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

[AlexModvechkin8]

They gotta fire Lavy and bring up the kids. Situation is untenable as is.

Good on them for selling even if the return isn’t what I hoped for. But keeping Laviolette around and playing plugs like Irwin, NAK, and McIlrath is not consistent with a retooling effort. Even Backstrom and Oshie should be resting up for next season.

Disagree. I don't like the idea of bringing up young guys from Hershey who are playing well and in contention for the Calder Cup only to have them play on a dejected and shitty Capitals team just waiting for the season to end. Sell everyone that isn't nailed down and doesn't have an extension agreed to and make the vets who made this mess play out the string.

 

[hb13xchamps]

I can’t see them walking away from both Jensen and TvR next year. There’s no righties outside of Iorio and he’s not ready to make the jump quite yet. A 2-4 year deal for either of those guys helps solidify an organizational weakness until the young guys can make the jump in the next few seasons

 

[BiPolar Caps]

I can’t see them walking away from both Jensen and TvR next year. There’s no righties outside of Iorio and he’s not ready to make the jump quite yet. A 2-4 year deal for either of those guys helps solidify an organizational weakness until the young guys can make the jump in the next few seasons

If it was true BMAC would only go 3 years with Orlov, I could see both TVR and Jensen accepting such term.

 

[Drakon]

Gmbm's statement is pretty clear to me. They're going to "retool" and not rebuild. They want to compete immediately next year.

Not sure exactly what that looks like wrt trades. Could be a lot of trades and then a lot of UFA signings along with a few call-ups, but it won't be a total tear-down.

All of those assets they got for Orlov and Hathaway for Chychrun would be a start.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Cap Friendly indicates the Capitals have 47 contracts, but I count the players appearing on the Capitals page within Cap Friendly and it's 49 but either way with Orlov and Hathaway going out and only Smith coming in there should be room to sign Frank.

 

[Langway]

Suzdalev & Persson don't count.

So...they can't be activating Carlson, right? They have to shut him down, let him rehab in full and try to get back at it next season. There's nothing to rush him back for. They should also probably shut Oshie down. That could allow them a big chunk to work with at the deadline either in taking on contracts at minimal cost or acting as a salary retainer in other deals. Smith can be waived (again) and sent to Hershey. Or stick around after more bodies are shipped out.

They do have some degree of flexibility to work with but not a massive amount and it's hard to imagine they utilize it creatively enough for it to make enough of a difference.

 

[The Instigator]

Ew. Ew ew ew.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

He might go on to win a few more Cups elsewhere…I’ve already accepted that.

 

[Hivemind]

Can't wait for 2nd line Craig Smith

 

[um]

Can't wait for 2nd line Craig Smith

an improvement over 1st line Aube-Kubel

View attachment 655565
Ew. Ew ew ew.

what a terrible picture of Orlov.

 

[Hivemind]

an improvement over 1st line Aube-Kubel

Somehow this is true

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Can't wait for 2nd line Craig Smith

If it’s good for the tank I’m in.

 

[Hivemind]

If it’s good for the tank I’m in.

I mean, even if it's good for the tank I'd rather have a young gun growing into the role instead. Give the minutes to Protas or McMichael or Lapierre (assuming he rebounds following his AHL benching) or even Milano.

 

[cityofoaks]

Disagree. I don't like the idea of bringing up young guys from Hershey who are playing well and in contention for the Calder Cup only to have them play on a dejected and shitty Capitals team just waiting for the season to end. Sell everyone that isn't nailed down and doesn't have an extension agreed to and make the vets who made this mess play out the string.

I don' understand this at all. You don't keep guys down for the Calder Cup. You bring them up to get NHL experience and get ready for next season.

 

[Misery74]

Laviolette is really terrible. If we are tearing it down, what value can he possibly add?

 

[twabby]

Laviolette is really terrible. If we are tearing it down, what value can he possibly add?

Losing is very valuable right now!

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I don' understand this at all. You don't keep guys down for the Calder Cup. You bring them up to get NHL experience and get ready for next season.

You play guys where they should be playing. If they’re not ready for the NHL they shouldn’t be in the NHL. Lapierre has been healthy scratched in Hershey recently in part because he’s gotten frustrated over the slog of a professional season. Why bring him up if he’s lacking confidence in the AHL? Bringing guys up before they’re ready to play is the best way to ruin a prospect and they shouldn’t throw guys to the fire just because the season is over.

This could be a toxic environment in DC pretty quickly. You have a lame duck coach and a roster full of underperforming veterans who expected to make the playoffs and are now watching it get torn down around them. Guys will be on edge.

You also have a coach who has proven to have a distaste for young guys, especially at forward. Why put them in that position? If you want to bring them up for a game or a few games to give them some experience fine but the Caps should do what’s best for each player and for most of those guys the best place for them is to continue getting professional experience at the AHL level.

 

[RedRocking]

You play guys where they should be playing. If they’re not ready for the NHL they shouldn’t be in the NHL. Lapierre has been healthy scratched in Hershey recently in part because he’s gotten frustrated over the slog of a professional season. Why bring him up if he’s lacking confidence in the AHL? Bringing guys up before they’re ready to play is the best way to ruin a prospect and they shouldn’t throw guys to the fire just because the season is over.

This could be a toxic environment in DC pretty quickly. You have a lame duck coach and a roster full of underperforming veterans who expected to make the playoffs and are now watching it get torn down around them. Guys will be on edge.

You also have a coach who has proven to have a distaste for young guys, especially at forward. Why put them in that position? If you want to bring them up for a game or a few games to give them some experience fine but the Caps should do what’s best for each player and for most of those guys the best place for them is to continue getting professional experience at the AHL level.

Yup. And the two guys I imagine most are anxious for - CMM, Lappy - have size/strength issues, such that you’re setting them up to fail and get hammered by NHL-caliber grown men. Lappy is having that problem in the AHL, as is. OTOH, Protas, Snively - sure, would be nice to get them some more time.

But, unfortunately (like it or not), Lavi’s job is to win games, now. He’s not here to develop guys, or give them a look. Just like Ovi’s job is to score goals, you can’t expect a veteran coach (who won’t be here next year) to care about next year, and guys toiling in the AHL. Especially when they are still fighting for a playoff spot (in mathematical theory).

A new philosophy would have to come from the top, and as embarrassing as this last stretch looks to be, they’re probably not going to publicly “give up” in that manner until the final weeks…if at all. Anything sooner might require an interim head coach.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Also, thank god for 2018. This sucks but if we watched this era come to an end without a Cup… man.

 

[Hivemind]

Here's the thing about the Calder Cup - the AHL kids can still play in the Calder Cup playoffs. Hershey is gonna make it, comfortably. The Caps aren't. The Bears even have a 7 point lead on 3rd place in the Atlantic, so they aren't even in a particularly large risk of losing out on their first round bye status. Give them an NHL cup of coffee then send them back to the A in time for the Calder Cup run.

 

[usiel]

Also, thank god for 2018. This sucks but if we watched this era come to an end without a Cup… man.

So true can't like this post enough.

 

[Calicaps]

You play guys where they should be playing. If they’re not ready for the NHL they shouldn’t be in the NHL. Lapierre has been healthy scratched in Hershey recently in part because he’s gotten frustrated over the slog of a professional season. Why bring him up if he’s lacking confidence in the AHL? Bringing guys up before they’re ready to play is the best way to ruin a prospect and they shouldn’t throw guys to the fire just because the season is over.

This could be a toxic environment in DC pretty quickly. You have a lame duck coach and a roster full of underperforming veterans who expected to make the playoffs and are now watching it get torn down around them. Guys will be on edge.

You also have a coach who has proven to have a distaste for young guys, especially at forward. Why put them in that position? If you want to bring them up for a game or a few games to give them some experience fine but the Caps should do what’s best for each player and for most of those guys the best place for them is to continue getting professional experience at the AHL level.

And why not let them make a championship run? Winning begets winning.

EDIT: Also, I really hope the room doesn't go toxic. The leadership has been through some very tough times together and not fallen apart as a group. I'm hopeful that they can and will recognize that a retool is needed and rally around the effort. TBD, but if they could survive 2017, I think they can survive this.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Here's the thing about the Calder Cup - the AHL kids can still play in the Calder Cup playoffs. Hershey is gonna make it, comfortably. The Caps aren't. The Bears even have a 7 point lead on 3rd place in the Atlantic, so they aren't even in a particularly large risk of losing out on their first round bye status. Give them an NHL cup of coffee then send them back to the A in time for the Calder Cup run.

A lot of our core team played on champ teams in Hershey. I’m with Abro. Don’t bring them up for this dumpster fire. I would give Frank a look given his age and status we should have more money and contracts now.

I would rather have them playing competitive hockey together, then playing with a bunch of old veterans about to get traded or walking away unrestricted

 

[usiel]

And why not let them make a championship run? Winning begets winning.

EDIT: Also, I really hope the room doesn't go toxic. The leadership has been through some very tough times together and not fallen apart as a group. I'm hopeful that they can and will recognize that a retool is needed and rally around the effort. TBD, but if they could survive 2017, I think they can survive this.

Might be time for the veterans to get a bit of a reset getting some youth in the lineup but no Lavi is going to play journeyperson retreads.

 

[Langway]

Here's the thing about the Calder Cup - the AHL kids can still play in the Calder Cup playoffs. Hershey is gonna make it, comfortably. The Caps aren't. The Bears even have a 7 point lead on 3rd place in the Atlantic, so they aren't even in a particularly large risk of losing out on their first round bye status. Give them an NHL cup of coffee then send them back to the A in time for the Calder Cup run.

One thing to note also is that after the trade deadline teams are only allowed four non-emergency recalls. So by selling a bit early they could use this period to give a brief chance to someone that isn't a 30 year-old journeyman.