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

[Hivemind]

That's just not true. Mac has been steady in saying that the team needs to retool to get younger and faster. Moreover, he had his roster structured so that a bunch of older guys all went UFA at the same time. He moved a bunch of those guys for a young player and some assets. Some he decided to keep at least for now given the trade offers on the table.

But this wasn't an accident. He clearly had a plan to make some changes this year--and probably more than one depending how the team performed. Given the 2023 collapse, he's executing the retool plan, starting with step 1, which is move UFAs and collect assets. Methodical action is the sign of an actual plan being pursued. Trying to do it all at once is chaos.

Beyond that many posters here insist on the one hand that a retool is impossible and that it will absolutely take a few years to be competitive... but then on the other, they demand to know why it's not all done in a week. That argument is not sensible.


EDIT: And another point, I personally am fine with letting Protas and McMike and Jimi and all the rest of the kids stay in Hershey and have the experience of competing for a championship. That's a better development experience IMO than playing out the string with the Caps this year.

Lip service about wanting to get younger and faster is one thing, but the way he's managed the team has actively pushed them to get older and slower. Since the Cup, we've seen repeated moves to trade away youth and speed. And when he opts not to trade a 30 year old re-tread like Sheary because he wants to continue negotiating an extension, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence that he's going to change away from that.

Nobody is demanding it be accomplished in one week. But people are lamenting that we juts past one of the deadlines along the way, and the type of drastic change that's required has yet to be broached combined with management giving indications that they still value the same type of marginal veteran players that have led to this mess in the first place.

I shot down the argument that AHL players need to stay in the AHL to experience a winning environment already. They can get their NHL cup of coffee, then return to Hershey for the playoffs. It's what the Capitals did in the past, plenty of times. Hershey isn't at risk of falling out of the playoffs, and is even in minimal risk of losing their first round bye. Get these kids some time in the NHL to develop at the next step, and to help inform management of where they are in their development at the top pro level, then they can go back to Hershey to continue building up that winning culture.

 

[Calicaps]

Lip service about wanting to get younger and faster is one thing, but the way he's managed the team has actively pushed them to get older and slower. Since the Cup, we've seen repeated moves to trade away youth and speed. And when he opts not to trade a 30 year old re-tread like Sheary because he wants to continue negotiating an extension, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence that he's going to change away from that.

Nobody is demanding it be accomplished in one week. But people are lamenting that we juts past one of the deadlines along the way, and the type of drastic change that's required has yet to be broached combined with management giving indications that they still value the same type of marginal veteran players that have led to this mess in the first place.

I shot down the argument that AHL players need to stay in the AHL to experience a winning environment already. They can get their NHL cup of coffee, then return to Hershey for the playoffs. It's what the Capitals did in the past, plenty of times. Hershey isn't at risk of falling out of the playoffs, and is even in minimal risk of losing their first round bye. Get these kids some time in the NHL to develop at the next step, and to help inform management of where they are in their development at the top pro level, then they can go back to Hershey to continue building up that winning culture.

Well, if you've already schooled us all. Shame on me, I guess.

To my mind, playing on this Caps team right now is not a particularly tasty cup of coffee. But if you think discombobulated and disgruntled is a good environment for the kids, who am I to dare disagree?

As for the deadline, if you're really that upset that they didn't ship Sheary off and away from his newborn son for next to nothing--or if you cannot accept that they're gonna need some grinder types no matter what else they do--I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Holtbyisms]

If this team wants to really do anything in the off-season we're going to have to pay to do it and that means packaging our passengers with picks or prospects to get value back. Who out there is trading anything for Mantha, Oshie or Kuzy that's valuable? Nobody it taking Mantha or Oshie without us sweetening the deal. Kuzy in the other hand could probably return an asset but who got that kind of cap room and wants to give up a young star to get him? I'm not sure why anybody here thinks there are moves to make in the off-season that make us competitive again in the near future. Fact is we're still cap strapped and we're not going to look much different next season unless we have a significantly worse roster.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

If this team wants to really do anything in the off-season we're going to have to pay to do it and that means packaging our passengers with picks or prospects to get value back. Who out there is trading anything for Mantha, Oshie or Kuzy that's valuable? Nobody it taking Mantha or Oshie without us sweetening the deal. Kuzy in the other hand could probably return an asset but who got that kind of cap room and wants to give up a young star to get him? I'm not sure why anybody here thinks there are moves to make in the off-season that make us competitive again in the near future. Fact is we're still cap strapped and we're not going to look much different next season unless we have a significantly worse roster.

I still think Seattle would take Oshie for marketing reasons and to have a solid veteran.

 

[Hivemind]

Well, if you've already schooled us all. Shame on me, I guess.

To my mind, playing on this Caps team right now is not a particularly tasty cup of coffee. But if you think discombobulated and disgruntled is a good environment for the kids, who am I to dare disagree?

As for the deadline, if you're really that upset that they didn't ship Sheary off and away from his newborn son for next to nothing--or if you cannot accept that they're gonna need some grinder types no matter what else they do--I don't know what to tell you.

If a kid's development is ruined by 10 games in a disgruntled locker room, they were never going to last in the NHL. But I guess 29-41-12 Washington Capitals team in 2006, coached by Glen Hanlon (who was later described as "having lost control of the team"), and who's 4th leading scorer was noted Caps great Brian Willsie, must have been a winning locker room - considering that Mike Green, Tomas Fleischmann, Boyd Gordon, and Eric Fehr all got 10+ games with that team (plus 73 games for rookie Brooks Laich). Or, perhaps, they were able to return to Hershey for the 2006 playoffs and their Calder Cup championship and that had a larger developmental impact than a couple dozens in a struggling NHL locker room. It's almost as if a few weeks in the NHL gives them great experience about playing at full speed, gives management a chance to assess their development against top talent, but isn't a long enough period for bad locker room habits to set in.

It's not just that they didn't trade Sheary, it's that their explicit message was that they didn't trade Sheary because they're considering keeping him in the fold. Young players can fill these complimentary roles, including as grinders. Just look at how many young players were on the 2018 team, and in regular bottom six duty. Maybe NAK is the DSP replacement (if we're extremely lucky) - but they're turning to the likes of Conor Sheary's over letting the next Chandler Stephenson or Andre Burakovsky play. Do you not think Protas has what it takes to be a grinder in the NHL? McMichael has been playing in all situations (including PK) for Hershey lately. Snively was killing penalties earlier in the season. But I guess we gotta prioritize ice time for Craig Smith over letting these guys play.

 

[Calicaps]

If a kid's development is ruined by 10 games in a disgruntled locker room, they were never going to last in the NHL. But I guess 29-41-12 Washington Capitals team in 2006, coached by Glen Hanlon (who was later described as "having lost control of the team"), and who's 4th leading scorer was noted Caps great Brian Willsie, must have been a winning locker room - considering that Mike Green, Tomas Fleischmann, Boyd Gordon, and Eric Fehr all got 10+ games with that team (plus 73 games for rookie Brooks Laich). Or, perhaps, they were able to return to Hershey for the 2006 playoffs and their Calder Cup championship and that had a larger developmental impact than a couple dozens in a struggling NHL locker room. It's almost as if a few weeks in the NHL gives them great experience about playing at full speed, gives management a chance to assess their development against top talent, but isn't a long enough period for bad locker room habits to set in.

It's not just that they didn't trade Sheary, it's that their explicit message was that they didn't trade Sheary because they're considering keeping him in the fold. Young players can fill these complimentary roles, including as grinders. Just look at how many young players were on the 2018 team, and in regular bottom six duty. Maybe NAK is the DSP replacement (if we're extremely lucky) - but they're turning to the likes of Conor Sheary's over letting the next Chandler Stephenson or Andre Burakovsky play. Do you not think Protas has what it takes to be a grinder in the NHL? McMichael has been playing in all situations (including PK) for Hershey lately. Snively was killing penalties earlier in the season. But I guess we gotta prioritize ice time for Craig Smith over letting these guys play.

Oh FFS. 2006 was an entirely different situation. Not even worth responding more than that.

As for Sheary, this is what I'm talking about. If you really believe that the comments about Sheary are make or break...LOL.

The entire team, from Ovie on down, fell off a cliff starting with the New Year. Orlov is thriving in Boston because that team is functional. The Caps, right now, are not. That's why we should not assume Sheary is worthless or that the kids would benefit from this environment. Finish the year. Finish the retool. Start again.

 

[Holtbyisms]

I still think Seattle would take Oshie for marketing reasons and to have a solid veteran.

I could see it but what's a reasonable offer for Oshie that makes us better from them or is he just a cap dump and we try to sign a middle 6 winger for an outrageous price as a UFA with his cap space? Looking at the UFA crop and how thin it is people will be throwing big money any of the impactful forwards available and signing some team unfriendly contracts.

 

[SherVaughn30]

I was thinking about the next coach today as well. I dont want someone who on his 4th team like Lavi. I want someone fresh and new so I was thinking about some Ex Caps that Ted might like.
Jeff Halpern he will be a head coach soon enough why not have the ex little caps player and ex caps captain take over?
Federov hes been coaching a few years in Russia and Has the players respect

Halpern would guarantee Fraudsythe would be gone.

 

[Misery74]

Halpern would guarantee Fraudsythe would be gone.

Count me in as one who wants Halpern as the next head coach.

 

[Hivemind]

I'm betting Mike Vellucci as next coach. The only thing this team loves more than the Capitals-connection is a Penguins-connection.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I like the Halpern idea…wonder if he’s ready…

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Halpern would guarantee Fraudsythe would be gone.

That is enough reason to hire.

 

[usiel]

That is enough reason to hire.

Other than BB rookie HC's experiments haven't been great. Seems like the second go arounds work better.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Other than BB rookie HC's experiments haven't been great. Seems like the second go arounds work better.

I want BB back not a rookie.

Other than BB rookie HC's experiments haven't been great. Seems like the second go arounds work better.

Oh an whatever gets rid of our current assistants.

 

[Calicaps]

Other than BB rookie HC's experiments haven't been great. Seems like the second go arounds work better.

who said that?

but seriously, no disrespect to Halpern, but no first-timers.

 

[Calicaps]

I don't want Sheary resigned. He'll only block the likes of Snively or Frank from earning a sweater next season. He can be a compliment to another team's roster as he will now be beneficial to this team.

This fan base hasn't even begun to endure the pain and frustration that's coming our way for who know's how many seasons. There's no quick fix.

It's time to see what we have within house. As I look at the roster/line up for next season, right now I only see two spots for forwards that are open, one on the third line and one on the fourth line.


Maybe, but the playoffs are an entirely different animal then the regular season. Sadly this fan base knows it only too well.

They're not going to do a full rebuild, waiting years for a roster full of draftees to mature, because Ovi doesn’t want it. And what the fans want just doesn't matter for shit compared with what the franchise's greatest player wants.

Sandlin (young but established) is the model of player Mac's gonna be chasing over the next few months.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

They're not going to do a full rebuild, waiting years for a roster full of draftees to mature, because Ovi doesn’t want it. And what the fans want just doesn't matter for shit compared with what the franchise's greatest player wants.

Sandlin (young but established) is the model of player Mac's gonna be chasing over the next few months.

If he can hit on more of these we might not be suck

 

[Calicaps]

If he can hit on more of these we might not be suck

well since last offseason, he's added Strome, Milano, Sandlin, and NAK.

So... so far so good.

Also Brown I guess, but who knows how that might have gone... and now he's a UFA I believe.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

well since last offseason, he's added Strome, Milano, Sandlin, and NAK.

So... so far so good.

And I think Frank might be the diamond

We will know pretty fast, but he has all the lookings of a late bloomer

 

[Calicaps]

And I think Frank might be the diamond

forgot him! yeah

 

[DWGie26]

Alexyev starting to look like an NHL player as well. That is young and cheap (and fast) on the left side. I thought Iorio looked good today as well, but think they need to resign TVR for 2. Let Iorio be a Hershey callup for a year or two while waiver exempt.

I put this together tonight. 13F and 7 dee and 2 goalies. Leaves 5.7M of cap space to go get an impact forward after buying out Mantha and no Sheary.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

They're not going to do a full rebuild, waiting years for a roster full of draftees to mature, because Ovi doesn’t want it. And what the fans want just doesn't matter for shit compared with what the franchise's greatest player wants.

Sandlin (young but established) is the model of player Mac's gonna be chasing over the next few months.

You only need to look at the current roster, the contracts and when they are expiring to know that they can't do a full rebuild in the next two seasons. Two ufas (Mantha and Wilson) next season, BMAC will do what it takes to resign Wilson. The following season '24/'25 your facing a similar situation as what we just went through, there'll be five ufas (Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Oshie, Dowd, Lindgren) at the end of that season. The following season Ovie will be a UFA.

I don't envision BMAC trying to tackle a big name/big contract via free agency for the duration of Ovechkin's contract. He's feeling the impact of such contracts now with some of the players currently on the roster.

BMAC just moved out 3 forwards at the TDL, and it is projecting to only open up 2 forward positions on the roster for next season, so definitely there's no full rebuild going on.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Wilson should be signed as a cap unless he has some outrageous contract offer.

If he’s looking for a huge payday and not being part of the capitals team, we might be taking trade offers

 

[DWGie26]

You only need to look at the current roster, the contracts and when they are expiring to know that they can't do a full rebuild in the next two seasons. Two ufas (Mantha and Wilson) next season, BMAC will do what it takes to resign Wilson. The following season '24/'25 your facing a similar situation as what we just went through, there'll be five ufas (Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Oshie, Dowd, Lindgren) at the end of that season. The following season Ovie will be a UFA.

I don't envision BMAC trying to tackle a big name/big contract via free agency for the duration of Ovechkin's contract. He's feeling the impact of such contracts now with some of the players currently on the roster.

BMAC just moved out 3 forwards at the TDL, and it is projecting to only open up 2 forward positions on the roster for next season, so definitely there's no full rebuild going on.

Look at my CapFriendly roster for next year on last page. We will get significantly younger on blue line coming into next year. Young on left side. Older on the right. might take two years to get Iorio in lineup.

On forward side, you have to look at full season adding Strome (25), NAK (26), Milano (26). And we got rid of a bunch of 30-something’s in Hathaway, Eller, Gus, Orlov, Hags (and likely Smith and Sheary). That is significant change in age and roster turnover.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Look at my CapFriendly roster for next year on last page. We will get significantly younger on blue line coming into next year. Young on left side. Older on the right. might take two years to get Iorio in lineup.

On forward side, you have to look at full season adding Strome (25), NAK (26), Milano (26). And we got rid of a bunch of 30-something’s in Hathaway, Eller, Gus, Orlov, Hags (and likely Smith and Sheary). That is significant change in age and roster turnover.

Projected Forward Lines for '23/'24 season
Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Milano - Strome - Mantha
? (Snively) - Backstrom - Oshie
? (Protas) - Dowd - NAK