net more than Mantha, and that makes no sense. Don't need Mantha to be crushing people into the boards, but the most obvious way for a forward with size to make a difference is net-front,

This is why he's scratched at the moment. Lavi agrees with you

 

[Devil Dancer]

I guess Kuzy bought some rope with a pretty good 2021-2022 season, and he still flashes elite skill.

Eller has neither of those advantages.

 

[twabby]

I actually don't think it's a bad idea to give Kuznetsov a healthy scratch or two if it's what will motivate him. They need his best form if they are going to make any noise in the postseason and he's not on a good path to be at that point come April.

 

[Drakon]

This is why he's scratched at the moment. Lavi agrees with you

You have no idea why he's scratched.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

8 million vs 3…….the constant ignoring of a massive expensive wart to focus a much less impactful (wart) player is frustrating.

Kuzy smiles and has nice dangles and celly’s when he’s trying….I get it, but no less frustrating, in fact much more so IMO.

As a manager of people, I’m sure you understand the dynamics that necessitate this at times….and who cares if we need a guy who won’t deliver the top-level performance we require to advance In the playoffs?

Who is ignoring it? Everyone has said Kuzy needs to step it up, including the coach and GM and pretty much every poster here.

Two things can be true at once. Kuznetsov’s contract and play don’t line up and he’s a maddening player but he’s still one of the most important players to the team and Eller makes less money, isn’t as important, and shouldn’t be playing over others not getting a sweater.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Who is ignoring it? Everyone has said Kuzy needs to step it up, including the coach and GM and pretty much every poster here.

Two things can be true at once. Kuznetsov’s contract and play don’t line up and he’s a maddening player but he’s still one of the most important players to the team and Eller makes less money, isn’t as important, and shouldn’t be playing over others not getting a sweater.

Constantly overlooked by comparison…..come on. He’s in no way one of the most important playing like a run of the mill 2C, which….is a pretty constant thing.

I can’t help but roll my eyes about cries of accountability and equality for all when this guy mentally loafs his way through season after season is all…..anyway…..next game up!

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Constantly overlooked by comparison…..come on.

You’re seeing what you want to here. Kuznetsov was the most scrutinized player on these boards last off-season and last year. The GM called him out. Lavi called him out. People wanted him traded. Calling him overlooked by comparison is purely revisionist history.

There’s also the case that there was no clear replacement for Kuznetsov already on the roster. In order to move forward without Kuznetsov there had to be a big move made. That’s not the case with Eller. There are better players than Eller, right now, on the roster, who didn’t play last night. Very different situations.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

You’re seeing what you want to here. Kuznetsov was the most scrutinized player on these boards last off-season and last year. The GM called him out. Lavi called him out. People wanted him traded. Calling him overlooked by comparison is purely revisionist history.

There’s also the case that there was no clear replacement for Kuznetsov already on the roster. In order to move forward without Kuznetsov there had to be a big move made. That’s not the case with Eller. There are better players than Eller, right now, on the roster, who didn’t play last night. Very different situations.

funny, was going to suggest the same to you.

By like 6 posters including myself. But when he was discussed as a trade candidate…..”no…we can’t do that, we can’t get value or replace him so we might as well keep him”.

And no…..Hagelin was EASILY the most scrutinized most of the season until his injury.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

funny, was going to suggest the same to you.

By like 6 posters including myself. But when he was discussed as a trade candidate…..”no…we can’t do that, we can’t get value or replace him so we might as well keep him”.

And no…..Hagelin was EASILY the most scrutinized most of the season until his injury.

Thanks for making the point. We’re kind of stuck with Kuzy. We’re not stuck with Eller. Therein lies the source of frustration.

And it was the same thing with Hagelin. Why trade for and pay Hagelin when you had cheaper young guys ready for a shot?

Also, if you remember, the usage of the fourth line was the real source of frustration Lavi playing them down a goal with two minutes left drove people up the wall.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Thanks for making the point. We’re kind of stuck with Kuzy. We’re not stuck with Eller. Therein lies the source of frustration.

And it was the same thing with Hagelin. Why trade and pay Hagelin when you had cheaper young guys ready for a shot?

How are we stuck with Kuzy? Are people really that unimaginative?

I only brought up Hags to refute your obvious inaccuracies in saying Kuzy was the most scrutinized last year….simply not true.

Maybe youre confusing it with the year before because 78pts in 79 games last year…..even I was happy with the guy.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

How are we stuck with Kuzy? Are people really that unimaginative?

People here have huuuuuuuge imaginations, come on now

But the salary cap is real and moving an overpaid and underperforming $8M center on the wrong side of 30 and getting real value in return that doesn’t totally slam this window shut is a tough needle to thread.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

People here have huuuuuuuge imaginations, come on now

But the salary cap is real and moving an overpaid and underperforming $8M center on the wrong side of 30 and getting real value in return that doesn’t totally slam this window shut is a tough needle to thread.

The value is retooling your team and removing a guy from a critical position who fails you repeatedly.

 

[bacchist]

I'd welcome any reasonable trade for Kuzy. Personally, I don't care about getting max return on him. I just want to move on.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

The value is retooling your team and removing a guy from a critical position who fails you repeatedly.

I think you’re arguing with the wrong person on this because I said last year I’d trade Kuzy if the right package was available. I’m not giving him away but if there’s a move or series of moves that makes this team better they absolutely should do it.

I have no attachment to any player except Ovi. If there’s a way to make this team better they should do it. The only person whose lineup spot is guaranteed and who absolutely has to end his career in DC is #8. Nicky would be nice too but that’s more complicated.

 

[YippieKaey]

You have no idea why he's scratched.

Yes. Mantha himself stated that his lack of effort was the reason.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think you’re arguing with the wrong person on this because I said last year I’d trade Kuzy if the right package was available. I’m not giving him away but if there’s a move or series of moves that makes this team better they absolutely should do it.

I have no attachment to any player except Ovi. If there’s a way to make this team better they should do it. The only person whose lineup spot is guaranteed and who absolutely has to end his career in DC is #8. Nicky would be nice too but that’s more complicated.

I didn’t bring up your individual position on trading him…..it was in discussion as the theme of the boards, as you were contending in the scrutinization point.

My overall point is we don‘t need to necessarily win a direct hockey trade to move on from him successfully.

Reality is, GMBM could have made a great trade this summer after a good season from him….to redirect this top-6, but didn’t…..so we have to hope Kuzy doesn’t play like an idiot each night for 2+ more years.

Anyway….moving on….this isn’t that interesting. I’m certainly not banging the drum for a Kuzy trade today any more than I am for any good hockey trade involving anyone not #8.