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

[RedRocking]

After today's game, I would have to think BMAC is fielding some calls related to Oshie from teams that have no playoff experience or have not been there for sometime, i.e. Seattle, Buffalo, Detroit. He's the perfect warrior to go in to battle with. Great locker room guy that plays the game the right way, great mentor to young players.

Oshie isn’t going anywhere imo. I think he is one Ted would consider off-limits. He’s too popular with the fans and is a leader in the locker room. On the ice he’s integral to PP1, and thus a key part of 895. I kinda think everyone on PP1 is off-limits for that reason - maybe even Kuzy, who knows.

With his salary and term left (at his age and physical condition), I don’t see teams lining up to give us anything great for him. So ultimately, I think he’s more valuable to the Caps than what he’d fetch in a trade.

 

[um]

Oshie isn’t going anywhere imo. I think he is one Ted would consider off-limits. He’s too popular with the fans and is a leader in the locker room. On the ice he’s integral to PP1, and thus a key part of 895. I kinda think everyone on PP1 is off-limits for that reason - maybe even Kuzy, who knows.

With his salary and term left (at his age and physical condition), I don’t see teams lining up to give us anything great for him. So ultimately, I think he’s more valuable to the Caps than what he’d fetch in a trade.

I’m not into paying to get rid of Oshie.

I find the story of his demise to be greatly exaggerated, he is still 2nd on this team in goals. Not to mention his leadership and hussle.

He’s overpaid, but he’s still a good middle six guy.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

After today's game, I would have to think BMAC is fielding some calls related to Oshie from teams that have no playoff experience or have not been there for sometime, i.e. Seattle, Buffalo, Detroit. He's the perfect warrior to go in to battle with. Great locker room guy that plays the game the right way, great mentor to young players.

Not with his contract term left….doubt it.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I’m not into paying to get rid of Oshie.

I find the story of his demise to be greatly exaggerated, he is still 2nd on this team in goals. Not to mention his leadership and hussle.

He’s overpaid, but he’s still a good middle six guy.

I guess my only quandary is that your going to have to move a player someone likes to really change the team for next year. One or two of either:

Oshie

Mantha

Kuznetsov

If not…the top six will be the same and they will continue to struggle mightily to score goals. It seems like people want change yet are unwilling to move any of their most expensive contracts. Kinda hard to play on the edges here with a team this old and change things.

I’m not into paying to get rid of Oshie.

I find the story of his demise to be greatly exaggerated, he is still 2nd on this team in goals. Not to mention his leadership and hussle.

He’s overpaid, but he’s still a good middle six guy.

He’s also often injured so great he all those characteristics but that isn’t helpful if he can’t stay on the ice.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Kuzy/Mantha all day long….ship em.

 

[um]

I guess my only quandary is that your going to have to move a player someone likes to really change the team for next year. One or two of either:

Oshie

Mantha

Kuznetsov

If not…the top six will be the same and they will continue to struggle mightily to score goals. It seems like people want change yet are unwilling to move any of their most expensive contracts. Kinda hard to play on the edges here with a team this old and change things.


He’s also often injured so great he all those characteristics but that isn’t helpful if he can’t stay on the ice.

I’d rather move Kuzy for something, rather than pay to get rid of Oshie.

I’m worried Mantha will also cost something to move.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I’d rather move Kuzy for something, rather than pay to get rid of Oshie.

I’m worried Mantha will also cost something to move.

They need the cap space if they want to really re-tool. Gotta pay to play sometimes when you have dudes with bad years.

 

[HeyMattyB]

I remain on the Trade Kuzy train. (Sell high now while you can, lol!) But, in terms of bringing in a new, playoff-caliber #1C to replace Kuzy with, what *realistic* options are out there, either through a trade or free agency?

Strome is a capable enough 2C, but not a 1C on a playoff team. And, best-case scenario, assuming Backstrom *does* regain his health/game, I think most of us agree that he's probably best used as a 2C/3C at this point. I'm also not counting on Backy LTIRetiring (or actually retiring). And I'm certainly not counting on the team replacing Kuzy internally, with CMM or Lapierre suddenly blossoming into bona-fide 1Cs in the next year or two.

So, what are the trade options here? Larkin (who apparently wants to stay in DET)? Pettersson (whose relationship w/VAN seems on and off)? Meanwhile, the list of top-six UFA centers is... ugly. It's basically, uh, Larkin (if DET can't sign him) plus some old farts and assorted middle-sixers.

 

[Langway]

They're going to have to draft that #1C of the future. Closest they may come for some time (barring being brutal some year) is to trade up for either Will Smith or Oliver Moore.

 

[Hivemind]

Stealing this from one of the socials. 3rd round and beyond draft success 2010-2020

Only Protas is still on the NHL roster from that bunch. 397 GP for Chandler Stephenson leading the way.

 

[HTFN]

I remain on the Trade Kuzy train. (Sell high now while you can, lol!) But, in terms of bringing in a new, playoff-caliber #1C to replace Kuzy with, what *realistic* options are out there, either through a trade or free agency?

Strome is a capable enough 2C, but not a 1C on a playoff team. And, best-case scenario, assuming Backstrom *does* regain his health/game, I think most of us agree that he's probably best used as a 2C/3C at this point. I'm also not counting on Backy LTIRetiring (or actually retiring). And I'm certainly not counting on the team replacing Kuzy internally, with CMM or Lapierre suddenly blossoming into bona-fide 1Cs in the next year or two.

So, what are the trade options here? Larkin (who apparently wants to stay in DET)? Pettersson (whose relationship w/VAN seems on and off)? Meanwhile, the list of top-six UFA centers is... ugly. It's basically, uh, Larkin (if DET can't sign him) plus some old farts and assorted middle-sixers.

I think most teams have to know you're not just striding out on to the market and signing a 1C. Who's the last one to even hit the market... Tavares? My brain is failing me but... is it Tavares? And if that's the case it's kind of arguable he's ever even been the 1C, and he wasn't exactly a world beating 1C as an Islander.

If they don't already have the guy (and they don't) the only thing they can do is probably Moneyball an aggregate player or two with young talent. I don't really know that they have the horses to do that right now either but it's a long offseason. It doesn't seem like Backstrom has the wheels to even leverage his defensive experience at this point so counting on him in a 3C capacity with real minutes is probably not going to go well. A sheltered 4 with a lot of special teams is probably the best way to use him but then obviously you need to do some significant legwork to make up for that cap hit doing that.

It's weird to say that Kuznetsov remains one of their best options but if he'd ever get his shit together nobody's going to beat it easily, he just won't do it. Their best option on the market is probably a young hungry 2 but I don't even know who that is at this point.

so yeah, if there's a swing to make in the draft for a guy who has that potential you might have to do it.

 

[Raikkonen]

When he feels it Kuzy is their best forward. Maybe even skater.
Strome and Backstrom aint it.

Their best option on the market is probably a young hungry 2 but I don't even know who that is at this point.

and who would trade their young hungry 2C?

 

[Hivemind]

I think most teams have to know you're not just striding out on to the market and signing a 1C. Who's the last one to even hit the market... Tavares? My brain is failing me but... is it Tavares? And if that's the case it's kind of arguable he's ever even been the 1C, and he wasn't exactly a world beating 1C as an Islander.

Tavares was definitely a high-end 1C for the Islanders (and would likely still be a 1C on most teams in the league that didn't feature Auston Matthews). He had 621 points in 669 games for the Isles, including seasons of 86, 84, 81, and 66 points (in 59 games). He finished 3rd in the Hart Trophy race and 2nd in the Art Ross race in 2015.

But, you're also right to identify him as the biggest center to hit UFA in quite some time.

 

[The Instigator]

I would push a kid off of their bike for a chance at Tanner Jeannot.

 

[Marshall]

I would push a kid off of their bike for a chance at Tanner Jeannot.

I would help.

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

I would push a kid off of their bike for a chance at Tanner Jeannot.

We just traded that guy to the Bruins. He’s a Hathaway clone.

 

[marcel snapshot]

It's weird to say that Kuznetsov remains one of their best options but if he'd ever get his shit together nobody's going to beat it easily, he just won't do it.

This is pretty much the spot-on nutshell take on Kuzy. Hopefully, won’t be his career epitaph

 

[Empty Goal Net]

He’s had plenty of time with Ovie

uuh ... 215 minutes centering lines with Ovie (including minutes with Milano, Protas, and Mantha on opposite wings) vs. 365 minutes on lines w/o Ovie (mostly w/ Milano/Oshie, Milano/Mantha, Sheary/Mantha, and MoJo/Hath). [source: Washington Capitals Team Report]
Not sure that many would argue that his usual linemates this season are high-calibre first-liners. But you may think otherwise.

 

[HTFN]

Tavares was definitely a high-end 1C for the Islanders (and would likely still be a 1C on most teams in the league that didn't feature Auston Matthews). He had 621 points in 669 games for the Isles, including seasons of 86, 84, 81, and 66 points (in 59 games). He finished 3rd in the Hart Trophy race and 2nd in the Art Ross race in 2015.

But, you're also right to identify him as the biggest center to hit UFA in quite some time.

I guess I should have kept the "afterward" part in my post because he very quickly became "arguable" thanks to Matthews and now it's hard to really compartmentalize them, can't say their success rate speaks wonders though.

uuh ... 215 minutes centering lines with Ovie (including minutes with Milano, Protas, and Mantha on opposite wings) vs. 365 minutes on lines w/o Ovie (mostly w/ Milano/Oshie, Milano/Mantha, Sheary/Mantha, and MoJo/Hath). [source: Washington Capitals Team Report]
Not sure that many would argue that his usual linemates this season are high-calibre first-liners. But you may think otherwise.

This... isn't his first year here.

 

[um]

uuh ... 215 minutes centering lines with Ovie (including minutes with Milano, Protas, and Mantha on opposite wings) vs. 365 minutes on lines w/o Ovie (mostly w/ Milano/Oshie, Milano/Mantha, Sheary/Mantha, and MoJo/Hath). [source: Washington Capitals Team Report]
Not sure that many would argue that his usual linemates this season are high-calibre first-liners. But you may think otherwise.

That's a lot of time. Time that hasn't gone well.

 

[YippieKaey]

We just traded that guy to the Bruins. He’s a Hathaway clone.

If Hathaway was a 20-30 goal scorer on top of his agitatory ways.

 

[PlushMinus]

Mr Kuznetsov is an enigma. Maybe he played so well against the Rags because he wants to be traded. Maybe he played well because he doesn't.

Nobody will ever know. And Kuzy will never tell.

 

[Hivemind]

If Hathaway was a 20-30 goal scorer on top of his agitatory ways.

Jeannot is on pace for 7 goals this season.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Darcy going back to back I guess they really do still think they have a chance.

 

[YippieKaey]

Jeannot is on pace for 7 goals this season.

Really? Well i guess that would make him the third best goalscorer on the Caps