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

[BallardEra]

Habs need to beat the Caps on Wednesday.

 

[Misery74]

So, we give BMac one more coaching hire?

A Cup five years ago I think affords him this. That said, he has really let this thing go off the rails.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

So, we give BMac one more coaching hire?

A Cup five years ago I think affords him this. That said, he has really let this thing go off the rails.

I can't fault the guy for his coaching hires. Lavi has his faults, but this season is on roster construction failures.

 

[um]

So, we give BMac one more coaching hire?

A Cup five years ago I think affords him this. That said, he has really let this thing go off the rails.

Off the rails is a little much. Missing the playoffs once since his hiring is not off the rails.

 

[Misery74]

I can't fault the guy for his coaching hires. Lavi has his faults, but this season is on roster construction failures.

Lots went wrong this season, but his last two coaches have been pretty awful.

But I also agree, this roster is a mess.

 

[um]

I can't fault the guy for his coaching hires. Lavi has his faults, but this season is on roster construction failures.

Agreed the roster was flawed, but Lavi screwed up Backstrom and Wilsons return big time.

His favouritism towards the vets after a hot December will always be his fault. He was more interested in politics than putting the best team on the ice.

 

[Misery74]

Off the rails is a little much. Missing the playoffs once since his hiring is not off the rails.

His decision making the last few years has been pretty troubled.

 

[Silky mitts]

I’ve loved everything GMBM has done the last 12 months except maybe the TVR extension. Strome and Gus signings were great. Got Strome’s prime for nothing and Sandin for rentals. Putting the Backstrom extension on him is like putting the Jagr one on McPhee - ownership decisions.

And I’m fixated on Brunette as coach with how Florida fell off and NJ improved.

 

[Hivemind]

The fact that there's still Lavi apologists boggles my mind.

 

[Caps8112]

in gms slightest defense, winning championships equals handing out raises which are almost always not worth it.

 

[Misery74]

The fact that there's still Lavi apologists boggles my mind.

Do you think he finds another NHL gig? My bet is he goes to coach college somewhere.

 

[Corby78]

Off the rails is a little much. Missing the playoffs once since his hiring is not off the rails.

This, and this train has been coming down the tracks for a while. Injuries to key players just sped up the process a bit. Lets be honest, the core has been aging and heading backwards all the way to 2018. We got our cup right at the end of the window. GMBM kept this boat afloat as long as anyone could.

He gets the retool IMO. If he dorks that up, then lets talk.

 

[Hivemind]

Do you think he finds another NHL gig? My bet is he goes to coach college somewhere.

I think he's still a good NHL coach, just not the right fit for Washington at this time. Put him on a team that needs an immediate bump and his Xs and Os skills, but has a locker room that can withstand his bullshit and isn't in a position to develop young players into key contributors and I think he could have short term (1-2 year) success again.

But his handling of the Capitals does not deserve any form of defense or admiration.

 

[YippieKaey]

Assuming they don't dump anyone you're looking at 2 regular spots with 10 already locked up. You'd have to imagine one of those will be a grinder like Malenstyn to play with NAK and Dowd or they sign a cheap 4th liner to take that role on. That leaves one spot now open and it's probably a 3rd line winger role where he'll again battle Protas and probably lose out.

Ovi
Backstrom
Wilson
Oshie
Strome
Kuzy
Mantha
Milano
Aube-Kubel
Dowd

Now let's assume they dump mantha and/or kuzy for picks. Do you think their "retool" has them slotting CMM into the top 6 as the big fix? Not a chance. They'd look to use the cap space to sign UFAs I'd imagine and hope that whatever big splash they make is a better mix of character than this current group. Still see no clear path for CMM into the lineup. He might not get a legitimate chance in the top 6 until the gr8 chase is over. Sad but true.

Yeah could be. But i definitely see Mantha and Kuzy and hopefully Oshie going. Bäckström 2C, CMM 3C and then they use to the cap space/trades to get impact wingers. With CMM, Lapierre and Protas in the system we're ok with centers. But who is our third best winger? Sheary? Maybe Kuzy goes to the wing though. Might even work.

 

[Brian23]

I think he's still a good NHL coach, just not the right fit for Washington at this time. Put him on a team that needs an immediate bump and his Xs and Os skills, but has a locker room that can withstand his bullshit and isn't in a position to develop young players into key contributors and I think he could have short term (1-2 year) success again.

But his handling of the Capitals does not deserve any form of defense or admiration.

But we never got that bump, so I'm not sure one is to believe that someone else will get it. There's a real chance the game may have just finally passed him by. By the end of his time in Nashville, all the talk was on how he was hurting the offense.

I also don't understand the reactionary hate for GMBM. Well, I guess I do, but I don't understand how you can have those thoughts stand up to anything past surface level thinking.

 

[Brian23]

Lots of pretty high percentages there bud. You're pretty optimistic. Good luck returning a top line winger for kuznetsov. Love the guy but realistically nobody is giving up a young top line winger for a 30+ center coming off his worst season with a massive contract.

I never said they were, I don't get trying to go off on me for something I didn't say. I merely said they were heavily likely to trade a core piece, Kuzya being the obvious choice, and that GMBM has already plainly stated he's looking for a top 6 winger. These can both happen and have nothing to do with the other.

And there's no way BMac is thinking CMM is the top line winger he's missing for his "retool". lol

And I once again said he was. You seem to have got really angsty to something I didn't actually say.

 

[StrikingDistance]

This season is on Lavi’s poor personnel management. Like Trotz, his insistence on playing aging-underperforming Vets, not rewarding the good performance of the younger players, and not firing Forsythe, was the team’s downfall. Most of the players tuned him out over a month ago.

Would be interested in seeing how people like Mantha and Kuzy perform under a different coach and system. Give them a month and if they’re still sucking, jettison their useless cargo.

 

[um]

This season is on Lavi’s poor personnel management. Like Trotz, his insistence on playing aging-underperforming Vets, not rewarding the good performance of the younger players, and not firing Forsythe, was the team’s downfall. Most of the players tuned him out over a month ago.

Would be interested in seeing how people like Mantha and Kuzy perform under a different coach and system. Give them a month and if they’re still sucking, jettison their useless cargo.

If we wait for an in season trade the value we get back will be far worse, and replacing them will be far more difficult.

No half measures. Trade them this summer.

 

[StrikingDistance]

If we wait for an in season trade the value we get back will be far worse, and replacing them will be far more difficult.

No half measures. Trade them this summer.

Let me know what brand of crystal ball I should be investing in!

Their trade value is already at rock-bottom. Under another coach with a system that is more suitable: might increase their value.

 

[HandsomeTom43]

Out of the other 31 GMs in the league, who do you choose over GMBM? Can anyone name even 5 guys they would without a doubt choose to run the organization? His drafting has been terrible and he has to own that, but his pro scouting, and trades have generally been wins since he's been in charge. His contracts have generally been market value as well. He seems to have his finger on the pulse of the team in regards to needs. He waited a little too long to address the goal tending situation but I believe he is going to shrewdly retool us. I don't know if it will actually work but if you look at his moves leading up to where we are, it's hard to be upset. Do you take Don Sweeney? Yzerman? I'd take Sakic and JBB over GMBM but that's probably it. All successful GMs make mistakes and questionable decisions.

Finding Strome and Milano for free and signing them to solid contracts were great moves, both are still fairly young and should be here for the next 5 or so years. Trading for Sandin who is here for the long-term future looks to be a great move as well. I'm fine with NAK being our 4th line winger for the forseeable future too. These are minor moves, but these guys can all contribute on a deep playoff team. It's the "stars" who need to carry their own weight.

If Wilson re-signs and gets back to form then we have two top line wingers. If you run Ovi-Strome-Milano, I'd really like to trade for Debrincat or Ehlers with some of our capital, if we get someone like those guys then maybe you run Debrincat/Ehlers-Backstrom-Wilson, third line sign someon like Zucker-CMM-TJ Oshie, then bottom line of Protas-Dowd-NAK. Obviously Mantha and Kuzy are gone along with our first round pick probably. Defense is fine and goal tending is fine. I just know Backstrom and Oshie cannot be on the same line and that creates a problem, because unless Backstrom can regain *some* of his speed he has no business being on the second line.

I remember a few here decrying Backstroms contract when it was given out, but the majority of us generally accepted the fact that he deserved it. TJ Oshie's term is terrible but the cap hit isn't *that* bad. We all know they are currently anchors and will continue to do so, and I wish they would LTIR, but it is what it is. We don't win a Cup without them. I remember having conversations where some of our loved ones never got to see them win a championship despite being lifelong fans. I want to see this team win and compete and I always will, but I am grateful to these players who have sacrificed their health and quality of life to some extent for our entertainment.

 

[um]

Let me know what brand of crystal ball I should be investing in!

Their trade value is already at rock-bottom. Under another coach with a system that is more suitable: might increase their value.

Maybe you're right. I'm just speculating of course, as you are.

I think Kuzy still has some value, due to his upside and history of being a 1C/2C. However another struggling season won't help.

Mantha I don't see getting much. We will be the 2nd team trying to get rid of Mantha in a short period.

 

[Ridley Simon]

double post

 

[Ridley Simon]

Do you think he finds another NHL gig? My bet is he goes to coach college somewhere.

Of course he will. When he wants it. I’d wager our coaching job will get looked at just as closely as Lavi’s performance at it.

Guys an HOF coach. It didnt work out here, but geez fellas, put the horses back in the barn, pitchforks back in the hay bale, and the tar back in the kiln.

You act like he’s Oates, Reirden, or Cassidy 1.0.

Laviolette has the 8th most wins ever, and has the 6th best winning % amongst the top 20 most wins coached. 4th in the top 8. So he’s not some stat padder

 

[Brian23]

I know Kuzy has been bad, I didn't think this would rank him lower then Backstrom though.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Better than the Sharks (who beat us at home) and the Blue Jackets (who beat us at home). Worse than the Ducks, Habs, Black Hawks, Yotes,and everyone else. Your 2023 Caps. NHL Best Records Since Jan 1 2023 | StatMuse