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

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think JR just exemplifies the “I’m a dick, don’t I seem entertaining? No?” stereotypical jock mentality..nothing to do with Nationalities….

 

[twabby]

I don’t know what a Meier extension comes in at. Probably 8 x $8.X million.

I say do it! Seems like exactly the type of player Washington needs and Meier likely has many good years left that will overlap with the end of the Ovechkin era.

 

[Brian23]

I dunno how comfortable I am trading a bunch of assets, and then a bunch of cap money, for a winger who's probably not gonna get premier time on the PP. I think if they were looking or a splash, it has to be at center. If I was looking at anyone like that, with that cost point, I'd be looking at Elias Pettersson.

 

[BobRossColton]

How has strome been for you guys?

 

[twabby]

I dunno how comfortable I am trading a bunch of assets, and then a bunch of cap money, for a winger who's probably not gonna get premier time on the PP. I think if they were looking or a splash, it has to be at center. If I was looking at anyone like that, with that cost point, I'd be looking at Elias Pettersson.

I’d give up a lot for Pettersson but I find it hard to believe he’s available or will be available any time soon. Larkin might end up being available but I still think he ends up re-signing in Detroit. I don’t like Horvat as a fit at all.

It’s hard for me to find a good fit at center who is actually available. With Mantha in the doghouse they have a gaping hole in the top 6 wing as well. Maybe shelling out a lot of money to a winger isn’t ideal, but I think they also need to hedge against Ovechkin continuing to decline as a playdriving force at ES. Meier would likely instantly become their best ES forward. I think that’s worth a lot.

I also don’t agree that they couldn’t feature Meier on the PP. There’s no reason the setup will continue to be the way it is now and there are plenty of ways to feature him as a shooter on the opposite side of Ovechkin for example.

 

[Brian23]

With Mantha in the doghouse they have a gaping hole in the top 6 wing as well.

Do they though? I guess, because I ascribe to the belief you can't, or really shouldn't, put Ovi, Backstrom, or Oshie on the same line anymore. Like, I'd see our team as pretty set with this.

Ovi - Strome - Sheary
Milano - Kuz - Oshie
?? - Backstrom - Wilson

And I think that opening can/shoudl be filled with what we have on hand. If you keep Mantha, and Lavi pulls his head out of his ass, he fits perfectly as an all arounder. I think if you want it to be more defensive focused, Protas fits that slot. Though Eller can fill it too. If you want it to be a little more offensively focused, maybe puck control, Mojo fits it.

Unless you're unloading Kuzya, which would necessitate a center coming back, I just don't see a forward slot that they should fill this year.

 

[twabby]

Do they though? I guess, because I ascribe to the belief you can't, or really shouldn't, put Ovi, Backstrom, or Oshie on the same line anymore. Like, I'd see our team as pretty set with this.

Ovi - Strome - Sheary
Milano - Kuz - Oshie
?? - Backstrom - Wilson

And I think that opening can/shoudl be filled with what we have on hand. If you keep Mantha, and Lavi pulls his head out of his ass, he fits perfectly as an all arounder. I think if you want it to be more defensive focused, Protas fits that slot. Though Eller can fill it too. If you want it to be a little more offensively focused, maybe puck control, Mojo fits it.

Unless you're unloading Kuzya, which would necessitate a center coming back, I just don't see a forward slot that they should fill this year.

I don’t think Mantha is in their plans unfortunately. Otherwise maybe Meier shouldn’t be a target.

I just don’t think their top-end forwards are good enough and it’s not like they have any in the prospect pipeline that will come in next year and be a reliable top 6 player. They always struggle to score in the postseason and as noted earlier Marcus Johansson is their second leading goal-scorer this year. That’s not good.

Besides Ovechkin who can they really count on to score? Sheary is a nice player but he’s not that guy. Oshie is more and more becoming a power play specialist. Wilson is probably their only other forward you could say can score at a reliable clip at 5v5. Maybe Milano but he’s unproven. They need more IMO and Meier is probably the best guy available to do that. It also doesn’t hurt that he tilts the ice even more than Mantha does.

 

[aonb]

I would kill for Meier. Volume shoter and good player overall

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

How has strome been for you guys?

Terrific. Probably our second best forward behind Ovechkin. He’s got such a high hockey IQ that his lack of speed doesn’t seem to be a problem. Not hyperbole to say without him the Caps are probably looking at a lost season.

 

[Hivemind]

Do they though? I guess, because I ascribe to the belief you can't, or really shouldn't, put Ovi, Backstrom, or Oshie on the same line anymore. Like, I'd see our team as pretty set with this.

Ovi - Strome - Sheary
Milano - Kuz - Oshie
?? - Backstrom - Wilson

And I think that opening can/shoudl be filled with what we have on hand. If you keep Mantha, and Lavi pulls his head out of his ass, he fits perfectly as an all arounder. I think if you want it to be more defensive focused, Protas fits that slot. Though Eller can fill it too. If you want it to be a little more offensively focused, maybe puck control, Mojo fits it.

Unless you're unloading Kuzya, which would necessitate a center coming back, I just don't see a forward slot that they should fill this year.

They definitely do. There's a real risk that Ovechkin is this team's only 20 goal scorer the way this season is unfolding. Sheary hasn't scored since December 27th and is in a 6 game pointless drought. Oshie is bound to get hurt again before the end of the season. They definitely need some secondary scoring help, and center is over-filled.

 

[Brian23]

They definitely do. There's a real risk that Ovechkin is this team's only 20 goal scorer the way this season is unfolding. Sheary hasn't scored since December 27th and is in a 6 game pointless drought. Oshie is bound to get hurt again before the end of the season. They definitely need some secondary scoring help, and center is over-filled.

But, how do you do it with those guys all playing? Sure, you could upgrade Sheary but you're probably not getting anywhere near the same level of performance per dollar on an upgrade of his slot.

The reality is, someone from the core needs to be swapped out and I'm not sure they'll be willing to do that. The realistic ones are Oshie or Kuznetsov, but neither are probably gonna return their value back. So they're just kinda stuck.

 

[Hivemind]

But, how do you do it with those guys all playing? Sure, you could upgrade Sheary but you're probably not getting anywhere near the same level of performance per dollar on an upgrade of his slot.

The reality is, someone from the core needs to be swapped out and I'm not sure they'll be willing to do that. The realistic ones are Oshie or Kuznetsov, but neither are probably gonna return their value back. So they're just kinda stuck.

Whoever you trade away (Mantha or Sheary) plus benching Eller frees up the spot.

 

[Langway]

I'd be surprised if they swing a refreshing impact forward trade. Maybe in the off-season after some serious reflection and strategically deciding to move on from a core player or two. As-is I'm not sure they're prepared to ante up prime assets and an extension to a Meier/Horvat.

Maybe a Patty Kane makes sense at a particular price point with Mantha and more headed out. I don't know how well-rounded or spirited a battler Kane would be but his on the puck creativity is probably still there. He may have more left in the tank playing for a team with something on the line, though maybe not a ton more given some of his limitations. He could be something of a PP boon. He fits from an age/experience standpoint for them typically. Maybe there are some other more offensive-minded value targets out there...Tarasenko? Domi? Meh. They need to fully invest in getting the most out of Mantha. Not easy but strategically it's better than to just write him off entirely and plan on trading your way into something any better. I'm not sure they'd manage it barring a lot else heading with him.

 

[Corby78]

I don’t trade futures for this team. It’s going nowhere and it’s a waste. Trade Mantha and or Eller for a bag of pucks and get more of the kids back up here.

Of course it would also be nice to see Hershey make a run so maybe we just do nothing.

 

[ovikovy817]

Lower body for Ovi.
I would expect upper body because he received few slashes in the past games.

Hope he's gonna be ok. And back soon.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I’d bring Bruce back for nostalgia if nothing else. If the franchise isn’t serious about winning now let’s at least be entertained. (Not saying that is the case but I’ve been told by people on this board that the only thing that matters is the goal record)

 

[usiel]

Would enjoy BB coming back for the caps post game show like he's done in the past.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Would enjoy BB coming back for the caps post game show like he's done in the past.

Just give him Forsythe’s job.

 

[Hivemind]

Just give him Forsythe’s job.

I generally don't support the "former head coach looking over the shoulder of the current coach" thing, but given that Lavi's rope might be running out anyway...

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I generally don't support the "former head coach looking over the shoulder of the current coach" thing, but given that Lavi's rope might be running out anyway...

I hope you're right but I don't get the sense that Lavi's on the hot seat at all.

 

[Hivemind]

I hope you're right but I don't get the sense that Lavi's on the hot seat at all.

Expiring contract and still no extension. There were rumors earlier in the year, but I'm assuming their slumping performance and thin grasp on a playoff position are pushing that out of the equation. Without an extension in place, it still seems that change is looming.

 

[895]

Lavi is gone unless the team wins a round or two.

 

[twabby]

NHL Player Cards: Washington Capitals

Data visualizations for each relevant player on the Washington Capitals, stylized as hockey cards.

theathletic.com

A lot of surplus value on the blue line. Not so much at forward, though I suspect Wilson’s numbers will improve shortly.

Hard to ignore Kuznetsov, Oshie, and Backstrom all making a combined $22.75M per year against the cap and basically being replacement level or worse. I think Backstrom should get the rest of this season before we pass judgment on what he might be going forward (and he’s surely a Capital for life regardless), but if this season goes sideways they have to look at moving Kuznetsov and Oshie in order to reshape the team going forward. Not to mention moving on from lesser players like Eller and Mantha who also aren’t providing value for their contracts.

 

[kicksavedave]

Expiring contract and still no extension. There were rumors earlier in the year, but I'm assuming their slumping performance and thin grasp on a playoff position are pushing that out of the equation. Without an extension in place, it still seems that change is looming.

Where have I seen that formula work out before??? Someone help this old guy jog his memory

Lavi is gone unless the team wins a round or two.

He's probably gone of they win the Cup too.

That's just a little bit of history repeating.

 

[895]

Hard to ignore Kuznetsov, Oshie, and Backstrom all making a combined $22.75M per year against the cap and basically being replacement level or worse. I think Backstrom should get the rest of this season before we pass judgment on what he might be going forward (and he’s surely a Capital for life regardless), but if this season goes sideways they have to look at moving Kuznetsov and Oshie in order to reshape the team going forward. Not to mention moving on from lesser players like Eller and Mantha who also aren’t providing value for their contracts.

Who could have predicted that Oshie would decline into a frequently injured replacement level player on an albatross deal for the last few years of his contract? A stunning development.