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

[twabby]

I don't understand why so many seem to think the TDL was the defining moment for this team.

It was a snowball that they sent rolling downhill, it won't be till the offseason before you see how big it gets or where it lands. GMBM says he wants/needs a top 6 winger, expect him to go out and get a top 6 winger.

Now if you don't agree with that assessment, that's something else. But acting like they're doing doing anything is just plain ridiculous.

I think the defining characteristic of whether this retool is going to be successful and a true retool rather than just more window dressing is whether they actually alter their nonperforming core players or not. Jettisoning Mantha likely isn't going to provide enough cap space to make truly impactful acquisitions this offseason. I think if they have any hope of being competitive next year they need at least one acquisition in the top 6 forwards and probably two. They also probably need another top 4 LD.

With Backstrom and Kuznetsov making $17 million against the cap I think it's impossible to keep both of them and fill out the rest of the roster.

Acquiring Sandin is a really, really good start but it's not nearly enough. If they just e.g. trade for Schmaltz, get rid of Mantha, and call it a day I don't think it can be considered a serious retool effort.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Personally I think what they are doing now is the worst compromise. They signed older players to longer contracts but also have no top young talent coming. To me that is a recipe for decade long mediocrity.

There was always a good chance this was going to happen. The core won a Cup as they were getting older and a bunch of guys got paid. They put their faith in the guys that delivered them to the Cup. It’s understandable why they did that and their hope was that not all of these guys would fall off a cliff at the same time.

I think the defining characteristic of whether this retool is going to be successful and a true retool rather than just more window dressing is whether they actually alter their nonperforming core players or not. Jettisoning Mantha likely isn't going to provide enough cap space to make truly impactful acquisitions this offseason. I think if they have any hope of being competitive next year they need at least one acquisition in the top 6 forwards and probably two. They also probably need another top 4 LD.

With Backstrom and Kuznetsov making $17 million against the cap I think it's impossible to keep both of them and fill out the rest of the roster.

Acquiring Sandin is a really, really good start but it's not nearly enough. If they just e.g. trade for Schmaltz, get rid of Mantha, and call it a day I don't think it can be considered a serious retool effort.

I think expectations need to be realistic. They’re not going to trade Backstrom even though it would be the most prudent move so you’re looking at moving out Kuznetsov or Oshie in addition to Mantha if you’re talking about a pretty comprehensive retool. If you do that then you’re talking about finding a top or second line center and a top six wing or two top six wings (if the guys leaving are Mantha and Oshie).

That’s in addition to finding a top four defenseman. A lot of big parts to try and find in one summer. Would they look at JT Miller and Jesper Bratt as possible additions? Could be an interesting and revamped top six if you have some combination of Ovechkin, Strome, Wilson, Miller, Bratt, and Milano/Oshie. Will they cheap out on filling out the defense and allocate their dollars to the forward ranks when they already have a ton of money committed up top? Are they going to hold spots for any of the young guys to compete? Do they want to go top heavy at forward or do they want try and have a lot of depth again? A lot of questions, not a lot of time to find answers.

They’re going to move one substantial piece to add someone new to the top six but I think expecting multiple top six moves and a top four defenseman acquisition is setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s not impossible and I think BMac is one of the more aggressive GMs who does what he says he will, and he may want to be extra bold if he feels he only has one year to pull off the retool, but it’s going to be tough to do everything all at once.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

JT Miller is suuuuch a dick……do not want in our room, around our youngsters….but I love the skill set.

 

[twabby]

I think expectations need to be realistic. They’re not going to trade Backstrom even though it would be the most prudent move so you’re looking at moving out Kuznetsov or Oshie in addition to Mantha if you’re talking about a pretty comprehensive retool. If you do that then you’re talking about finding a top or second line center and a top six wing or two top six wings (if the guys leaving are Mantha and Oshie).

That’s in addition to finding a top four defenseman. A lot of big parts to try and find in one summer. Would they look at JT Miller and Jesper Bratt as possible additions? Could be an interesting and revamped top six if you have some combination of Ovechkin, Strome, Wilson, Miller, Bratt, and Milano/Oshie. Will they cheap out on filling out the defense and allocate their dollars to the forward ranks when they already have a ton of money committed up top? Are they going to hold spots for any of the young guys to compete? Do they want to go top heavy at forward or do they want try and have a lot of depth again? A lot of questions, not a lot of time to find answers.

They’re going to move one substantial piece to add someone new to the top six but I think expecting multiple top six moves and a top four defenseman acquisition is setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s not impossible and I think BMac is one of the more aggressive GMs who does what he says he will, and he may want to be extra bold if he feels he only has one year to pull off the retool, but it’s going to be tough to do everything all at once.

I don't know that they can realistically do everything in one offseason but they need to at least have the flexibility to make significant additions during the 2024 season if they can't fill out the roster this offseason. They can't hamstring themselves with dead weight taking up significant cap space going into next season, and if they can't get truly impactful additions they need to at least let the youngsters get a shot instead of trotting out options we know aren't going to be any good.

 

[twabby]

For what it's worth I really don't like JT Miller as an option going forward. It's looking more and more like his career year last year was just an outlier. Even including last year, this is his impact the last 3 years:

A very middling PP specialist with significant defensive issues.

And I kind of doubt Bratt will be available. I'd be shocked if NJ doesn't sign him this offseason.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

For what it's worth I really don't like JT Miller as an option going forward. It's looking more and more like his career year last year was just an outlier. Even including last year, this is his impact the last 3 years:

View attachment 666003

A very middling PP specialist with significant defensive issues.

And I kind of doubt Bratt will be available. I'd be shocked if NJ doesn't sign him this offseason.

So you’re saying JT Miller is Kuznetsov? Sounds fun, I’m in.

As for Bratt, I’m interested to see what happens with the Devils. They have a bunch of UFAs after this year in Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Miles Wood, Ryan Graves, and Damon Severson and then a few significant RFAs as well in Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Yegor Sharangovich, Nathan Bastian and then a few fringe RFAs like Michael McLeod and Jesper Boqvist.

I assume they’ll let guys like Wood, Tatar, Severson, and Haula walk and try to pay Bratt, Meier, and Sharangovich but negotiations with Bratt have been sticky and maybe they decide to go in another direction and put him on the market.

I haven’t had time with work recently to really dig into potential options but it’s on my to-do list. Those guys were just names that popped into my head as potential fits who may also be on less than perfect terms with their current team.

Also it is wild that Jack Hughes is making $8M per year for the next 8 years. Might be the best contract in the NHL.

 

[trick9]

So you’re saying JT Miller is Kuznetsov? Sounds fun, I’m in.

As for Bratt, I’m interested to see what happens with the Devils. They have a bunch of UFAs after this year in Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Miles Wood, Ryan Graves, and Damon Severson and then a few significant RFAs as well in Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Yegor Sharangovich, Nathan Bastian and then a few fringe RFAs like Michael McLeod and Jesper Boqvist.

I assume they’ll let guys like Wood, Tatar, Severson, and Haula walk and try to pay Bratt, Meier, and Sharangovich but negotiations with Bratt have been sticky and maybe they decide to go in another direction and put him on the market.

I haven’t had time with work recently to really dig into potential options but it’s on my to-do list. Those guys were just names that popped into my head as potential fits who may also be on less than perfect terms with their current team.

Also it is wild that Jack Hughes is making $8M per year for the next 8 years. Might be the best contract in the NHL.

I don't think his teammates would describe Kuznetsov as ''a prick''.

 

[Peeri]

Why does OV look like he has gained like 15 years on the clock this year alone. You can tell he has gone through a lot. Bless the man.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

 

[bacchist]

Is it a good sign for us? We're not signing him again, are we?

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Is it a good sign for us? We're not signing him again, are we?

I don’t know he could look good in practice and get a league min

 

[bacchist]

I don’t know he could look good in practice and get a league min

Going from $4m to <$1m would kinda suck.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Going from $4m to <$1m would kinda suck.

Blowing your ACL out in three games on your contract. Season sucks.
He’s very well may have to settle for a player try out

 

[Misery74]

Man, this season is taking forever.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I don't think his teammates would describe Kuznetsov as ''a prick''.

So he’s a nicer Kuznetsov.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Is it a good sign for us? We're not signing him again, are we?

Why not? He was a very good second line winger in Ottawa who was a tenacious forechecker and really good on the PK. He doesn’t add a lot of skill per se but if he was a cheap middle six RW they could focus on upgrading 2LW and maybe swapping out Kuznetsov.

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
xx-xx-Brown
Milano-Backstrom-Oshie
Protas-Dowd-NAK

 

[Stan Galiev]

I like Conner Brown, but we already have several mid to low end second line guys who are not of the shooter variety (Oshie, Wilson, Strome, Backstrom). Depends on Brown’s price, but I’d like to look to add a goal scoring threat in his place. If we are not getting a shooter, I’m fine with CM24, AP59 or HL29 getting a shot in his place.

Mantha was supposed to be that shooter guy but that backfired horribly. Really a shame.

 

[Corby78]

I would take a flyer on Brown again. I was glad we did the first time, why would I balk at a cheaper contract for the same guy.

 

[twabby]

I think Brown on a cheap 1-year contract is fine if they strikeout on getting a big upgrade at RW this offseason. I don't think Brown would necessarily be good as a 2RW (I'd prefer him at 3RW in an ideal world) but he probably wouldn't be as bad as Oshie at 5v5.

I wouldn't like the same type of move at LW because I'd much rather see guys like Protas or McMichael get LW duty instead of a low-ceiling vet. But at RW it's probably fine since I don't really know that they have a RW in the system that is worth promoting.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yup….one year prove it deal for Brown and I wouldn’t balk….

 

[pman25]

Not crazy about Brown, he’s okay I guess but feel like one of our internal candidates could fill the role he traditionally fills. One of Frank, McMichael, Snively, Protas can probably do what he does anyway in terms of a being an average middle 6 guy

I wouldn’t do more than 1 year / 1 mil if we did sign him though. I’ve been saying he should probably link up with McDavid to pump his stats and land one final contract after that

 

[Silky mitts]

For the Caps to have traded a 2nd for 1 yr at 3.5M of Connor Brown they must have thought he was worth 4.75M or so, pre injury

 

[YippieKaey]

If Connor Brown returns to the player he was he is a great tenacious two way 40-50 point middle six guy. We dont have anyone like that in your prospect pool so i'd love to give him a shot if the Caps are going for the playoffs next year too. Otherwise maybe sign & trade i don't know.

 

[Hivemind]

Not particularly interested in bringing Brown back, personally. This team doesn't have a shortage of complimentary, North-South, middle six wingers. It has a shortage of guys who create their own offense. And Brown's PK prowess is overhyped because he scores SHG. He's not particularly elite at preventing goals against while on the PK.

 

[YippieKaey]

Not particularly interested in bringing Brown back, personally. This team doesn't have a shortage of complimentary, North-South, middle six wingers. It has a shortage of guys who create their own offense. And Brown's PK prowess is overhyped because he scores SHG. He's not particularly elite at preventing goals against while on the PK.

Ones that score 40-50 we don't. Might be our team causing that but still.