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

[Mattilaus]

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

You guys do today, Tuch and Dahlin are both out.

 

[trick9]

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

Laviolette still wants a job for next season.

 

[shtorm2005]

Is GDT up there? Can't see it.

 

[YippieKaey]

You guys do today, Tuch and Dahlin are both out.

Have you seen our IR-list? We're goners haha

 

[twabby]

If Jensen doesn’t return at least a first round pick in a trade they really need to get an extension done. I highly doubt his contract is going to be unreasonable and while he might lose a step I doubt he’s going to drop off too much over the next 3 years.

 

[Lou Sassole]

I get that he is going to provide good overall value with his cap hit. But if they are going to do this retool I don’t think getting good value on a top defensive defenseman is enough. I mean they just did that with Nick Jensen for 4 years and it’s been nowhere near enough to get them competitive.

Chychrun has 28 points in 36 games this season, he's good defensively, but I just don't see him as a "defensive Defenseman " he's a really good #2 Dman, cheap with some term; to replace Orlov.

 

[Ovi895]

Chychrun would be a bad get unless it's a fix and flip. And given that he's not getting Carlson's spot on the PP and faces the same issue that kept Orlov's points down all these years he probably loses value while with us as the current price is very very high. Gostisbehere is the better Phoenix OFD at the same cap hit and they had to pay them to take him 2 years ago. Very overrated defenseman half of whose value perception is from being talked about nonstop as trade bait for over 2 years following a good 40 game stretch. Much rather try to sign Orlov back in the offseason or creatively look for undervalued D the way Panthers found Forsling, Mahura, Montour

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

For anyone still questioning the way fans support this team or think we’re giving up on them too early.

 

[twabby]

Chychrun has 28 points in 36 games this season, he's good defensively, but I just don't see him as a "defensive Defenseman " he's a really good #2 Dman, cheap with some term; to replace Orlov.

I don’t think getting a replacement for Orlov is really going to move the needle enough is all I’m saying. They need a superstar that can turn around a sputtering offense. Karlsson is certainly high risk but he’s one player who can actually do it.

You can certainly argue the merits of a quick retool vs. a rebuild, but from everything we’ve heard that decision has already been made. They’re looking to be competitive again as soon as possible as a promise to Ovechkin. Chychrun to me is a guy who puts a championship contender over the top, similar to what Boston is hoping for in Orlov. But Chychrun isn’t a guy to completely change the dynamic of a team. That’s usually reserved for true #1 Ds and #1 centers.

 

[Ovi895]

View attachment 657392

If Jensen doesn’t return at least a first round pick in a trade they really need to get an extension done. I highly doubt his contract is going to be unreasonable and while he might lose a step I doubt he’s going to drop off too much over the next 3 years.

Yeah they should give Jensen a nice long deal to keep the AAV down. He's pretty underrated around the league and his game should age gracefully until the end. Plus him and Dowd are brothers in law.

He's looking for a retirement contract but something like front loaded 7y@ under 4 mil cap hit could put them in a good position and wouldn't be a burden in the post Ovechkin reach the cap floor rebuild years

I don’t think getting a replacement for Orlov is really going to move the needle enough is all I’m saying. They need a superstar that can turn around a sputtering offense. Karlsson is certainly high risk but he’s one player who can actually do it.

You can certainly argue the merits of a quick retool vs. a rebuild, but from everything we’ve heard that decision has already been made. They’re looking to be competitive again as soon as possible as a promise to Ovechkin. Chychrun to me is a guy who puts a championship contender over the top, similar to what Boston is hoping for in Orlov. But Chychrun isn’t a guy to completely change the dynamic of a team. That’s usually reserved for true #1 Ds and #1 centers.

Karlsson would be an amazing get. Just watching him and Ovechkin together while they can still play would be an experience you look back on years down the road. Even if its not the best use of assets and invites cap hell and an unbalanced team who cares at this point, they have a punchers chance of winning the cup in the coming years virtually no matter what they do.

 

[g00n]

Report: Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan met with Alex Ovechkin to discuss reasoning behind recent trade

The Washington Capitals made a big move this past week that signaled a change of direction from the organization's top brass. The…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

 

[Calicaps]

Report: Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan met with Alex Ovechkin to discuss reasoning behind recent trade

The Washington Capitals made a big move this past week that signaled a change of direction from the organization's top brass. The…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

Makes sense. Ovie's having a really shitty 2023.

 

[g00n]

Makes sense. Ovie's having a really shitty 2023.

It confirms that they did talk to Ovie about what's going on, and he's tentatively Ok with all of it. I think how it gets handled will be key.

Also interesting that they're listening to offers for some key UFAs but want to re-sign them and won't take peanuts in return. IMO this is probably partly true and partly a tactic to keep their trade value up.

Either way, same difference. If Gmbm can't get a high return for a UFA in a trade they'll know as much going into the offseason and may be more likely to take a team-friendly deal. Or they may risk it and test the FA waters. Maybe Gmbm gets nothing in return but he has to prime the pump this way.

The main thing is the idea they're not going to totally blow it up and rebuild. Not as long as Ovie's here. That's pretty much written in stone.

So maybe Orlov comes back. Maybe one or two guys get shipped out. But I'm guessing the core is probably left alone and some pieces are added around them.

A lot of posters here may not be happy about it, but Gmbm has also repeatedly said they need to get younger and faster and restock the system. So we'll see what he comes up with.

 

[Calicaps]

It confirms that they did talk to Ovie about what's going on, and he's tentatively Ok with all of it. I think how it gets handled will be key.

Also interesting that they're listening to offers for some key UFAs but want to re-sign them and won't take peanuts in return. IMO this is probably partly true and partly a tactic to keep their trade value up.

Either way, same difference. If Gmbm can't get a high return for a UFA in a trade they'll know as much going into the offseason and may be more likely to take a team-friendly deal. Or they may risk it and test the FA waters. Maybe Gmbm gets nothing in return but he has to prime the pump this way.

The main thing is the idea they're not going to totally blow it up and rebuild. Not as long as Ovie's here. That's pretty much written in stone.

So maybe Orlov comes back. Maybe one or two guys get shipped out. But I'm guessing the core is probably left alone and some pieces are added around them.

A lot of posters here may not be happy about it, but Gmbm has also repeatedly said they need to get younger and faster and restock the system. So we'll see what he comes up with.

Yup. I will say that I read it a bit differently on the other other UFA defensemen. I thought he was saying they'd rather trade them, but that they won't just give 'em away cheap and that if that's all that's on offer, they'll keep those guys.... a subtle difference and maybe I'm wrong, but...

 

[g00n]

Yup. I will say that I read it a bit differently on the other other UFA defensemen. I thought he was saying they'd rather trade them, but that they won't just give 'em away cheap and that if that's all that's on offer, they'll keep those guys.... a subtle difference and maybe I'm wrong, but...

Could be. He's probably trying to avoid tipping his hand. If we don't know for sure he's likely doing a good job of that. lol

 

[Rayquaza64]

Whatever they do, they’ll be going this whole week knowing they wont be in a playoff spot by the deadline, for what its worth. Probably not much, depends on how far out they are by Friday.

 

[Raikkonen]

Lets get younger. Lets sign Jensen for 7 years. OK.

 

[SherVaughn30]

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.

If you haven't figured out by now, Kuzy has neither liked playing for Reirden and Lavi. No, he didn't say it but I can tell from his body language he hasn't bought into either coach in these 5 seasons(He seemed to like Trotz like a father figure, as it was one of the reasons he was so great in the '18 playoffs).

Players like OV, Orlov, Hathaway, Dowd, Wilson, Oshie, Kuemper, Lindgren and maybe some others(Strome), they play hard no matter if the coach is doing things right or not. Kuzy/Mantha/Milano are premadonnas(Milano might be changing his attitude bcuz he feels part of this Caps team and has new 3 year deal). This is nothing new as a lot of other teams have to deal with players of different sorts. It's part of the process in a GM finding the right coach for the team. Lavi was a big improvement in some regards over Reirden(who should never be given another coaching opportunity anywhere), but his system was terrible for this aging roster and the fact the league has become a young man's fast game.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Whatever they do, they’ll be going this whole week knowing they wont be in a playoff spot by the deadline, for what its worth. Probably not much, depends on how far out they are by Friday.

Even if the Caps were to go on some 6 game winning streak, it would not be enough. They simply can not make up 8 to 10 points with the teams that have 4 games in hand. The team got burned again for alienating the younger players, hence all the injuries for the 2nd or 3rd season in a row. I still love OV, but at age 37 he plays the 3rd most avg minutes per game on the team. That's just ridiculous for his age. I know if we had Boudreau again, he smartly would regulate OV's mins to keep him more fresh for the whole season.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I like this because it sends home the point I’ve tried to make…BMac chose to have an older team. That was a choice. They don’t have to be this old. They wanted to be.

 

[RedRocking]

If you haven't figured out by now, Kuzy has neither liked playing for Reirden and Lavi. No, he didn't say it but I can tell from his body language he hasn't bought into either coach in these 5 seasons(He seemed to like Trotz like a father figure, as it was one of the reasons he was so great in the '18 playoffs).

Players like OV, Orlov, Hathaway, Dowd, Wilson, Oshie, Kuemper, Lindgren and maybe some others(Strome), they play hard no matter if the coach is doing things right or not. Kuzy/Mantha/Milano are premadonnas(Milano might be changing his attitude bcuz he feels part of this Caps team and has new 3 year deal). This is nothing new as a lot of other teams have to deal with players of different sorts. It's part of the process in a GM finding the right coach for the team. Lavi was a big improvement in some regards over Reirden(who should never be given another coaching opportunity anywhere), but his system was terrible for this aging roster and the fact the league has become a young man's fast game.

I usually wouldn’t subscribe to reading too much into a player’s mind when it comes to coaching relationships, absent actual reporting. Plus, I hate to make excuses for the pathetic season Kuzy has had. And I’m not trying to blame Lavi for the shortcomings of the roster.

However, I think there may be some truth to this idea. Last year, Kuzy was asked repeatedly about about how Lavi got him to shore up his defensive game. And he would always give one of those weird, sarcastic Kuzy answers, half-joking - some version of “yea, yea the system is great, it helps with our D - but it takes away my ability to make reads, and play how I like on offense.”

Since we always seem to just hit a brick wall when discussing the dreaded Kuzy Paradox (can’t win with him, can’t win without him since 1C’s don’t grow on trees), my last hope (if he remains in DC) is that the next coach will play better to his strengths, with a more modern attacking style. Playing cycling, possession-oriented hockey isn’t exactly his forte. Trotz’s opportunistic counterattacking fit him better.

Otherwise, I imagine he could still have decent value to a Western Conference team, where the game is more wide open. His contract isn’t necessarily terrible for his talent, so maybe a trade would bring back some decent assets, and the team could finally move on from him.

 

[HTFN]

Lets get younger. Lets sign Jensen for 7 years. OK.

Jensen skates as well as anyone on the team and busts his ass for it, he's not the problem at all

Watch the NYR game again and the sheer amount of distance he's covering without being out of position, he's kind of an animal. If he can do that for another year or two I don't really care how it all bottoms out post-Ovechkin (and they're not signing him to 7 years anyway because what)

 

[YippieKaey]

I don’t think getting a replacement for Orlov is really going to move the needle enough is all I’m saying. They need a superstar that can turn around a sputtering offense. Karlsson is certainly high risk but he’s one player who can actually do it.

You can certainly argue the merits of a quick retool vs. a rebuild, but from everything we’ve heard that decision has already been made. They’re looking to be competitive again as soon as possible as a promise to Ovechkin. Chychrun to me is a guy who puts a championship contender over the top, similar to what Boston is hoping for in Orlov. But Chychrun isn’t a guy to completely change the dynamic of a team. That’s usually reserved for true #1 Ds and #1 centers.

You're right. But there aren't any #1 D or C available. Chychrun is a good 1D and superelite 2D. He's also young, cost effective and good two ways. He would be a great add for the Caps. Karlsson is great but he obviously isn't changing the Sharks dynamic either right?

 

[YippieKaey]

I like thinking of rosters so here's my preferred and realistic 2024 season opener:

Ovi-Kuzy-Wilson
Milano-Strome-Brown
CMM-Bäckström-Sheary/Oshie
Protas-Dowd-NAK

Fever-Carlson
Jensen-Chychrun
Gus-Mcilrath

 

[SherVaughn30]

I like this because it sends home the point I’ve tried to make…BMac chose to have an old ass team. That was a choice. They don’t have to be this old. They wanted to be.

Disagree. This falls on Lavi and his lack of respect to want to coach young players. BMac is somewhat handcuffed by Ted/Dick Patrick for the marketing reasons. BMac is a no-nonsense straight shooter. When he see's a problem he tries to address it. BMac could transaction young players from Hershey if he wanted to, but then he would create a big rift with Lavi and his own bosses. Remember, Ted doesn't like firing employees as he finds it counterproductive(Ted has been quoted saying something along these lines). The Caps were playing their best with the young players in the lineup in December. Backstrom, Wilson and Oshie out of the lineup forced Lavi's hand. Once the vets were healthy again, the team chemistry got terribly messed up(Lavi got away from the lines that were contributing a good deal to winning games) and also slower. Bottom line, Lavi was the wrong coach for this team to begin with, but a lot of us were blinded by that because how bad Reirden was as our coach!