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

[Langway]

Was checking out something unrelated and Adam Boqvist intrigues me as a trade candidate. In the first year of a three-year $2.6 AAV. A London Knight alum, right shot, good shooter, still just 22 so an intriguing RD that could still have some upside left (esp. offensively). Not sure he's a major find all-around but the situations in Chicago & Columbus haven't been ideal. And Columbus has some major D talent just about ready in Jiricek, Mateychuk & Svozil). They also have three other RD on the roster at the moment.

Maybe not a target that pays off immediately for a run this season but an interesting project at least. Those sorts of offensively capable younger D are who they ought to be targeting, esp. with so much D contract uncertainty currently. Not a top tier target but someone I could see moving, if not at the deadline then in the off-season. The Caps need forward help for sure but developing upside in value plays overall, changes of scenery type deals ought to be explored also.

 

[twabby]

Was checking out something unrelated and Adam Boqvist intrigues me as a trade candidate. In the first year of a three-year $2.6 AAV. A London Knight alum, right shot, good shooter, still just 22 so an intriguing RD that could still have some upside left (esp. offensively). Not sure he's a major find all-around but the situations in Chicago & Columbus haven't been ideal. And Columbus has some major D talent just about ready in Jiricek, Mateychuk & Svozil). They also have three other RD on the roster at the moment.

Maybe not a target that pays off immediately for a run this season but an interesting project at least. Those sorts of offensively capable younger D are who they ought to be targeting, esp. with so much D contract uncertainty currently. Not a top tier target but someone I could see moving, if not at the deadline then in the off-season. The Caps need forward help for sure but developing upside in value plays overall, changes of scenery type deals ought to be explored also.

Has Boqvist fallen out of favor in Columbus?

He passes the GAR test with flying colors so if he’s a buy-low opportunity I’m all for it.

 

[Langway]

I haven't read anything suggesting he may...just reading tea leaves mostly. CBJ actually have a fourth RD that's been playing in Bjork also. But it's mostly paving the way for Jiricek where I figure he may get moved if the market is strong. They've got Gudbranson locked up and Peeke plays a lot. Throw in a couple of 3RD alternatives to bridge the gap to Jiricek, very likely next season, and it makes sense to get value for a player that may not really fit. His value largely comes from his skill rather than defending/strength/size. Maybe more of an off-season move then if some of the Caps D test the market. Still, intriguing as far as change of scenery RD go. There aren't many of them at first glance. He could be a younger sort of Gus/Schultz perhaps.

There have been whispers about Roslovic and Gavrikov will be moved of course. I wonder a bit about Liam Foudy as well. Maybe marginal but sure is fast. Of course, the Caps need something more like a concrete pillar than unproven, speculative plays but I'd at least prefer the later to token limited Mike Weber types.

 

[YippieKaey]

I'd love Boqvist on the Caps. His floor might be low but his ceiling is potentially just below Carlson and given the age of both Gus and Carlson it would be nice to have someone learn from them while they slowly decline. Can definitely see Boqvist-Fever being a good and entertaining pair that allows Ovi to get to 900.

 

[Cappy76]

Only problem I have with Boqvist is the man cannot stay healthy at all he regularly misses time. Otherwise I think in the right situation he could absolutely be an asset to a team I think if he can stay healthy and in the lineup he’s about to pop offensively.

 

[um]

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.

I'm kind of tired of giving away our young players because they don't break out fast enough.

If the Caps have had a little more patience with Stephenson, Siegenthaler, etc. We'd be in a much better position these days.

 

[Brian23]

I'm kind of tired of giving away our young players because they don't break out fast enough.

If the Caps have had a little more patience with Stephenson, Siegenthaler, etc. We'd be in a much better position these days.

100%. I think the real issue is, at least looking at his statline CMM seems like he's ready for the jump but Lavi just won't play him so he's stuck in the mud. I think how you handle the kids is basically entirely up to their coaching decisions next year, I personally hope for a change but who knows. You'd think, if we had a real media group, we'd see more talk about that but alas.

Also, as an aside.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

100%. I think the real issue is, at least looking at his statline CMM seems like he's ready for the jump but Lavi just won't play him so he's stuck in the mud. I think how you handle the kids is basically entirely up to their coaching decisions next year, I personally hope for a change but who knows. You'd think, if we had a real media group, we'd see more talk about that but alas.

Also, as an aside.

Yeah, he nailed it. The Caps for a long time were a team whose stars lived up to their money. We’re now seeing how the other side feels when you commit money to a guy and he’s essentially stealing it. On some level it has to feel like a personal betrayal for Mac that the Caps waited as long as they did with Kuznetsov, paid him his money before he really earned it, supported him through some embarrassing off ice issues, and now when they need him the most he looks like he couldn’t be bothered any less. Just floats around doing his thing and if he doesn’t cover the right guy or track back on defense, ah f*** it.

Can’t imagine Mac keeps Kuznetsov around past this summer if this continues and the price isn’t ridiculous to move him. That quote was from five and a half years ago and we’re still talking about Kuznetsov’s lack of consistency and professionalism.

 

[twabby]

I'm kind of tired of giving away our young players because they don't break out fast enough.

If the Caps have had a little more patience with Stephenson, Siegenthaler, etc. We'd be in a much better position these days.

I think McMichael has been a good player in the NHL and should have been given an actual shot this year. Same with Protas. I think the team would have been in much better shape if both of those guys were regulars in the lineup.

But right now the team has two choices they should consider for next year:

1. Take a step back for a year, cut some fat, and develop some players next year with the hopes of competing the following year(s).

2. Go for it starting next year.

In case 1, that would certainly include McMichael as a piece they should hope to develop. In case 2, McMichael should either be in the lineup contributing or used as a trade piece to bolster the lineup. Either way, him being in Hershey in his age 22-23 season is useless to the big club IMO.

Patience is important but so is getting value out of your assets. I'm not saying trade McMichael for a bag of pucks like they did with Stephenson and Siegenthaler. I'm saying if he's not in the plans for next year then utilize him as a trade chip for an actual impact player like a Timo Meier or similar.

 

[RedRocking]

I think McMichael has been a good player in the NHL and should have been given an actual shot this year. Same with Protas. I think the team would have been in much better shape if both of those guys were regulars in the lineup.

But right now the team has two choices they should consider for next year:

1. Take a step back for a year, cut some fat, and develop some players next year with the hopes of competing the following year(s).

2. Go for it starting next year.

In case 1, that would certainly include McMichael as a piece they should hope to develop. In case 2, McMichael should either be in the lineup contributing or used as a trade piece to bolster the lineup. Either way, him being in Hershey in his age 22-23 season is useless to the big club IMO.

Patience is important but so is getting value out of your assets. I'm not saying trade McMichael for a bag of pucks like they did with Stephenson and Siegenthaler. I'm saying if he's not in the plans for next year then utilize him as a trade chip for an actual impact player like a Timo Meier or similar.

I’m for option 2 in general. No one is getting any younger, and going into next year you will be starting the season with a healthy Backstrom (I hope), who will have a normal offseason for once. Wilson should hopefully be close to 100%. Carlson back, Strome signed, goaltending secured, etc… And we’ll have to see which D they end up keeping, and if any other big moves happen with Kuzy, Mantha.

But just because of health, the team will be able to hit the ground running and not have big pieces on IR coming back in the middle of the season. So, they should load up one more time (and sure, if that means moving guys like CMM, so be it), and see if they can get Ovi some scoring help, and be more competitive.

 

[Marshall]

For the old-timers: Luke Gadzic just said on the Jeffy Show that Boyd Gordon was the grumpiest player he ever played with by a mile.

Makes me re-think the whole Olie-Gordo incident.

 

[Raikkonen]

brainstorming

Ovechkin-Strome-Kuznetsov
Milano/Mojo-Backstrom-Wilson/?

it does look like... well, maybe top-9 is not that bad concept

 

[Ridley Simon]

brainstorming

Ovechkin-Strome-Kuznetsov
Milano/Mojo-Backstrom-Wilson/?

it does look like... well, maybe top-9 is not that bad concept

Mantha never plays in his preferred side (RW). We’ve always slotted him as an LW. Because weakness there.

Ovechkin - Strome - Wilson
Kuznetsov - Backstrom - Mantha
Milano - Eller - Oshie
MaJo - Protas - Hathaway

Dowd is hurt. But I’m missing someone…..??

Edit — it’s Sheary! Ugh. Where??

 

[um]

I think McMichael has been a good player in the NHL and should have been given an actual shot this year. Same with Protas. I think the team would have been in much better shape if both of those guys were regulars in the lineup.

But right now the team has two choices they should consider for next year:

1. Take a step back for a year, cut some fat, and develop some players next year with the hopes of competing the following year(s).

2. Go for it starting next year.

In case 1, that would certainly include McMichael as a piece they should hope to develop. In case 2, McMichael should either be in the lineup contributing or used as a trade piece to bolster the lineup. Either way, him being in Hershey in his age 22-23 season is useless to the big club IMO.

Patience is important but so is getting value out of your assets. I'm not saying trade McMichael for a bag of pucks like they did with Stephenson and Siegenthaler. I'm saying if he's not in the plans for next year then utilize him as a trade chip for an actual impact player like a Timo Meier or similar.

When you go for it you still need cheap options with some upside. We can't have a roster full of expensive vets. The way the Caps are built there will have to be some cheap dumpster dives and prospects.

BMAC has been successful with dumpster dives in the past but it has its limits. Eventually a successful franchise needs to actually produce its own players.

 

[twabby]

When you go for it you still need cheap options with some upside. We can't have a roster full of expensive vets. The way the Caps are built there will have to be some cheap dumpster dives and prospects.

BMAC has been successful with dumpster dives in the past but it has its limits. Eventually a successful franchise needs to actually produce its own players.

They need impact talent in the forward ranks more than anything. Connor McMichael playing in the AHL next year does nothing to help them get impact talent. It just kind of delays everything while the team keeps getting a bit older.

Giving McMichael a full NHL season to play and develop could potentially reveal that he has top 6 talent, or using him as a trade chip could bring in that impact talent from the outside. Either option seems fine to me. Stashing him in Hershey is a waste, however.

He's going to be 23 next year, well into the meat of his prime. How much longer can they actually wait to cash in on him as a prospect?

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

It’s still in a lame duck coaching season for Lavi. I kind of feel the extension would’ve been done by now especially with the rumors of it at training camp.

 

[um]

They need impact talent in the forward ranks more than anything. Connor McMichael playing in the AHL next year does nothing to help them get impact talent. It just kind of delays everything while the team keeps getting a bit older.

Giving McMichael a full NHL season to play and develop could potentially reveal that he has top 6 talent, or using him as a trade chip could bring in that impact talent from the outside. Either option seems fine to me. Stashing him in Hershey is a waste, however.

He's going to be 23 next year, well into the meat of his prime. How much longer can they actually wait to cash in on him as a prospect?

I doubt you'd get much of anything for McMichael. Maybe a late 2nd/3rd round pick. Whats the point? So we can trade that pick for a 4th/5th round pick in 4 years?

You can't keep deferring your assets for something new all the time, at some point you gotta play your hand.

Caps are neglecting an important part of being a successful NHL franchise, which is actually developing their players.

 

[YippieKaey]

I’m for option 2 in general. No one is getting any younger, and going into next year you will be starting the season with a healthy Backstrom (I hope), who will have a normal offseason for once. Wilson should hopefully be close to 100%. Carlson back, Strome signed, goaltending secured, etc… And we’ll have to see which D they end up keeping, and if any other big moves happen with Kuzy, Mantha.

But just because of health, the team will be able to hit the ground running and not have big pieces on IR coming back in the middle of the season. So, they should load up one more time (and sure, if that means moving guys like CMM, so be it), and see if they can get Ovi some scoring help, and be more competitive.

I wouldn't count on it.

 

[RedRocking]

I wouldn't count on it.

Of course you can never count on health in the NHL, especially with an older team. But Backstrom’s situation the past two years has been uncertain and difficult. And then this year, added to that, having your best under 30 player recovering from an ACL. Brown goes down in like game 3. And then Carlson’s freak injury - it’s been a lot.

So, the team has been starting behind the 8 ball is all I’m saying. Next year they have the potential to have their intended team from the outset, and won’t have this big mid-season change up that destroys chemistry. Sure, Oshie and others will probably miss time along the way - it’s a long NHL season and guys are old AF.

 

[SherVaughn30]

It’s still in a lame duck coaching season for Lavi. I kind of feel the extension would’ve been done by now especially with the rumors of it at training camp.

I don't think Lavi gets extended unless the Caps win a playoff round, that is if they even get in. If the Caps miss getting in, then Lavi is for sure gone.

 

[DWGie26]

the Caps have always been patient with their prospects and perhaps overcook them in the AHL. I am OK with this as McMichael has a year of waiver eligibility and Lapierre two.

To me, part of the problem is we don’t exercise that same level of patience with them when they hit the NHL. All examples provided prove this. Stephenson, Siegenthaler, McMichael, Alexyev to some extent. I subscribe to the players gotta earn it, and as much as I like to support management, I do think this is an area of improvement. I hope GMBM has learned from this. He can take action by forcing some of it to the coach or just refusing to sign (or trade for older players).

We have plenty of veterans on this team that we can afford To have a couple of young developing players in the lineup learning on the job. They still have to earn it, but right now (and going into next year), we have a lot of those players who could.

 

[HTFN]

I think McMichael has been a good player in the NHL and should have been given an actual shot this year. Same with Protas. I think the team would have been in much better shape if both of those guys were regulars in the lineup.

But right now the team has two choices they should consider for next year:

1. Take a step back for a year, cut some fat, and develop some players next year with the hopes of competing the following year(s).

2. Go for it starting next year.

In case 1, that would certainly include McMichael as a piece they should hope to develop. In case 2, McMichael should either be in the lineup contributing or used as a trade piece to bolster the lineup. Either way, him being in Hershey in his age 22-23 season is useless to the big club IMO.

Patience is important but so is getting value out of your assets. I'm not saying trade McMichael for a bag of pucks like they did with Stephenson and Siegenthaler. I'm saying if he's not in the plans for next year then utilize him as a trade chip for an actual impact player like a Timo Meier or similar.

I'm very much for option 1 (and have been advocating for it for like two years, maybe not with him specifically but an overall prudent organizational shift) but you've got it dead on, if they're not for option 1 they almost need to pull the trigger on option 2 just to maximize what they're going for.

A slightly better McMichael does nobody any good if the rest of the crowd is waving goodbye

the Caps have always been patient with their prospects and perhaps overcook them in the AHL. I am OK with this as McMichael has a year of waiver eligibility and Lapierre two.

To me, part of the problem is we don’t exercise that same level of patience with them when they hit the NHL. All examples provided prove this. Stephenson, Siegenthaler, McMichael, Alexyev to some extent. I subscribe to the players gotta earn it, and as much as I like to support management, I do think this is an area of improvement. I hope GMBM has learned from this. He can take action by forcing some of it to the coach or just refusing to sign (or trade for older players).

We have plenty of veterans on this team that we can afford To have a couple of young developing players in the lineup learning on the job. They still have to earn it, but right now (and going into next year), we have a lot of those players who could.

always is generous. Burakovsky didn't do hard time if I recall, as far as the more recent prospects go, but the rest of this is right. When they hit the prime time they're not really given a lot of leeway and mostly tend to build them towards the safest common denominator with middling results

 

[DWGie26]

I'm very much for option 1 (and have been advocating for it for like two years, maybe not with him specifically but an overall prudent organizational shift) but you've got it dead on, if they're not for option 1 they almost need to pull the trigger on option 2 just to maximize what they're going for.

A slightly better McMichael does nobody any good if the rest of the crowd is waving goodbye


always is generous. Burakovsky didn't do hard time if I recall, as far as the more recent prospects go, but the rest of this is right. When they hit the prime time they're not really given a lot of leeway and mostly tend to build them towards the safest common denominator with middling results

Sure… it is a general statement without going through 30 prospects. But Caps have been long regarded as a club who keeps players in AHL, KHL, etc for longer than most clubs.

Agree with your second sentence. That is what i was also saying. They don’t have the same patience once they get to NHL. I think they should give them more room to grow like they did with Fever. of course that was probably more out of necessity.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Sure… it is a general statement without going through 30 prospects. But Caps have been long regarded as a club who keeps players in AHL, KHL, etc for longer than most clubs.

Agree with your second sentence. That is what i was also saying. They don’t have the same patience once they get to NHL. I think they should give them more room to grow like they did with Fever. of course that was probably more out of necessity.

Maybe "long regarded" depends on your perspective.
Steve Eminger raises his hand and points out that the bolded was definitely not the case 20 years ago. Post fire sale.
And aren't most KHL players tied by contracts to their clubs? Those decisions are largely if not completely out of the hands of Caps mgmt.

 

[Hivemind]

Sure… it is a general statement without going through 30 prospects. But Caps have been long regarded as a club who keeps players in AHL, KHL, etc for longer than most clubs.

No, they haven't. That's entirely a new development under Laviolette in the past couple years. I've posted about this before, but basically the only other incident of a highly drafted Caps forward sticking around in another league for this long was Kuznetsov, and that's because he had a fat KHL contract. The Caps would have loved him in the NHL sooner.

Backstrom, Johansson, and Burakovsky all played 50+ NHL games during their age 19/20 seasons and were fixtures in the Caps playoffs those years. Vrana made his NHL debut at 20, and was a regular at 21.