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

[AlexModvechkin8]

That might be true for players that already have a Cup. But one of the problems of being a losing team is that it makes it harder to attract players.

They’ve made the playoffs 14 of the last 15 years. This season isn’t over yet but admittedly it’s not looking great. They’ve been the model of consistency in the NHL (and underperformance in the playoffs) for running on two decades.

This premise that players won’t want to play in Washington just seems far fetched and frankly, completely made up. Every new guy they interview mentions how Washington is one of the more respected organizations in the league. Every player who leaves talks about how great their experience here was. They have a good owner, nice facilities, great geographic location… and they might get a front row seat to or even play a part of Ovi catching Gretzky.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Ovechkin alone could probably be used as a selling point for a while

 

[YippieKaey]

I guarantee you Caps fans are waaaaay more down on DC as a destination of choice for free agents, than the actual free agents are lol…

Sure hope so

They’ve made the playoffs 14 of the last 15 years. This season isn’t over yet but admittedly it’s not looking great. They’ve been the model of consistency in the NHL (and underperformance in the playoffs) for running on two decades.

This premise that players won’t want to play in Washington just seems far fetched and frankly, completely made up. Every new guy they interview mentions how Washington is one of the more respected organizations in the league. Every player who leaves talks about how great their experience here was. They have a good owner, nice facilities, great geographic location… and they might get a front row seat to or even play a part of Ovi catching Gretzky.

But this is true for every player on every team. It's part of the professional athletes job to say these things.

But im not putting DC down, i've never even been in the US. Im just saying that players see what we see, a team that's going nowhere fast. Other things might be tantalizing but the actual hockey part is most likely a detriment now.

 

[twabby]

I think Washington is probably still a nice destination for most free agents, but I don't think most free agents are a nice destination for Washington.

The only big name free agent that I'd really throw money at is Dylan Larkin but I doubt he even makes it to free agency. Otherwise it's a bunch of late 20s/early 30s guys who are past their prime and they'd be paying for past performance.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Players do not see the Caps as some loser organization on its way down. Cap space talks.

 

[Neil Racki]

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Caps have a SC now, HoF players or soon to be HoF, an owner not afraid to spend, and a big metropolitan area with fast transit to other big metropolis areas. Additionally, they still have Ovy. If this was 1997, I would say the Caps have no chance at attracting nice UFAs or no trade clause players. This organization has made a tremendous upswing during the Ovy area in terms of attractiveness and respectability for UFAs and as a NHL franchise. Even before the Ovy era, the Caps regularly made the playoffs and known for hard workers. The days of an old Phil Housley as your top UFA signing are over imho. Now, when the Caps start losing regularly, the salary cap keeps some of the winning teams from signing all the attractive UFAs.

Oh, I would have to say taxes play a big part in UFA destination. If I were in those players shoes, it sure would for me. It would be Texas, Florida, Washington for me .

To clarify Washington state, not D.C.

 

[YippieKaey]

Caps have a SC now, HoF players or soon to be HoF, an owner not afraid to spend, and a big metropolitan area with fast transit to other big metropolis areas. Additionally, they still have Ovy. If this was 1997, I would say the Caps have no chance at attracting nice UFAs or no trade clause players. This organization has made a tremendous upswing during the Ovy area in terms of attractiveness and respectability for UFAs and as a NHL franchise. Even before the Ovy era, the Caps regularly made the playoffs and known for hard workers. The days of an old Phil Housley as your top UFA signing are over imho. Now, when the Caps start losing regularly, the salary cap keeps some of the winning teams from signing all the attractive UFAs.

Oh, I would have to say taxes play a big part in UFA destination. If I were in those players shoes, it sure would for me. It would be Texas, Florida, Washington for me .

To clarify Washington state, not D.C.

How are taxes in D.C, any FA signing help there?

 

[Jags]

That might be true for players that already have a Cup. But one of the problems of being a losing team is that it makes it harder to attract players.

Throw out everything you thought you knew about NHL destination cities. Johnny Gaudreau picked Columbus. On purpose.

 

[YippieKaey]

Throw out everything you thought you knew about NHL destination cities. Johnny Gaudreau picked Columbus. On purpose.

For a very specific purpose, i.e being closer to family.

 

[usiel]

Unless the googles are lying NetWorth roughly 4.3 billion.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Bleacher Report listed Washington as a potential landing spot for Karlsson. Take it with a grain of salt because the writer seemed way out of touch:

Karlsson might be intrigued by the idea of skating with Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin to agree to a move to Washington. The Sharks' asking price could include a young player such as Connor McMichael along with a prospect such as Ivan Miroshnichenko or Ryan Chesley along with a few draft picks, including their 2023 first-rounder.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

How are taxes in D.C, any FA signing help there?

Nope, no help there. That's why I only conclude Florida, Seattle, and Dallas are UFA havens, well for smart players looking at making money. Those playing for the NYR for nostalgia are paying a lot in taxes.

Bleacher Report listed Washington as a potential landing spot for Karlsson. Take it with a grain of salt because the writer seemed way out of touch:

I hope that is just for clicks and not truth. If the Caps trade any of those prospects away, this franchise will struggle for years.

 

[hb13xchamps]

I hope that is just for clicks and not truth. If the Caps trade any of those prospects away, this franchise will struggle for years.

The other proposals the author listed were pretty brutal. One had Seattle moving Shane Wright and a first rounder. Don’t think they’d give up on a top pick a year after drafting him and give up more draft capital on top of it

 

[IafrateOvie34]

The other proposals the author listed were pretty brutal. One had Seattle moving Shane Wright and a first rounder. Don’t think they’d give up on a top pick a year after drafting him and give up more draft capital on top of it

Sounds like an article for clicks. If the Caps make that kind of trade it would make Erat for Forsberg look like a win for the Caps. Let's cross fingers this doesn't happen, lol.

 

[Hivemind]

Important to remember that Bleacher Report is just random fans writing about stuff. Not actual reporters or insiders.

 

[Langway]

Friedman didn't explicitly link Karlsson to Washington but he did wonder if there couldn't be a fit given all of the D on expiring contracts. Not to say it will happen. But they do have the flexibility, with some retention, to consider it. I do think he's the sort of risky, win-now bet that's up their alley. He's also someone that would very likely help in the 895 pursuit. But it's probably not an in-season move and he may move by the deadline so I'm not sure it can line up.

As much as we might like for them to be patient and restructure significantly younger I doubt they'll operate with that level of discipline and patience. More likely it's just going to be targeting whatever is readily available and convenient to enable a short turnaround. Maybe they luck out and Larkin hits the market but it's an approach probably unlikely to pay off significantly. More likely it just at best keeps them mediocre and that seems just fine by them.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Friedman didn't explicitly link Karlsson to Washington but he did wonder if there couldn't be a fit given all of the D on expiring contracts. Not to say it will happen. But they do have the flexibility, with some retention, to consider it. I do think he's the sort of risky, win-now bet that's up their alley. He's also someone that would very likely help in the 895 pursuit. But it's probably not an in-season move and he may move by the deadline so I'm not sure it can line up.

As much as we might like for them to be patient and restructure significantly younger I doubt they'll operate with that level of discipline and patience. More likely it's just going to be targeting whatever is readily available and convenient to enable a short turnaround. Maybe they luck out and Larkin hits the market but it's an approach probably unlikely to pay off significantly. More likely it just at best keeps them mediocre and that seems just fine by them.

Add in the fact, Karlsson only wanted to play in lavish cities. With D.C. being an international, big metro area with many highlights, I can see where writers think this.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Add in the fact, Karlsson only wanted to play in lavish cities. With D.C. being an international, big metro area with many highlights, I can see where writers think this.

I’ll only take Karlsson if we can jettison our Carlson.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Well we had him on 1….player needs to be better.

Yup, and it's been over a month since he was sent to PP2 and the PP still sucks. Mastermind Lavi and the boys have a hard time adjusting lines. Time for a change in lines and behind the bench.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Bleacher Report listed Washington as a potential landing spot for Karlsson. Take it with a grain of salt because the writer seemed way out of touch:

Wow that would be embarrassing if we traded that much for another Carlson clone. This guy's cooked.

 

[YippieKaey]

I’ll only take Karlsson if we can jettison our Carlson.

But Johnny is playing real well lately. At least offensively.

Bleacher Report listed Washington as a potential landing spot for Karlsson. Take it with a grain of salt because the writer seemed way out of touch:

They better not do this. I love EK65 but those guys are (hopefully) the only chance the Caps have of staying fairly competitive for the next 5-10 years.

 

[Brian23]

People talk about Oshie being an albatross, wait till they see Karlsson in a year or two's time. Without a hefty amount of retention, which no one would do on a 5 year deal of that size, I am content to not be the sucker that takes Erik Karlsson.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Bleacher Report listed Washington as a potential landing spot for Karlsson. Take it with a grain of salt because the writer seemed way out of touch:

That’s a proposal that would get locked on HF because everyone would laugh at it. A minimum of three first round picks in Miro, CMM, and a 2023 1st in addition to more picks? Asinine. Maybe they think it’s still 2014 as it relates to EK65.

Unless John Carlson is going back the other way I have no interest in EK, and I certainly am not including Miro in any potential deal for him. Getting EK doesn’t fix any of the issues this team is facing and it would cost them valuable assets and cap space. Brilliant idea, well done Bleacher Report.

 

[twabby]

That’s a proposal that would get locked on HF because everyone would laugh at it. A minimum of three first round picks in Miro, CMM, and a 2023 1st in addition to more picks? Asinine. Maybe they think it’s still 2014 as it relates to EK65.

Unless John Carlson is going back the other way I have no interest in EK, and I certainly am not including Miro in any potential deal for him. Getting EK doesn’t fix any of the issues this team is facing and it would cost them valuable assets and cap space. Brilliant idea, well done Bleacher Report.

Yeah I don't see a reasonable offer from Washington that makes both sides happy. As you said I'd want Carlson going the other way for it to make any sense, and I just don't see SJ agreeing to that when they already have a better version of Carlson on the team.

I am getting a little worried about Orlov. He's been out 11 games and the fact that he's kind of skating but not ready to play is concerning. Injuries where the recovery period isn't well defined always scare me.