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

[YippieKaey]

To me this is not hard. You have five clear top six forwards in Ovi, Kuzy, Strome, Milano, and Mantha. Pick your fighter between Oshie, Sheary, Protas, and Johansson for the final wing slot but those five should always be in the top six. I’d go with:

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Milano-Kuznetsov-Mantha
Protas-Eller-Oshie
Johansson-Dowd-Hathaway

You can rotate Sheary, Oshie, Protas, and maybe MoJo in at the 1RW spot depending on the opponent and situation but there is no reason Mantha should not be playing with guys who will benefit from his skill set. A Milano-Kuznetsov-Mantha like would be really creative offensively.

In my mind Oshie, when healthy, is vastly superior to Mantha and Milano.

 

[Holtbyisms]

In my mind Oshie, when healthy, is vastly superior to Mantha and Milano.

I agree, and I think Milano has proven to be every bit if not more valuable than MoJo on the ice and shouldn't lose his spot once Wilson returns. I was begging to sign him in the off-season because he's the type of player that has a chance to revitalize a career in the right spot given the amount of puck skill he has. If someone has to sit and they can't give up their precious MoJo I'd rather send Protas back to Hershey.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

In my mind Oshie, when healthy, is vastly superior to Mantha and Milano.

Yeah but Oshie is good for about half the games these days. He played 40something games last year, 50something the year before that, and he’s missed half of this season. I’d rather play him on PP1 and shelter his minutes elsewhere. If you think Oshie is a top six lock then you have six clear top six forwards and the only challenge then is finding the best combinations.

 

[YippieKaey]

Yeah but Oshie is good for about half the games these days. He played 40something games last year, 50something the year before that, and he’s missed half of this season. I’d rather play him on PP1 and shelter his minutes elsewhere. If you think Oshie is a top six lock then you have six clear top six forwards and the only challenge then is finding the best combinations.

Yeah i agree with the injury thing.

 

[DWGie26]

I still don’t know why we aren’t trying Mantha at 1RW. He is good in front of the net and I think that pairs well with OV and Strome. Sheary brings speed and defense which is probably why. It’s only two games, but Milano, Kuzy, Oshie is looking real good right now so I wouldn’t break that up unless they start struggling. I also like Mojo on 4th line… that has been our best combo since Beck went out.

I think as people come back, the waiver order (hopefully to Hershey) will be: Alexyev (for Orlov). NAK (For Beck) and probably Protas (for Wilson). I only suggest Protas because he is waiver free over Snively.

 

[Brian23]

Alexeyev requires waivers as far as I'm aware so I'd much rather they cut Irwin or something then potentially lose him for nothing. I don't see a reason Protas should get sent down with how he's played. If everyone is back, there's really no reason for Mojo to have to be on PP1 to justify a slot in the lineup so either ship him out or put him on the bench, but Protas has done enough to justify staying in the lineup.

 

[DWGie26]

Alexeyev requires waivers as far as I'm aware so I'd much rather they cut Irwin or something then potentially lose him for nothing. I don't see a reason Protas should get sent down with how he's played. If everyone is back, there's really no reason for Mojo to have to be on PP1 to justify a slot in the lineup so either ship him out or put him on the bench, but Protas has done enough to justify staying in the lineup.

No team is going to take Alexeyv in his current state. Played all of 2 NHL games. Coming off injury. maybe it is an unwritten thing In the NHL, or maybe it is how they make decisions on claims, but look at players who get claimed. They all have 20+ NHL games and there is a book on them. There is like a 1% chance that he gets claimed. We think of him differently because he is in our system. I love Protas and would like to see him stay but either he becomes a numbers crunch and we send him for free or Snively becomes a numbers crunch and gets claimed as he has a high NHL book of games, is young, and fast. I agree that Mojo will likely come off the PP, but no way he goes to the bench or gets cut/traded.

 

[SherVaughn30]

To me this is not hard. You have five clear top six forwards in Ovi, Kuzy, Strome, Milano, and Mantha. Pick your fighter between Oshie, Sheary, Protas, and Johansson for the final wing slot but those five should always be in the top six. I’d go with:

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Milano-Kuznetsov-Mantha
Protas-Eller-Oshie
Johansson-Dowd-Hathaway

You can rotate Sheary, Oshie, Protas, and maybe MoJo in at the 1RW spot depending on the opponent and situation but there is no reason Mantha should not be playing with guys who will benefit from his skill set. A Milano-Kuznetsov-Mantha like would be really creative offensively.

I would rather have Snively in there and not MarJo. Snively goes to the net, has good wheels, can recycle/dig for pucks in the corners, and can produce offensively. MarJo still disappears and doesn't have enough grit for the 4th line. I would actually try MarJo at 3C and scratch Eller! Protas should not be playing on any of the lines except 4th, since his scoring production is so rare. I would even consider scratching Protas.

 

[SherVaughn30]

No team is going to take Alexeyv in his current state. Played all of 2 NHL games. Coming off injury. maybe it is an unwritten thing In the NHL, or maybe it is how they make decisions on claims, but look at players who get claimed. They all have 20+ NHL games and there is a book on them. There is like a 1% chance that he gets claimed. We think of him differently because he is in our system. I love Protas and would like to see him stay but either he becomes a numbers crunch and we send him for free or Snively becomes a numbers crunch and gets claimed as he has a high NHL book of games, is young, and fast. I agree that Mojo will likely come off the PP, but no way he goes to the bench or gets cut/traded.

You don't put Alexeyev on waivers. That is giving 31 other teams a chance at a free asset!

 

[Rayquaza64]

just cut irwin over AA irwin doesnt bring shit to the table

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

I dont understand the vision of what this team is supposed to be now or in the future, it seems like everyone in the org has been coasting since 2018.

 

[twabby]

At first this would seem like good news because you’d think Washington should be due some positive shooting regression.

But then you see teams like Carolina, NY Rangers, Florida, Toronto, and Pittsburgh also due some regression as well and the news isn’t as rosy.

Washington has been brutal on the road this year. 2-7-2. Could just be randomness, but this road trip has the potential to be really bad and could sink their season.

 

[Langway]

On the other hand, NYI/DET are due for a dip.

I dont understand the vision of what this team is supposed to be now or in the future, it seems like everyone in the org has been coasting since 2018.

Their organizational identity is 'We Have Ovechkin.'

 

[twabby]

On the other hand, NYI/DET are due for a dip.

The Islanders success is mainly due to Sorokin, and I'm not willing to discount the idea that he is just really, really good. They aren't shooting that far above expectation so far. Detroit yes I expect a dip soon.

Either way, I see 8 teams clearly above Washington in the East: CAR, NJ, PIT, NYR, BOS, TOR, TB, and FLA. And then NYI is kind of on the same level maybe, but they have the points edge right now. They can hope PIT or NYR fall apart but I don't really see it. Their underlyings are both strong, PIT has Crosby/Malkin/Sullivan and NYR have Shesterkin. Hard to see them falling out of the playoffs. Maybe FLA gets some cruddy goaltending and continues their poor ST play. Maybe TOR implodes due to injuries on the blue line and Keefe being in a bit over his head.

It's just a difficult path Washington has dug themselves. They need a lot to go right in order to even make it this year, and even then what's the realistic expectation in the postseason? If they go, say 1-4-1 or worse this road trip it's gotta be time to pull the plug on this season IMO. Too much ground to make up, too many teams to pass.

 

[Langway]

I think NYR are probably the most vulnerable of that group but it is an awfully thin margin for error between them and NYI. Such a narrow path. Plus, NYR now has cap space they're banking after the Reaves trade and some assets thanks to the Lundkvist deal to upgrade should they see fit.

Injuries are basically their best hope but definitely they need to start closing the gap soon or else the math will start compounding on them.

 

[Hivemind]

I think the top 10 in the East are pretty clearly defined. Detroit possibly comes back down to Earth and falls out of that group. But even if Washington were to pass Detroit, it would still require 2 other teams in the remaining top 9 to have a serious slump while the Caps (only 23 games into the season) basically cannot have any more long slumps.

 

[trick9]

At first this would seem like good news because you’d think Washington should be due some positive shooting regression.

But then you see teams like Carolina, NY Rangers, Florida, Toronto, and Pittsburgh also due some regression as well and the news isn’t as rosy.

Washington has been brutal on the road this year. 2-7-2. Could just be randomness, but this road trip has the potential to be really bad and could sink their season.

Then again they are going to need heroic efforts from their elder core guys to climb out of the hole they are already. That's going to be a tall ask for the 2nd oldest roster in the NHL. They are so reliant on few guys that those guys are going to feel the weight on them later on as the season moves along.

 

[DWGie26]

I like our top two lines as there is some speed and skill mix. I like our 4th line but it needs to be solidified and hopefully Beck can bring that when he returns. It’s our third line which is just bad with Eller/Mojo/Mantha.

Pragmatically, I don’t think we can trade Eller yet because there is nobody who can reasonably replace him. Not CMM, not Lapierre, not Protas, not Mojo. That might have to wait until TDL when we are clearly out.

But i do think we can trade Mantha immediately. Someone out there sees him (and will play him) as a top 6 and PP1 guy. He also has term left so that could be valuable as well, especially if trade is done soon. And we can easily fill the roll he has played.

 

[Cappy76]

On the other hand, NYI/DET are due for a dip.

Their organizational identity is 'We Have Ovechkin.'

Someone needs to do a.gif of when stark says “we have a hulk” to “we have an Ovi”

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I like our top two lines as there is some speed and skill mix. I like our 4th line but it needs to be solidified and hopefully Beck can bring that when he returns. It’s our third line which is just bad with Eller/Mojo/Mantha.

Pragmatically, I don’t think we can trade Eller yet because there is nobody who can reasonably replace him. Not CMM, not Lapierre, not Protas, not Mojo. That might have to wait until TDL when we are clearly out.

But i do think we can trade Mantha immediately. Someone out there sees him (and will play him) as a top 6 and PP1 guy. He also has term left so that could be valuable as well, especially if trade is done soon. And we can easily fill the roll he has played.

Mantha sucks. Yes, he drives possession and creates opportunities but he doesn’t score. The man has a salary that says you better produce and he isn’t. Yes, he is playing on the third line w/ Eller but his numbers in terms of production are putrid even in that context.

 

[twabby]

There’s no way that Charlie Lindgren doesn’t have a doomsday bunker with an entire arsenal in it.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Mantha sucks. Yes, he drives possession and creates opportunities but he doesn’t score. The man has a salary that says you better produce and he isn’t. Yes, he is playing on the third line w/ Eller but his numbers in terms of production are putrid.

Read that last sentence you wrote again. A big reason why his #'s are shit. They should put Mantha in the top 6 for 10 games or until Willy gets back. Develop some chemisty and he will have a better chance to score. Eller isn't creative and isn't the playmaker Mantha needs. If he steps up, he'll increase his trade value. Otherwise, he's wasted on the 3rd line...a grinder/energy line, which he isn't his forte.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Read that last sentence you wrote again. A big reason why his #'s are shit. They should put Mantha in the top 6 for 10 games or until Willy gets back. Develop some chemisty and he will have a better chance to score. Eller isn't creative and isn't the playmaker Mantha needs. If he steps up, he'll increase his trade value. Otherwise, he's wasted on the 3rd line...a grinder/energy line, which he isn't his forte.

Agreed. He should be moved up in the line-up but even in the past when played in the top six…he sucked. I’d be fine putting back him up there with the goal of increasing his value to move him.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Agreed. He should be moved up in the line-up but even in the past when played in the top six…he sucked. I’d be fine putting back him up there but only with the goal of increasing his value to move him.

so if we dont plan on moving him we should continue him stapled to eller? especially until wilson is back trying him up in the top six wouldnt hurt regardless of intentions of trading him

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

so if we dont plan on moving him we should continue him stapled to eller? especially until wilson is back trying him up in the top six wouldnt hurt regardless of intentions of trading him

Sure. I phrased that wrong. Either way the intention should be to get him playing well so that his value increases.