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

[CapitalsCupReality]

I have to say Strome has exceeded my expectations of him. He doesnt get much fanfare or discussion it seems.

IMO he’s just in the “pretty damn decent“ category which doesn’t generate a ton of fan love. He’s got a few years to improve that.

 

[twabby]

Strome is a perfect example of why I never care what fans say about a player after they’ve left the team. “He’s too slow he’s really bad defensively” is just nonsense!

Oddly enough, the same things have been said about Rasmus Sandin by many Leafs fans after he was traded. I’m taking this as an excellent sign!

 

[itsjustsurvival]

He plays the same cerebral style game as Nicky. He’s a bit faster than Nick ever was and I think he has a better shot but he’s not as good defensively. Still, they both play the game at their speed and have a very high hockey IQ, especially in the offensive zone.

He’s a good player. He’s not overly flashy so he won’t be a household name but we’re lucky to have him. Good signing by GM. If they can find a real 1C then Strome can be one of the better 2Cs in the league. If not, he’s still pretty solid as a low end 1C.

Agree with all of this. I also like how he's not afraid to go to the net and utilizes his hand/eye coordination for tips and redirects often.

 

[twabby]

Strome is also very good at zone entries despite not being the fleetest of foot. I suspect that is why Ovechkin posts a +26% xGF/60 (compared to league average) with Strome, and only a +5% without him. But just as importantly Ovechkin is only 3% worse than average defensively (xGA/60) with Strome, and 30% worse without him.

I suspect Strome’s defensive impact is mostly felt in the neutral and offensive zones where he limits careless turnovers. Not a lot of junk in his game, unlike say Kuznetsov.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Agree with all of this. I also like how he's not afraid to go to the net and utilizes his hand/eye coordination for tips and redirects often.

Yup, exactly. And this comment isn’t meant to be a slight at any type of fan because all fans are welcome but I think guys like Strome are more appreciated by people who played. Same as guys like Jensen and TvR. Everyone is obviously impressed with what stars can do and for good reason but I’m always drawn to the nuance of the game and the players who are consistently good at it.

I’m talking about things like being able put a guy on one hip instead of your back when shielding the puck so you can make a pass or delaying for half a step before making a move so you catch the defender in between strides or knowing to deflect a pass at 135 degrees instead of 90 degrees so you can lead a guy into space or knowing when to use an open face or a closed faced when deflecting a shot. Little things that most fans don’t pick up on or aren’t appreciated as much are often the drivers of the plays that do matter and guys like Strome do little things like that right all the time which is why I enjoy watching them. Of course we all love Ovi turret bombs or watching guys like McDavid blow past people or seeing Tom run over a dude who is 6’5” 230 pounds but it’s the little things on the ice that are normally the difference makers.

 

[Calicaps]

Yup, exactly. And this comment isn’t meant to be a slight at any type of fan because all fans are welcome but I think guys like Strome are more appreciated by people who played. Same as guys like Jensen and TvR. Everyone is obviously impressed with what stars can do and for good reason but I’m always drawn to the nuance of the game and the players who are consistently good at it.

I’m talking about things like being able put a guy on one hip instead of your back when shielding the puck so you can make a pass or delaying for half a step before making a move so you catch the defender in between strides or knowing to deflect a pass at 135 degrees instead of 90 degrees so you can lead a guy into space or knowing when to use an open face or a closed faced when deflecting a shot. Little things that most fans don’t pick up on or aren’t appreciated as much are often the drivers of the plays that do matter and guys like Strome do little things like that right all the time which is why I enjoy watching them. Of course we all love Ovi turret bombs or watching guys like McDavid blow past people or seeing Tom run over a dude who is 6’5” 230 pounds but it’s the little things on the ice that are normally the difference makers.

For Nicky's whole career, other players have noted how deeply underrated he is. And it's precisely because of all this stuff you're talking about--plus the absurd passing ability. Being a quiet, high-IQ player is not flashy but is absolutely where games are won and lost.

@twabby mentioned the contrast with a guy like Kuzy. It's a real trap that fans and franchises fall into. At his best, 92 is a game-breaker. But at even his every-day, he's a liability. Strome will never be either but he's gonna be the better, more reliable option night in and night out.

Somebody posted a chart of postseason outcomes based on superstar power or something. I confess I didn't take the time to fully digest it, but I immediately wonder how you define superstar in that context. Kuznetsov can be a superstar. But he usually isn't. Does Matthews or McKinnon playing on 1 leg, for instance, count? What about Ovi. He's the GOAT, but he's 37 years old. And he couldn't lead his team to the promised land when he was at his very peak superpowers.

Anyway, tl;dr: give me the guy who does the small things right and doesn't do the big things wrong every day and twice on Sundays.

 

[twabby]

Yup, exactly. And this comment isn’t meant to be a slight at any type of fan because all fans are welcome but I think guys like Strome are more appreciated by people who played. Same as guys like Jensen and TvR. Everyone is obviously impressed with what stars can do and for good reason but I’m always drawn to the nuance of the game and the players who are consistently good at it.

I don’t mean to make it all about the stats. Well actually I do. But this paragraph stands out in particular because I think stats are so valuable at identifying players who aren’t flashy.

Jensen, for example, has always been as good as he is now:

Yet barely anyone heard of him when he was in Detroit.

Even to guys we watch all the time, like Jonas Siegenthaler for instance, most of us (including me) missed on his true talent level. But the stats showed he was pretty much a top 4 talent who wasn’t getting the opportunity when he was traded:

It’s why I’m really excited to see how Rasmus Sandin performs in the coming years. He profiles as just as impactful, if not more, than guys like Siegenthaler and Jensen (though with a much more offensive slant). Toronto fans didn’t really care for him, but I think they’re missing something in his game just as we missed on Siegenthaler.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I don’t mean to make it all about the stats. Well actually I do. But this paragraph stands out in particular because I think stats are so valuable at identifying players who aren’t flashy.

Jensen, for example, has always been as good as he is now:

View attachment 675360

Yet barely anyone heard of him when he was in Detroit.

Even to guys we watch all the time, like Jonas Siegenthaler for instance, most of us (including me) missed on his true talent level. But the stats showed he was pretty much a top 4 talent who wasn’t getting the opportunity when he was traded:


View attachment 675365

It’s why I’m really excited to see how Rasmus Sandin performs in the coming years. He profiles as just as impactful, if not more, than guys like Siegenthaler and Jensen (though with a much more offensive slant). Toronto fans didn’t really care for him, but I think they’re missing something in his game just as we missed on Siegenthaler.

Sorry, hell no he hasn’t…..the last 2 years his (Jensen’s) game and decision making has advanced beyond your fancy stats ability to measure. He has improved….ask anyone who watches.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Sorry, hell no he hasn’t…..the last 2 years his (Jensen’s) game and decision making has advanced beyond your fancy stats ability to measure. He has improved….ask anyone who watches.

I’m not sure that his game has changed or improved all that much, to me it looks like he’s simply more comfortable in the system and with his place on the team. Being comfortable with and confident in your spot in the lineup and with the systems you’re playing has a lot more to do with improvement than most people (not directing this at you) give credit for.

 

[EYEuhFRAYtee]

You know who deserves the credit....thanks Chara!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I’m not sure that his game has changed or improved all that much, to me it looks like he’s simply more comfortable in the system and with his place on the team. Being comfortable with and confident in your spot in the lineup and with the systems you’re playing has a lot more to do with improvement than most people (not directing this at you) give credit for.

His decision making is 100% better. He used to gain the offensive blue line and vapor lock mentally over and over…..that’s changed. His defensive game seems more physical to me the last few years also….not talking hits, but bodying people more effectively, taking away space.

Go back and watch him when he first arrived and that next year. It’s a big leap up IMO.

 

[Marshall]

I'm going to be boring and ask fellow HFCaps posters to throw out a few, at least somewhat available winger(s) the Caps should think about in the offseason. I am a basic posting bitch.

A. Do the Caps want to go the UFA route or use draft picks/B prospects to bring in a winger? Targets?

2. If UFA, the top 25 UFAs per CapFriendly, sorted by TOI - we can likely remove Bergeron and Kejci:

(Also, the number of times I talked myself out of a Kip Winger joke is greater than zero. You're welcome.)

 

[twabby]

His decision making is 100% better. He used to gain the offensive blue line and vapor lock mentally over and over…..that’s changed. His defensive game seems more physical to me the last few years also….not talking hits, but bodying people more effectively, taking away space.

Go back and watch him when he first arrived and that next year. It’s a big leap up IMO.

Is his decision making better than when he was in Detroit? That was the time-period I was referring to, even if I was incredibly unclear about it.

He certainly took some time to adjust to Washington’s system. Probably 40-50 games.

 

[Silky mitts]

I'm going to be boring and ask fellow HFCaps posters to throw out a few, at least somewhat available winger(s) the Caps should think about in the offseason. I am a basic posting bitch.

A. Do the Caps want to go the UFA route or use draft picks/B prospects to bring in a winger? Targets?

2. If UFA, the top 25 UFAs per CapFriendly, sorted by TOI - we can likely remove Bergeron and Kejci:

View attachment 675560

(Also, the number of times I talked myself out of a Kip Winger joke is greater than zero. You're welcome.)

He’s not on there maybe because of minimum games played but Bertuzzi is the most logical signing in terms of age and fitting in the cap/top 6. Tougher to predict who they’d target with their 2nds and 3rds the next 2 years. Or they could could trade Kuzy or Mantha.

 

[Langway]

Seems like the initial plan is to hope for a Burakovsky/Toews/Bjorkstrand scenario to occur prior to free agency with the added 2/3s, though Toews & Bjorkstrand were both traded after that year's UFA wave. Unless they trade or buyout Mantha I'm not sure how it'll be feasible financially, though, unless it's a cheaper/younger target like Hoglander or Podkolzin. Or if maybe they've moved Kuznetsov but still kind of doubt that one lines up. Schmaltz seems preferable to a free agent, assuming the money works. Teams like CGY, VAN, TBL, and VGK all look to be up against it and I'm sure there will be others getting pinched.

Tatar I guess? Pretty meh group to where you'd rather avoid it if possible. Maybe at around $1-2M some of those become appealing stopgaps but it seems like they'll at least be trying to aim higher.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Is his decision making better than when he was in Detroit? That was the time-period I was referring to, even if I was incredibly unclear about it.

He certainly took some time to adjust to Washington’s system. Probably 40-50 games.

It’s much better now….not sure where the most improvement came, but I suspect near the middle/end of his first full season and into his second here is where he turned a corner from capable 5/6 to capable 3/4….

 

[Ovi895]

Who do they replace Lavi with for the coming years?

They probably don't want to pay 5 million a year for someone to coach them in years where they're bubble teams, but I doubt they leave the 895 chase in the hands another Reirden experiment. Perhaps we see the second coming of Bruce?

For all the issues I have with Lavi as an experienced A list coach he did understand that its Ovechkins team and let Ovechkin play his game with top icetime and overall putting him in positions to play to his strengths and succeed instead of being like Hunter or Oates

 

[hockeykicker]

Evgeny Kuznetsov has reportedly requested a trade, first asked the Capitals two years ago

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Evgeny Kuznetsov has reportedly requested a trade, first asked the Capitals two years ago

Maybe an unpopular opinion but later Kuzy, thanks for 2018 and nothing since. Time to move on for both parties.

 

[g00n]

anyone shocked by that? anyone?

 

[895]

Seeya Kuzy.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Good. Now I have a reason to dislike him.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Lol…..Don’t let the door hit you Kuzy.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Evgeny Kuznetsov has reportedly requested a trade, first asked the Capitals two years ago

Not to be lost in that…



Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan did not deny the reports.

“I think we’re always open to trading people if it makes sense for what’s going on if it makes our team better,” MacLellan said. “I don’t think anybody’s off the table. We’re not going to trade Ovi or Backy, those types of people, but you have to be open on anything. So we would talk to anybody about any player.”

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Good. Now I have a reason to dislike him.

I don’t and wont dislike him but I feel more like when a parent says, “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.” He was so fun to watch develop as a player and the “Kuzy Magic” stage was awesome and 2018 was obviously amazing but he’s been a headache ever since. The lackluster play, the Covid nonsense, late to team meetings, the cocaine incident, getting suspended for lying to the NHL, getting banned from IIHF competitions for drug use… it’s just been a lot. He looked like a budding superstar and then just kinda crapped out after he got paid and after they won. The joy he used to play with seemingly disappeared for whatever reason. Sucks but such is life.