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

[g00n]

The fact that Kane is still racking up point on this Chicago team is a testament for his amazing offensive skill he has in him. I couldn't care less about his defensive game when nobody on that team could have great stats when playing on that dumpster of a team we call Chicago Blackhawks. Also it's not like our stars are some defensive stalwarts lol.

We said the same thing about Mantha.

A sniper putting up points on a bad team is not all that amazing. They don't have to worry about winning games or protecting close leads. They can just f*** around and look for chances to score, sometimes against teams that take them lightly or back off after going up a few goals.

Much harder to put up good defensive numbers on a bad team.

 

[Corby78]

I honestly don’t see a move out there that propels them to a serious contender. We aren’t that close IMO. Either guys like Eller/Mantha/Kuzy start playing at their potential more than once every five games or we are screwed no matter what move they make. Keep what little prospect value we have and tell the boys it’s a prove it spring. Either play hockey or get moved in the off-season to arizona

 

[Langway]

We'd have to give up serious assets just to rent Kane for a couple months, and it'd only be worth it if it gave us a legit shot at a Cup. And it wouldn't. We're not one guy away from a Cup.

Put those same assets into a move (or moves) to acquire pieces that'll be around a while, clear one or two spots for prospects to make the jump next year. Smart, calculated turnover and asset management.

I'm not so sure it would take serious assets. The market is probably somewhat limited despite his name value. Are we thinking it takes a first rounder along with Mantha to get Chicago to retain 50%? If so, yeah, I agree. That's too rich. But if it's something like Mantha, a 2nd and someone like Suzdalev I'd think about it. Same with Tarasenko. Yeah, it probably doesn't move the needle much but it's a bit of a different look and it does clear out Mantha's cap hit for next season.

While you'd like for them to add more of a younger building block piece I don't tend to think they have that in them at the deadline. Even something like Kane or Tarasenko gets complicated when factoring in whether they want to keep open the possibility of Carlson returning before the playoffs. Kucheroving him has to be tempting but then there's game timing to consider in just inserting into G1.

As underwhelming as their scoring depth has been once you get Wilson & Dowd back and presumably sit Mantha & NAK I don't know who they'd look to sit next. Milano? Eller? I wouldn't be surprised if they just move out Mantha, add a depth D depending on Carlson's check-up and that's it. Maybe someone like Gostisbehere makes sense, allowing them the flexibility to be patient with Carlson and provide a lot of D pair options down the stretch. Integrating new D late can be tough but that's something that seems more up their alley compared to a forward (unless there are injuries). Mainly, I still don't know if they're at the point of doing something substantial and decisive. It seems more likely those level of decisions are all being punted until the off-season at the earliest.

 

[YippieKaey]

My first point is that IF, and it's a big if, we make the playoffs we're going to need goalscorers, not playmakers(we have 2-3 great ones) and Kane is a playmaker.

My second point is that we're nowhere close to a cup contender so giving up assets for a few months of a a 34-year old just throws the future further in the basement.

 

[bacchist]

But if it's something like Mantha, a 2nd and someone like Suzdalev I'd think about it.

I'd be devastated if they traded Suzdalev for some player on the back half of his career.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I'd be devastated if they traded Suzdalev for some player on the back half of his career.

I wouldn’t say I’d be devastated but I’d for sure be irritated. I was devastated when they traded Forsberg. Suzdalev isn’t on that tier in my opinion.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Twabby arguing for defense and to hell with offensive output?

Twilight zone

He’s always blown off actual Production for ice tilting (see Kuzy debate)…..

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I honestly don’t see a move out there that propels them to a serious contender. We aren’t that close IMO. Either guys like Eller/Mantha/Kuzy start playing at their potential more than once every five games or we are screwed no matter what move they make. Keep what little prospect value we have and tell the boys it’s a prove it spring. Either play hockey or get moved in the off-season to arizona

This is how I’m feeling…..unless they can improve the core (no big rentals), we should just suck it up, take our lumps as a puncher’s chance team and move forward…..no expensive rentals (cheap ones are ok)…..

 

[Langway]

I'd be devastated if they traded Suzdalev for some player on the back half of his career.

Suzdalev is going to need a lot of work still. It's nice that he's been somewhat productive and put himself on the radar more but he does stand out as someone whose value may currently be at its apex.

Kane has topped 40 goals twice. It's been a while. Certainly he's not a real hard area battler. They'd need to make yet more allowances for that sort of softer skilled player but he also could help rekindle some of the missing swagger 5v5 thanks to his skilled attacking mentality. That said I don't see them being overly ambitious with their forward mix and it may not be that great a fit with Lavi. They seem to prefer relying on depth and team defense. Lavi you'd think would prefer another defenseman and to just sort of plug away up front.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[twabby]

Weren’t you posting these about Johansson in the off-season and now obviously we don’t care and it doesn’t really matter anymore because it’s not happening like that here and now? I think it was Johansson, I can’t remember I just accidentally opened an early page in the acquisitions thread like “we’re talking about this again?” before realizing.

Doesn’t have to be as simple as looking at bar graphs either, and I would think there’s something to be said for trusting the Caps D and goalies to swing the daily balance in their favor. There’s also something to be said for playoff Kane as a separate entity because that’s what you’re buying, not a three year compilation

Fair enough. I know I wasn’t high on bringing Johansson back but he has fit in wonderfully.

It’s always possible that Kane could fit like a glove, but I just don’t see it. He’s another opportunistic playmaker and scorer on a team that I think needs high-end playdrivers. The past 4 postseasons haven’t seen Washington beaten by hot goalies, but rather beaten because they can never sustain possession in the offensive zone. Kane doesn’t really provide that nowadays. I fear he’d just be another Kuznetsov but on the wing.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I dont want Kane and think Its a pipe dream with his NMC. It does remind me a bit like what the Hawks were dealing with MAF last deadline. I dont think they ended up getting the price most fans were thinking.

But just for fun I think Strome played with Kane last season so they have some history there
Ovie Strome Kane line would be fun to watch

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Don’t have to make tough lineup choices if people are always injured. Smart.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

They should leave Ovi-Strome-Sheary together and tell everyone else to figure their shit out.

 

[Jacoby4HOF66]

 

[Ridley Simon]

They should leave Ovi-Strome-Sheary together and tell everyone else to figure their shit out.

It’s a tad depressing that the Caps beat line is #20 overall. Far gone are the days of a top 3-6 overall line (or #1!)

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

It’s a tad depressing that the Caps beat line is #20 overall. Far gone are the days of a top 3-6 overall line (or #1!)

Yeah, you’re not wrong. But New Jersey doesn’t have a line at all. And Tampa and Pittsburgh both only have one line and they’re lower on the list than Washington.

 

[Calicaps]

No on Kane, except on the very cheap. Like @Corby78 said, this team's more than one talented veteran away from contention so giving up assets for said vet--or really anything shy of a gamebreaking youngster (and who would that even be?)--makes no sense. This coming offseason has quite plainly always been pegged as the "refresh" year with lots of contracts expiring. I expect/hope BMac's plan is to just let this season play out and then make probably significant changes in the summer. (Though I suspect many here will be disappointed when 77, 74, and 43 don't get traded.)

 

[bacchist]

Sounds like he won't be Wilsoning again any time soon.

 

[twabby]

I mentioned it earlier but a team like Buffalo or Ottawa would be wise to pony up the big bucks for Jensen if he makes it to UFA.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I mentioned it earlier but a team like Buffalo or Ottawa would be wise to pony up the big bucks for Jensen if he makes it to UFA.

So stop mentioning it! The internet has eyes and ears man!!!!!!!

Stop sabotaging this outfit!!!

 

[ovikovy817]

Don’t have to make tough lineup choices if people are always injured. Smart.

I'm laughing but it's seems like this team play a good hockey when they have to face injuries.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

That Timo guy is pretty good. Also, check out #18 on the list. Happy for Sprong that he’s succeeding elsewhere, I really liked his game here and his speed and skill would be a big boost to this lineup.

 

[Brian23]

So, what happened to those victory laps that were being run a month ago?

Pettiness aside, I really do wonder if that stretch was just a heater of a run for the team and the current play is more indicative of what they are.

 

[Hivemind]

Pettiness aside, I really do wonder if that stretch was just a heater of a run for the team and the current play is more indicative of what they are.

Teams will go thru peaks and valleys. We've seen a lot more of the team playing at this level during this season (and recent past) than we have of that peak-level play. While it may not be as bad as today's game, their "true talent" level is closer to January than it is to December I think.