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

[HecticGlow]

They’ve basically upgraded Eller for an extra $1.5million, assuming they keep Backstrom, Kuzy and Dowd. Having had only one top six calibre centre for long stretches of the last two years, and parts of the year before, I don’t see a problem with adding another top-6 centre to your mix long term. Cups are won based on center depth and defence more than wings.

Ovi-Strome-XXX
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Protas-Dowd-Malenstyn

Even assuming none of Mojo, Sheary, Eller, Hathaway or Mantha are on the team next year (and I’d be surprised if one or two aren’t kept), you’ve only one opening night hole of real significance. And that’s assuming neither CMM or Lapierre crack the roster.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

So when do the Caps sign Ethan Frank?

 

[SherVaughn30]

So when do the Caps sign Ethan Frank?

Maybe if they were to open up some more contract slots, then it could happen. There is a limit to how many players including prospects that you can sign to a contract.

 

[Raikkonen]

With Jensen, I see it that way. Caps arent in do or die mode with him. If he wants more than certain number GMBM should let him go.

So either Jensen really wants to stay a Cap and finds some common ground with GMBM or he will go for the best offer and that wont be in DC. Ball is on his side.

With Orlov I agree he will most probably sign some deal with the team. I dont think details matter if he can stay competitive for 3-4 years more. Id guess its something like 6Mx5Y actually.

If Jensen could PP his value would be higher for us. Gus is not good enough for 1LD so there is a hole in that D and Jensen shouldnt be the one eating all the money left.

I believe its better to upgrade 1LD and field something like this

X-Carlson
Orlov-Fever/TVR
Gus-TVR/Fever

comparing to paying Jensen through the nose

but then Gus will look for more money too and... welcome Irwin haha

ps: investing in C and top-4 D is totally ok
pps: doesnt match well with expensive wingers and that should be fixed

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Maybe if they were to open up some more contract slots, then it could happen. There is a limit to how many players including prospects that you can sign to a contract.

Right but feels like a prospect they should make room for.

 

[Hivemind]

I think my biggest concerns with the Strome and Milano extensions is that Orlov, Jensen, Gustafsson, and TVR remain unsigned. Tons of moving parts still left, and it could end up not being an issue - but they prioritized re-signing forward free agents (one of which would have been an RFA if qualified) over the defensemen and that certainly has risk given the amount of uncertainty on the blue line after this season and their lack of short-term D prospects. There's pretty much just Alexeyev (who's results have been middling), Johansen (who's already 25 and cannot stay healthy), and Iorio in the discussion to take a spot and none of them are likley to be able to backfill for what the 4 D UFAs have done for this team.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Trade Eller and sign and call up Frank. He could be a late bloomer like Martin St. Louis. I mean the risk is so low if it’s just about cap space and roster spots.

 

[YippieKaey]

They’ve basically upgraded Eller for an extra $1.5million, assuming they keep Backstrom, Kuzy and Dowd. Having had only one top six calibre centre for long stretches of the last two years, and parts of the year before, I don’t see a problem with adding another top-6 centre to your mix long term. Cups are won based on center depth and defence more than wings.

Ovi-Strome-XXX
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Protas-Dowd-Malenstyn

Even assuming none of Mojo, Sheary, Eller, Hathaway or Mantha are on the team next year (and I’d be surprised if one or two aren’t kept), you’ve only one opening night hole of real significance. And that’s assuming neither CMM or Lapierre crack the roster.

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Milano-Bäckström-Sheary
Snively-CMM-Brown
Protas-Dowd-Malenstyn/ XXX

 

[HecticGlow]

I think my biggest concerns with the Strome and Milano extensions is that Orlov, Jensen, Gustafsson, and TVR remain unsigned. Tons of moving parts still left, and it could end up not being an issue - but they prioritized re-signing forward free agents (one of which would have been an RFA if qualified) over the defensemen and that certainly has risk given the amount of uncertainty on the blue line after this season and their lack of short-term D prospects. There's pretty much just Alexeyev (who's results have been middling), Johansen (who's already 25 and cannot stay healthy), and Iorio in the discussion to take a spot and none of them are likley to be able to backfill for what the 4 D UFAs have done for this team.

Strome had arbitration rights GMBM likely wanted to avoid. In any case, handing both guys some term gives him cost certainty going into the next couple of years, which no doubt makes him feel more comfortable moving on from Eller and trading away guys like Mantha.

On the backend, the only guy I can realistically see them signing in a hurry is Gustafson (whose price is only going up). I suspect one of Jensen or TVR will be back, and they’ll be looking to a guy like Iorio or another cheap UFA bargain to fill 3RD. Orlov is the big question mark - he isn’t having a terrific year, only thrives next to a good defensively minded player (Niskanen and Jensen), and would command more on the open market than I think he is worth to the team.

 

[HecticGlow]

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Milano-Bäckström-Sheary
Snively-CMM-Brown
Protas-Dowd-Malenstyn/ XXX

If they’re wanting to compete next year (whether you think they should or not), I don’t see a scenario in which they pencil in CMM to replace Eller with Kuzy gone. He hasn’t yet shown he can thrive with meaningful minutes in the NHL, and at this moment in time the durability of Backstrom is still an unknown.

If anyone is going in the middle in that scenario, I’d think Protas is the more likely guy.

Also unsure if Brown is likely to return - unless he wants a one year ‘show me’ deal, he’s effectively still an unknown to the Caps and returning from a serious injury. My hunch is he walks.

 

[YippieKaey]

If they’re wanting to compete next year (whether you think they should or not), I don’t see a scenario in which they pencil in CMM to replace Eller with Kuzy gone. He hasn’t yet shown he can thrive with meaningful minutes in the NHL, and at this moment in time the durability of Backstrom is still an unknown.

If anyone is going in the middle in that scenario, I’d think Protas is the more likely guy.

Also unsure if Brown is likely to return - unless he wants a one year ‘show me’ deal, he’s effectively still an unknown to the Caps and returning from a serious injury. My hunch is he walks.

I dont think this Caps team will be very competitive next year. It would require Bäckström to play really good. And if they're not competing they should let CMM and/or Lapy get a full season in so we know what they are.

I agree on Protas, want to give him a bigger offensive role. And you're right about Brown although i do hope he returns.

 

[DWGie26]

This is about the right order of operations. Lock up a center you got cheap and now know he fits. Fair deal at 5x5 And it locks up a younger core piece. Similar with Milano in that you lock up a relatively cheap piece ala Sheary. If that is on the table you take it.

Assume GMBM is looking at options to move Mantha and Eller but not desperately so. That may not happen to deadline if at all.

As for Frank, we have 48/50 NHL contracts right now. We don’t need to sign him right now and probably prefer to keep those last two contracts open through the deadline. If there are contracts available after TDL that is when we probably sign Frank, but yeah, we need to sign him. Will be interesting to see if we can get him on a two-way deal or it needs to be 1-way. There will be other suitors calling his agent for sure.

Defense will be interesting. Like Gus a lot and he could be the next to get signed unless you want to hold a spot for Johanson (who is on a one-way contract next year) or Alexyev (Not been impressive). I also woundn’t sleep on Gabriel Carlsson grabbing that spot next year. Given what we have seen this year, I’d probably resign him despite him being 31 Next year But that is more out of disappointment from our prospects.

 

[Hivemind]

Skeptical Frank would get a 1-way contract. Plenty of AHL scorers ahead of him on 2-way deals (some with much more established track records).

 

[DWGie26]

Skeptical Frank would get a 1-way contract. Plenty of AHL scorers ahead of him on 2-way deals (some with much more established track records).

You could very well be right. I do think suitors will come calling. He is a pretty visible AHL player in his first year. Could force a one-way deal. If that is what we sign him to, it will because we had competition and had to give a one-way deal to lock him up. I could see a two-year deal with first being two-way and second being one-way like we did with Pilon, Malenstyn, and Johanson.

 

[Hivemind]

You could very well be right. I do think suitors will come calling. He is a pretty visible AHL player in his first year. Could force a one-way deal. If that is what we sign him to, it will because we had competition and had to give a one-way deal to lock him up. I could see a two-year deal with first being two-way and second being one-way like we did with Pilon, Malenstyn, and Johanson.

I think the fact that GMBM went 0-for-3 on those one-way bets may dissuade him from taking the same approach in the future. But who knows?

 

[DWGie26]

I think the fact that GMBM went 0-for-3 on those one-way bets may dissuade him from taking the same approach in the future. But who knows?

Wanted to keep them in the system… not a bad play. Pilon only 24 and could potentially be our 4RW next year. LuJo could be top 7 dee next year. Malenstyn likely to be 4LW. I like the fact that Caps are willing to pony up some money for insurance on getting people through the system.

We could progress 2-5 Bears to Caps next year. Frank, McMichael, Protas, Gabriel Carlsson, Pilon, Snively, Malenstyn all possible. Borgstrom, Sutter, and Rybinski also in the mix. Iorio and Lapierre probably need another year in Hershey but could also be in the mix.

That is why i think we need to walk from Sheary despite his utility. And from Hathaway despite his physical veteran presence.

 

[g00n]

This is about the right order of operations. Lock up a center you got cheap and now know he fits. Fair deal at 5x5 And it locks up a younger core piece. Similar with Milano in that you lock up a relatively cheap piece ala Sheary. If that is on the table you take it.

Assume GMBM is looking at options to move Mantha and Eller but not desperately so. That may not happen to deadline if at all.

As for Frank, we have 48/50 NHL contracts right now. We don’t need to sign him right now and probably prefer to keep those last two contracts open through the deadline. If there are contracts available after TDL that is when we probably sign Frank, but yeah, we need to sign him. Will be interesting to see if we can get him on a two-way deal or it needs to be 1-way. There will be other suitors calling his agent for sure.

Defense will be interesting. Like Gus a lot and he could be the next to get signed unless you want to hold a spot for Johanson (who is on a one-way contract next year) or Alexyev (Not been impressive). I also woundn’t sleep on Gabriel Carlsson grabbing that spot next year. Given what we have seen this year, I’d probably resign him despite him being 31 Next year But that is more out of disappointment from our prospects.

Regarding OOO as you mentioned, I may be misremembering but I think Gmbm may have gone the opposite direction with some bigger contracts first in the past and found himself needing to trim salary. That resulted in some criticized moves to dump cap.

So maybe he's adjusted and is now shoring up the smaller, lower hanging fruit first in order to pressure the agents of the more expensive players to take or leave a team-friendly deal due to cap space.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I think my biggest concerns with the Strome and Milano extensions is that Orlov, Jensen, Gustafsson, and TVR remain unsigned. Tons of moving parts still left, and it could end up not being an issue - but they prioritized re-signing forward free agents (one of which would have been an RFA if qualified) over the defensemen and that certainly has risk given the amount of uncertainty on the blue line after this season and their lack of short-term D prospects. There's pretty much just Alexeyev (who's results have been middling), Johansen (who's already 25 and cannot stay healthy), and Iorio in the discussion to take a spot and none of them are likley to be able to backfill for what the 4 D UFAs have done for this team.

I wouldn’t make assumptions that any one player was prioritized over others. While that *could* certainly be the case, it also may be about the other parties willingness to come to the table. And sign at a number that the team wanted.

I doubt any of these deals are done in a vacuum. I’d wager that they have been trading numbers with the players they intend to try and keep, and some moved faster than others. That they were forwards may simply be happenstance, not some internal need to get the forwards done first.

 

[GRob83]

They’ve basically upgraded Eller for an extra $1.5million, assuming they keep Backstrom, Kuzy and Dowd. Having had only one top six calibre centre for long stretches of the last two years, and parts of the year before, I don’t see a problem with adding another top-6 centre to your mix long term. Cups are won based on center depth and defence more than wings.

Ovi-Strome-XXX
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Protas-Dowd-Malenstyn

Even assuming none of Mojo, Sheary, Eller, Hathaway or Mantha are on the team next year (and I’d be surprised if one or two aren’t kept), you’ve only one opening night hole of real significance. And that’s assuming neither CMM or Lapierre crack the roster.

I don't see any way they can bring in a FA to fill 1RW once they have the defense sorted out. Hathaway should be re-signed and maybe Malentstyn can be 4LW. What makes you think Snively would have a bigger role than Protas? He had 1 assist in 6 games playing 12 minutes a night. That 3rd line would get slaughtered.

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Milano - Strome - Mantha
Protas - Backstrom - Oshie
Malenstyn - Dowd - Hathaway

I'd much rather have Sheary back than Mantha and let Snively, McMichael, Lapierre and Malenstyn compete for available forward spots. I would prefer McMichael and Lapierre start next year in Hershey unless they are traded at the deadline or the draft.

 

[Peeri]

I would prefer McMichael and Lapierre start next year in Hershey unless they are traded at the deadline or the draft.

I think I would be very worried if Mcmichael doesn't get into the team next year, he will be 23 next season and should be already playing with the big guys. Forwards tend to peak much earlier than defenseman and goalies, right about early to mid twenties in terms of point production and game impact, obviously there are exceptions but Mcmichael doesn't seem to be one or he would already be playing in NHL full time.

 

[HTFN]

I wouldn’t make assumptions that any one player was prioritized over others. While that *could* certainly be the case, it also may be about the other parties willingness to come to the table. And sign at a number that the team wanted.

I doubt any of these deals are done in a vacuum. I’d wager that they have been trading numbers with the players they intend to try and keep, and some moved faster than others. That they were forwards may simply be happenstance, not some internal need to get the forwards done first.

that’s what I see too, it’s more opportunity than priority. I feel like negotiations are bound to be in various phases with various players but when Milano is like “sure we’ll take 3x1.9” and hits the mark you want you probably don’t ask them to sit on it and wait, just pull the trigger and move to the next one.

 

[twabby]

Unless McMichael gets a spot in the lineup next season I’ll be kind of disappointed if he’s still in the organization by the start of next season.

 

[Ridley Simon]

that’s what I see too, it’s more opportunity than priority. I feel like negotiations are bound to be in various phases with various players but when Milano is like “sure we’ll take 3x1.9” and hits the mark you want you probably don’t ask them to sit on it and wait, just pull the trigger and move to the next one.

Exactly. When the number hits, it hits.

 

[DWGie26]

Exactly. When the number hits, it hits.

Agreed with all of this. It also tells you that both Strome and Milano want to be here and the number/term was good enough. I like that. Speaks to the culture thing that has been argued here before. We take care of our own and that speaks to players. Especially those who have been on other teams and see how they operate. Good deals both ways.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Unless McMichael gets a spot in the lineup next season I’ll be kind of disappointed if he’s still in the organization by the start of next season.

He needs to be of value to this organization in short order, be it playing regularly at center or as a trade chip. Spending another couple of seasons in Hershey or spending time as 13F/4LW or whatever isn't going to do either party any good, especially with Lapierre offering a similar profile.

With the signing of Strome long-term I don't know that he has a place here unless they are counting on him replacing Kuznetsov in two years. Do they go Strome-Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Dowd again next year? Can Backstrom be a 2C and leave the 3C spot open for McMichael if they choose to move Kuznetsov or would they trust McMichael to be the 2C?

They don't really have a 1C on the roster so barring getting another center, I think their best option is to move on from Kuznetsov and Eller and bring in a top line winger to compliment their centers. They're really hurting for top six playmakers and that should be their priority this offseason regardless of position. Milano is a solid middle six winger. Oshie shouldn't be counted on to be anything more than 3RW. Wilson is still effective at his role assuming he's healthy but he's also entering a contract year. Mantha has been a disappointment but played his best hockey on the third line so maybe he and Oshie make up an overpaid third line if they can't move him. They really need another dynamic playmaker in that top six.

(Narrator's voice: they should move Kuznetsov.)