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

[Peeri]

The only card IMO to play short of canning the coach is dealing away Mantha+ for more of an actual star player that can be counted on to make a difference.

If we are talking legit star players Mantha + Mcmichael doesn't even move the needle, and we have done a great job of tanking the value of the latter one, by sitting him in the stands. I think it starts with guys like JC and then we add on top of that if they really want star players.

 

[Brian23]

Kovalchuk, Dillon, and even Larsson were low level moves and Chara was a minimum signing. The Mantha trade is the only head scratcher and that was basically forced on with Lavi refusing to play Vrana. They were forced to pay a premium to unload Panik (which ended as a bad signing, but he was good before that) and trade Vrana for a player that at his best seems just equal to Vrana.

Even with Vrana's issue/injuries, that one still chaps my ass.

 

[twabby]

I think if Ryan O'Reilly is available he'd be a name that moves the needle in the way Washington needs. He's an excellent two-way center and a good playmaker in the offensive zone. He's had a tough start to this year, but everything under the hood still appears to be in working order. Just a lot of bad luck so far.

I think the problem is that waiting until the TDL might be too late, and I kind of doubt that St. Louis (or any other team for that matter) is going to sell this early in the season even though they are 3-8. If Washington is going to be a buyer this year then they kind of need to act soon, yet who will be available that moves the needle this early? Hard to make the case that Washington is any better than the 5th best team in the division right now and it's possible they'll be out of the playoff picture by the TDL if they continue on this course.

Quite the pickle they find themselves in.

 

[um]

I think if Ryan O'Reilly is available he'd be a name that moves the needle in the way Washington needs. He's an excellent two-way center and a good playmaker in the offensive zone. He's had a tough start to this year, but everything under the hood still appears to be in working order. Just a lot of bad luck so far.

I think the problem is that waiting until the TDL might be too late, and I kind of doubt that St. Louis is going to sell this early in the season even though they are 3-8 (or any other team for that matter). If Washington is going to be a buyer this year then they kind of need to act soon, yet who will be available that moves the needle this early? Hard to make the case that Washington is any better than the 5th best team in the division right now and it's possible they'll be out of the playoff picture by the TDL if they continue on this course.

Quite the pickle they find themselves in.

making moves like that will have the Caps stuck in mediocrity for many years.

If the teams sucks, so be it. Sell the UFAs at the deadline and keep your picks.

 

[Langway]

If we are talking legit star players Mantha + Mcmichael doesn't even move the needle, and we have done a great job of tanking the value of the latter one, by sitting him in the stands. I think it starts with guys like JC and then we add on top of that if they really want star players.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a rental Patrick Kane or maybe a Tarasenko or something. A package like that ought to be enough, certainly for Tarasenko, who probably wouldn't change their fortunes that much. That would be more of a straight swap option perhaps, maybe with a mid-rounder. Even a Buchnevich you wonder if a bit more jam, desire to fight to get interior, would be enough for it to be a slightly better fit.

Kane would have to be incredibly intriguing for them. If they're not about changing their style they need a game-breaker. Otherwise the execution of their style needs to be substantially more refined and disciplined. Whereas maybe with Kane they could get away with just freestyling it like always. But, of course, by the deadline it may be too late.

In the meantime maybe a Barbashev style add is feasible. Something along those lines to fortify depth if the price isn't outrageous.

 

[twabby]

Buchnevich would be a guy I'd pay a lot for, but it seems like St. Louis probably has no incentive to deal him this year even if they are way out of the playoff picture.

What would a theoretical package for him look like? Mantha+McMichael+1st round pick+a little more? I'd do it, but would St. Louis?

 

[YippieKaey]

Currently we have a .467 win percentage and are 6th in the Metro with 1-3 games more played than anyone else.

Kane & O'Reilly ain't coming here.

 

[marcel snapshot]

I just can't see why another NHL team would bite on Mantha at this point. The guy is just a massive disappointment. The games I've seen him play lately, he has some strong early shifts, generates decent scoring chances that he doesn't bury or aren't converted - and then just seems to disappear out of frustration and pique the rest of the night. I'm sure there's more to it than that. But he is a guy whose inability to make much out of the tools that he flashes is just very confounding. He's like an enigmatic Euro, but from Quebec.

Anyway, I'd take Mantha + Mikey + a D other than Carly, Orlov, or Jensen for Tarasenko, if they'd go for it. But I just don't see how any NHL GM can look at Mantha and say "that guy will make us better" - cuz he sure ain't doing that here, even though he's been given plenty of slack to make it happen.

I suppose BMac could try to say it's not his fault, our centers suck, but I don't really buy that (Kuzy sucks, Lars is good and bad, and Dowd and Strome have been fine).

 

[twabby]

Currently we have a .467 win percentage and are 6th in the Metro with 1-3 games more played than anyone else.

Kane & O'Reilly ain't coming here.

O'Reilly doesn't have any trade protection, so he doesn't really have a say in where he goes unless STL decides to do him a solid and send him to a contender.

 

[trick9]

Barf.

We shouldn't sell our 1st round pick at this stage unless McDavid suddenly wanted to move to DC. I don't think our issues can be fixed by acquiring just one player, unless we are talking about players of the caliber we don't have assets to acquire.

 

[Langway]

Buchnevich would be a guy I'd pay a lot for, but it seems like St. Louis probably has no incentive to deal him this year even if they are way out of the playoff picture.

What would a theoretical package for him look like? Mantha+McMichael+1st round pick+a little more? I'd do it, but would St. Louis?

You never know what kind of crazy shit may happen as teams go Bedarding. PB's stats last year were likely a bit inflated so I don't know. I would have a hard time moving a potential top 10-15 pick (if not earlier) for almost any available winger. Even the most optimistic take would need to take into consideration their suspect C play and not altogether having the right mix defensively as a team.

I do think Mantha could fare better on a speedier team where there's more open ice to go around for his skill to take over. (The slog only makes him look worse than he is.) Or an effectively grindier team could also fit better with more effective, controlled small area play in general. The Caps are the worst of both worlds offensively 5v5. They try to have it their way and it's as bland and often perimeter as it gets. There's neither the speed to open up ice for dynamic skilled play nor the diligence for an effective, slowed-down grinding game of puck protection and battles.

 

[um]

Barf.

We shouldn't sell our 1st round pick at this stage unless McDavid suddenly wanted to move to DC. I don't think our issues can be fixed by acquiring just one player, unless we are talking about players of the caliber we don't have assets to acquire.

We all knew the Caps playoff streak was gonna end at some point, luckily this is a strong draft and we have a bunch of UFAs we can trade.

I just hope that if the Caps keep sucking that the Management isn't in denial and we can do a proper rebuild.

 

[Neil Racki]

Last month I saw Ted Leonsis in the Walmart in Potomac Village.

Couple of us in line made the 'Is that ted" face ... a guy went up and thanked him, took a photo with him

I gave him a head nod and a thank you

(I could have sworn he had this look in his eyes like "i want to give you the capitals" .. but maybe he was having trouble forming the words .. I dont know but I came pretty close to being the Caps new owner that day)

Seems like a good dude


edit -- Walgreens not walmart .. or CVS .. one of those places

Also he bought like every newspaper and was purusing the magazines.

my man reads.

 

[YippieKaey]

O'Reilly doesn't have any trade protection, so he doesn't really have a say in where he goes unless STL decides to do him a solid and send him to a contender.

I see, good point. Well, i just dont want anymore 30+ players that are currently underperforming

We all knew the Caps playoff streak was gonna end at some point, luckily this is a strong draft and we have a bunch of UFAs we can trade.

I just hope that if the Caps keep sucking that the Management isn't in denial and we can do a proper rebuild.

Almost feels like it was planned........

 

[um]

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano - Dylan Strome - Marcus Johansson
Anthony Mantha - Lars Eller - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Aliaksei Protas - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Martin Fehervary - Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Alex Alexeyev - Matt Irwin

vs.

Carl Hagelin - Nicklas Backstrom - Tom Wilson
Beck Malenstyn - Connor McMichael - TJ Oshie
Joe Snively - Hendrix Lapierre - Connor Brown
Michael Sgarbossa - Henrik Borgstrom - Garrett Pilon

Dmitri Orlov - John Carlson
Lucas Johansen - Vincent Iorio
Gabriel Carlsson - Bobby Nardella

You should start a poll to see who’s the better team

 

[kmart]

so many important players out... at least its the start of the season. i lost track of all the injurys

backstrom - hip replacment, his return is questionable ?!
wilson - acl, a few months to go
oashie - day to day
carlson - day to day
orlov - day to day

feel free to update me

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

so many important players out... at least its the start of the season. i lost track of all the injurys

backstrom - hip replacment, his return is questionable ?!
wilson - acl, a few months to go
oashie - day to day
carlson - day to day
orlov - day to day

feel free to update me

I don’t think Oshie is day to day. I think he is on IR with no timetable to return.

 

[Rayquaza64]

I don’t think Oshie is day to day. I think he is on IR with no timetable to return.

I thought he was day to day considering he was skating for most of the optional skate the other day and hasn't had any procedure announced or scheduled

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I thought he was day to day considering he was skating for most of the optional skate the other day and hasn't had any procedure announced or scheduled

You could be right. I hadn’t heard he was skating but that’s good news.

 

[YippieKaey]

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano - Dylan Strome - Marcus Johansson
Anthony Mantha - Lars Eller - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Aliaksei Protas - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Martin Fehervary - Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Alex Alexeyev - Matt Irwin

vs.

Carl Hagelin - Nicklas Backstrom - Tom Wilson
Beck Malenstyn - Connor McMichael - TJ Oshie
Joe Snively - Hendrix Lapierre - Connor Brown
Michael Sgarbossa - Henrik Borgstrom - Garrett Pilon

Dmitri Orlov - John Carlson
Lucas Johansen - Vincent Iorio
Gabriel Carlsson - Bobby Nardella

The first lineup is only marginally better. Which i guess is both sad & promising at the same time.

I don’t think Oshie is day to day. I think he is on IR with no timetable to return.

Maybe they're giving him time to properly heal in order to increase his trade value?

 

[4thTierSport]

so many important players out... at least its the start of the season. i lost track of all the injurys

backstrom - hip replacment, his return is questionable ?!
wilson - acl, a few months to go
oashie - day to day
carlson - day to day
orlov - day to day

feel free to update me

Willie should be roughly a month from now.

 

[Kuz]

I just hope that if the Caps keep sucking that the Management isn't in denial and we can do a proper rebuild.

Agreed if playoffs look unlikely they should look to add value for the future. Eller, Johansen, Sheary, Hathaway and some defencemen depending on who they resign should be available.

Mantha aswell is tradeable to a team in need of a scoring winger. He only has two years left so if Caps can get a 1st for him (Might need to retain some) he should be traded if they are out of the playoff race. He hasnt been the winger we hoped we got when aquired and

Keep Wilson, Kuznetsov and probably Strome (Unless they can get very good value for him). Together with Carlson and Oshie who most likely are not easy to trade they have a decent core of experienced players who should help Ovi get to 892+.

About Carlson Caps PP are 28% in the last 6 games and was 20% in the first 9 games. Small sample, but the question is there if Carlson cant deliever on the PP what value does he really have as his defensive play have been below average.

 

[895]

Hindsight obviously but they should have retooled 2-3 years ago with the aim of being good again before Ovechkin retired.

Realistically they are too close to Ovechkin's retirement now to re-tool even if it's what's best for the club.

CMM is going to be traded for a mediocre veteran.

 

[trick9]

Hindsight obviously but they should have retooled 2-3 years ago with the aim of being good again before Ovechkin retired.

Realistically they are too close to Ovechkin's retirement now to re-tool even if it's what's best for the club.

CMM is going to be traded for a mediocre veteran.

Are you talking about rebuild or re-tool?

I don't see why they couldn't re-tool in the summer. It doesn't automatically mean that you get worse.

This is our team for contracted players next summer: (don't get stuck in how the line-up is constructed, it's just names thrown in there)

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas - Dylan Strome (RFA) - TJ Oshie
Anthony Mantha (traded?) - Connor McMichael (still here?) - Hendrix Lapierre
Joe Snively - Nic Dowd - Beck Malenstyn

Martin Fehervary (RFA) - John Carlson
? - ?
? - ?
Alex Alexeyev (RFA)

Kuemper
Lindgren

Salary spent: 53 645 000 M
RFA's to sign (not counted above): Dylan Strome, Martin Fehervary, Alex Alexeyev.

Depending on how much those RFA's will make (i don't see any being big contracts), there are more than enough money to construct the defense to be better. I'd even go as far as saying that the roster building should be slightly easier for next season because Backstrom situation has been clarified and we hopefully aren't stuck with several long-term injuries to key players right away to start the season.

I don't think it's impossible to build a solid team from these pieces. Very unlikely that their pro scouting suddenly becomes good enough to hit the jackpot and turn us straight back into Cup contenders but for me it would make sense to continue to play the youth and let the situation play out until Wilson and others are back and then see where they are at. If they are out of the Playoff spot, then they should seriously assess what kind of changes they want to make for next season. Any UFA's that won't be re-signed shouldn't be kept and they really need to start wondering what to do with guys like Mantha and CMM.

 

[YippieKaey]

Are you talking about rebuild or re-tool?

I don't see why they couldn't re-tool in the summer. It doesn't automatically mean that you get worse.

This is our team for contracted players next summer: (don't get stuck in how the line-up is constructed, it's just names thrown in there)

Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas - Dylan Strome (Sign) - TJ Oshie
Anthony Mantha (traded?) - Connor McMichael (still here?) - Hendrix Lapierre
Joe Snively - Nic Dowd - Beck Malenstyn

Martin Fehervary (Sign) - John Carlson
? - ?
? - ?
Alex Alexeyev (Sign)

Kuemper
Lindgren

Salary spent: 53 645 000 M
RFA's to sign (not counted above): Dylan Strome, Martin Fehervary, Alex Alexeyev.

Depending on how much those RFA's will make (i don't see any being big contracts), there are more than enough money to construct the defense to be better. I'd even go as far as saying that the roster building should be slightly easier for next season because Backstrom situation has been clarified and we hopefully aren't stuck with several long-term injuries to key players right away to start the season.

I don't think it's impossible to build a solid team from these pieces. Very unlikely that their pro scouting suddenly becomes good enough to hit the jackpot and turn us straight back into Cup contenders but for me it would make sense to continue to play the youth and let the situation play out until Wilson and others are back and then see where they are at. If they are out of the Playoff spot, then they should seriously assess what kind of changes they want to make for next season. Any UFA's that won't be re-signed shouldn't be kept and they really need to start wondering what to do with guys like Mantha and CMM.

Good post, thank you! I edited the lineup into what i see as the right way to proceed.


Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson
Protas - Strome (RFA) - Oshie(trade)
Mantha (trade) - McMichael - Lapierre
Joe Snively - Nic Dowd - Beck Malenstyn

Fehervary (RFA) - Carlson (trade)
Orlov- ?
Gustafsson- Alexeyev (RFA)

Kuemper
Lindgren

This lineup needs two solid scoring wingers, one high end puck moving D and a defensively competent second pairing D which shouldn't be impossible to aquire through trades or FA. The emphasis should be on getting young players and/or first round draft picks though. Im also assuming Backy doesn't come back so plenty of cap space available.