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

[Misery74]

Then we’ll agree to disagree. There are a bunch of reasons why schematically the Capitals were better than the Panthers last year that I won’t go into because it’ll fall on deaf ears since Lavi bad but I’ll summarize it by saying the Capitals made Barkov and Huberdeau non-factors and made life very uncomfortable for the Panthers in their own zone. They also shut down the Panthers power play. Tampa took pages from the Caps playbook against Florida but they had better players than Washington and dispatched Florida easily. Wilson’s injury was crushing to the team last year.

I still think it’s delusional that people think that some or all of Backstrom, Wilson, and Oshie weren’t going to play when they were healthy and it’s pretty ridiculous anyone blames Laviolette for that. You think the team is going to sit $15-21M in cap space in the press box? You can have issue with how he handled their reintegration into the team and his lineup choices after they were back (which I do) but there was no choice to be made in terms of if they played or not which is why I want to see some of the veterans traded so they don’t have the option to not play the kids.

My primary issue with Laviolette is his handling of youth. It’s what I believe has held us back since last year. Of course the core guys are getting back in when they are healthy, but we should have paired them with young players with legs. Instead, we paired them with veterans.

When you are older and slower, you need to counter with youth and speed. The Florida series really highlighted this.

Regarding Florida, we shut down Huberdeau and Barkov, but Verehege and Giroux ate our lunch.

Look, it doesn’t always work out. Jagr was a great player, just shit here. That’s how I view Laviolettes tenure.

This year, we are 13th in the Conference. I think it’s fair the say Laviolette would agree, this season has been unacceptable.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Then we’ll agree to disagree. There are a bunch of reasons why schematically the Capitals were better than the Panthers last year that I won’t go into because it’ll fall on deaf ears since Lavi bad but I’ll summarize it by saying the Capitals made Barkov and Huberdeau non-factors and made life very uncomfortable for the Panthers in their own zone. They also shut down the Panthers power play. Tampa took pages from the Caps playbook against Florida but they had better players than Washington and dispatched Florida easily. Wilson’s injury was crushing to the team last year.

I still think it’s delusional that people think that some or all of Backstrom, Wilson, and Oshie weren’t going to play when they were healthy and it’s pretty ridiculous anyone blames Laviolette for that. You think the team is going to sit $15-21M in cap space in the press box? You can have issue with how he handled their reintegration into the team and his lineup choices after they were back (which I do) but there was no choice to be made in terms of if they played or not which is why I want to see some of the veterans traded so they don’t have the option to not play the kids.

“Delusional”…:good way to sum it up.

 

[Ovi895]

f*** it bring Boudreau back. Pond hockey our way to 895 with Gabby

 

[g00n]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/04/21/leonsis-small-crowds-dont-justify-big-spending/80b764db-7f01-41f1-bc5a-37d7598512c9/

Easter 20 years ago, more or less

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

3 landing spots for Anthony Mantha

The Washington Capitals got it wrong with Anthony Mantha and now should probably trade him. But where would he go? Here are his top 3 destinations.

starsandsticks.com

 

[trick9]

Odds for Bedard: 6.0 %
Odds for Fantilli: 6.4 %
Odds for 8th overall: 54.4 %
Odds for 9th overall: 30.0 %
Odds for 10th overall: 3.2 %

Excellent late tanking.

 

[twabby]

Vogel either throwing some shade at Kuznetsov and Backstrom, or praising Strome.

Also a hearty chuckle that Strome has less ice time than those other two jokers! That’s some quality tanking!

 

[EHCler]

Tanking is working outside Strome everybody got the message.

It will be a long summer. What will we do with Mantha, Oshie, Wilson, Backstrom and Kuzzy who will be UFAs the next 2 seasons.
Only one of them with substantial value is Wilson. How competitive do we want to be the next 2 seasons, which younsters do we want to promote.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Tanking is working outside Strome everybody got the message.

It will be a long summer. What will we do with Mantha, Oshie, Wilson, Backstrom and Kuzzy who will be UFAs the next 2 seasons.
Only one of them with substantial value is Wilson. How competitive do we want to be the next 2 seasons, which younsters do we want to promote.

I think only one has a chance of an extension and Wilson will hold the most trade value. I think Retool is hopefull. Its going to be 8 on a rebuild if we like it or not. Red tank will be back next season just how fast.

Good news is Lappy and CMM are tearing it up in Hershey and might get a shot next season with new coaches. CMM just became a young A captain, and Lappy had his 1st hatty.

 

[Corby78]

Both will need a better development coach, and lappi is probably another full season away from being an everyday player. My hope for CCM is that we didn’t wreck his career here and he finds a spot on the roster next year.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Both will need a better development coach, and lappi is probably another full season away from being an everyday player. My hope for CCM is that we didn’t wreck his career here and he finds a spot on the roster next year.

True but I could easily see Kuzy being traded and Backstrom hurt and 2 center spots open:

I think CMM is closer and it might be his make or break season on the caps. And for this season I think sending him down was the right move. Craig Smith would still be getting his ice time.

 

[barriers]

 

[trick9]

The least surprising news of the day.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I mean what’s any vet who’s dinged thinking right now? “Shut it down”….

 

[twabby]

The good news is that all of NYI, NJ, and BOS will have something to play for.

NYI is fighting to hang onto a playoff spot, NJ can still pass CAR, and BOS could be looking at getting their 65th win of the year. None of these teams are going to mail it in against Washington it seems.

If the Capitals take care of their business they are locked into the 8 seed, with a ~1/8 chance at Bedard or Fantilli.

Even if WSH falters and wins a game, Vancouver has games remaining against LA, ANA, and ARI. Hard to see them not earning at least a point or two in those remaining games.

 

[twabby]

They have to move on from him this offseason, especially if they can’t convince Backstrom to retire. They can’t have two guys in the bottom 6 making a combined $14.95 million against the cap and being power play specialists with no real utility elsewhere.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

They have to move on from him this offseason, especially if they can’t convince Backstrom to retire. They can’t have two guys in the bottom 6 making a combined $14.95 million against the cap and being power play specialists with no real utility elsewhere.

The nerve of TJ being our 3rd leading goal scorer in only 58 games. An atrocious 26 goal pace for a season!! gasp….


I like to imagine guys who can score with speedy skilled Centers to maximize their talents….but that’s just me.

 

[crazy8888]

The nerve of TJ being our 3rd leading goal scorer in only 58 games. An atrocious 26 goal pace for a season!! gasp….


I like to imagine guys who can score with speedy skilled Centers to maximize their talents….but that’s just me.

Yea right. Keeping both fingers crossed that they can convince a guy that can still play to retire and give up a fortune so that we can keep one of the few people who actually gives a damn and is far from the problem. Maybe we can sabotage Backstrom in some way so that the team can sign two more manthas. That sounds like a good plan.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yea right. Keeping both fingers crossed that they can convince a guy that can still play to retire and give up a fortune so that we can keep one of the few people who actually gives a damn and is far from the problem. Maybe we can sabotage Backstrom in some way so that the team can sign two more manthas. That sounds like a good plan.

Lol!


Backstrom would likely only LTIRetire (if eligible)….he ain’t giving up that contract he earned and neither would a single one of us here.

I was picturing Oshie on a different line…..because goal scorers and incredible leaders aren’t easy to find in one body.

 

[Ovi895]

Tanking is working outside Strome everybody got the message.

It will be a long summer. What will we do with Mantha, Oshie, Wilson, Backstrom and Kuzzy who will be UFAs the next 2 seasons.
Only one of them with substantial value is Wilson. How competitive do we want to be the next 2 seasons, which younsters do we want to promote.

There's no point in tanking for the rest of Ovechkin's career. This was the year, 2 generational talents and 2 Eichel/Backstrom level players in the draft. Even if you don't win the lottery you can still finish low enough for it to be franchise altering. And they had the most injured roster in the league as an excuse/crutch. Next 3 just drafts aren't worth wasting Ovechkin's last seasons, and they'll probably be naturally bad enough for the last one to finish high anyway.

They're probably not a cup team but if they can recycle some players into high end offensive/playmaking wings like Marner/Nylander/Ehlers (if he stays healthy) to keep the scoring up that would be the way.

On a side note, how smart was it for BMac to go all in on the big tuff scary hitting team identity with the oldest roster in the league and a bunch of injury prone core players, lel

 

[Ridley Simon]

The good news is that all of NYI, NJ, and BOS will have something to play for.

NYI is fighting to hang onto a playoff spot, NJ can still pass CAR, and BOS could be looking at getting their 65th win of the year. None of these teams are going to mail it in against Washington it seems.

If the Capitals take care of their business they are locked into the 8 seed, with a ~1/8 chance at Bedard or Fantilli.

Even if WSH falters and wins a game, Vancouver has games remaining against LA, ANA, and ARI. Hard to see them not earning at least a point or two in those remaining games.

As I mentioned in the GDT…..Caps can maybe win a game or so and still lock into 8th. But NOT this one. Go Pens 9th in East!!!

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

It’s impossible to see a path forward to competing if all of Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Oshie, and Mantha are on the team next year. I don’t think it’s feasible for them to compete if those four guys are still here, regardless of what other moves they make, unless multiple guys have renaissance seasons and banking on that is not a good strategy. It’s hard to see them competing even if just three return. If only two return then there’s a viable path forward.

In terms of players that need to go, from most beneficial to least, it’s Backstrom then a wide gap then Kuznetsov, Mantha, and Oshie. Oshie is fine as an overpaid third liner if there aren’t other albatross contracts. Let’s assume Oshie and Backstrom are back because barring retirement, I don’t see the team getting rid of them. I’m also penciling in McMichael at 2C. He’s a good player who should be in the lineup and his low AAV will help cancel out other bad contracts. If they can go out and get a few actual top six wingers then you start to see a roster that has some potential. If not this team will be tough to watch.

 

[Ridley Simon]

There's no point in tanking for the rest of Ovechkin's career. This was the year, 2 generational talents and 2 Eichel/Backstrom level players in the draft. Even if you don't win the lottery you can still finish low enough for it to be franchise altering. And they had the most injured roster in the league as an excuse/crutch. Next 3 just drafts aren't worth wasting Ovechkin's last seasons, and they'll probably be naturally bad enough for the last one to finish high anyway.

They're probably not a cup team but if they can recycle some players into high end offensive/playmaking wings like Marner/Nylander/Ehlers (if he stays healthy) to keep the scoring up that would be the way.

On a side note, how smart was it for BMac to go all in on the big tuff scary hitting team identity with the oldest roster in the league and a bunch of injury prone core players, lel

I don’t even know what this means.

 

[Ovi895]

I don’t even know what this means.

After winning the cup they went all in on becoming a big slow physical team that was supposed to physically intimidate their way to more success (literally every player they ditched vs almost every player they acquired from 2018 - Vrana/Burakovsky/Stephenson/Connolly vs Chara, Mantha, Dillon, Hathaway, Panik, Brown), not realizing that other teams have players who hit back and getting into highly physical back and forths against younger teams with Backstrom, Oshie, Carlson etc being the way they have been the last few years might backfire ever so slightly.

 

[kicksavedave]

I don’t even know what this means.

I think it means, if we don't move on from at least two of Backie, Kuzy, Mantha or Oshie, we're not making the playoffs next year and will be right back in Tank Watch 2.0. I think its the correct prediction.

The only one I'd consider keeping is Oshie because he brings supreme effort night in night out. His issue is only injuries, not effort. 19, 92, 39 are different stories. They bring no effort at all for various reasons - For Backie its the hip, Kuzy and Mantha just don't give a crap. I'd roll the dice on Oshie one more year because at least when he's hurt we get to see a kid play in his place. Backs, Kuz and Mantha are just taking up space melting the ice and can't really be scratched over a long term.