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

[AlexModvechkin8]

I wonder if BMac goes shopping with Carlson out long term. Irwin is fine as an injury replacement for a short stretch but he can’t be counted on to give the team quality minutes on a nightly basis.

If they’re looking for an apples to apples comparison, John Klingberg would probably be the closest “Carlson-like” target, though he’d cost at least a second round pick and he’s having a shitty year (but really who isn’t in Anaheim, they’re a mess). Sean Walker from the Kings would also be a name I think they’d consider. I’d say Matt Dumba too but the Wild are back in the playoff hunt so he’s probably not available. Another name I’d be interested in is Dante Fabbro of Nashville. He’s only 24 but has played in parts of five NHL seasons, is an RFA at the end of the season, and has pretty decent shot suppression metrics. I imagine Lavi is familiar with him as well.

 

[John Price]

 

[Misery74]

Now that I am over Covid, I am here to eat crow. I thought they were finished, but they are playing great hockey.

Are we buyers?

 

[bacchist]

Now that I am over Covid, I am here to eat crow. I thought they were finished, but they are playing great hockey.

Are we buyers?

I personally think we sit tight and see what we can do with the guys coming back from injury.

 

[twabby]

Maybe a depth defenseman if Carlson returns. If he can’t return by the postseason then top 4 RD makes sense as a trade target.

Otherwise with Wilson and hopefully Backstrom returning it’s hard to see where a forward pickup makes sense.

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Mantha-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie
Eller-Dowd-Hathaway
Milano/Protas/NAK

A lot of things can and will change. Their hot streak will end and they’ll slump to some extent at some point. Someone will likely get injured. But as of this moment unless they pick up a true impact talent in the top 6 I don’t see a reason to trade for a forward. They have plenty of good NHL depth at this point.

 

[Carlzner]

Maybe a depth defenseman if Carlson returns. If he can’t return by the postseason then top 4 RD makes sense as a trade target.

Otherwise with Wilson and hopefully Backstrom returning it’s hard to see where a forward pickup makes sense.

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

A lot of things can and will change. Their hot streak will end and they’ll slump to some extent at some point. Someone will likely get injured. But as of this moment unless they pick up a true impact talent in the top 6 I don’t see a reason to trade for a forward. They have plenty of good NHL depth at this point.

I forgot about him too, but wouldn't an optimistic timeline for Connor Brown equal a return around playoff time?

No clue where he even slots in.

 

[max21]

Maybe a depth defenseman if Carlson returns. If he can’t return by the postseason then top 4 RD makes sense as a trade target.

Otherwise with Wilson and hopefully Backstrom returning it’s hard to see where a forward pickup makes sense.

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

A lot of things can and will change. Their hot streak will end and they’ll slump to some extent at some point. Someone will likely get injured. But as of this moment unless they pick up a true impact talent in the top 6 I don’t see a reason to trade for a forward. They have plenty of good NHL depth at this point.

You sureeeee you want Carlson back for the postseason?

 

[StrikingDistance]

Inter

I mean all jokes aside JC74 is the second best offensive player on this team. Absolutely a key piece.

Interesting. I don’t think JC420 has been a top 4 dman since 2018.

 

[StrikingDistance]

The JC420 line cracked me Up! Well done.

But your note on them playing well without him is way off. Caps were 1-3-2 when JC74 was out.

In terms of them brining someone in to replace him… doubt it. The caps defense is predicated on systems. Alexyev, Fever, and Johansen are all better options for the system and are free.

Thanks for doing the homework. On that same note, he was hear when we went on the downward spiral. Don’t think he’s been a lynchpin in our recent success either. I don’t think Irwin can eat JC’s minutes as shown last night so hope they give LuJo a shot or maybe Fever is close?

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Lavi had comments on Carlson this morning. Sounds like it was nasty.

 

[twabby]

I forgot about him too, but wouldn't an optimistic timeline for Connor Brown equal a return around playoff time?

No clue where he even slots in.

Looks like a 6-8 month recovery as of late October. So if he hits the earlier end of the timeline that’s late April 2023 and right in the middle of the playoffs.

Tough to see who he’d replace given he’s barely seen time in the system but yeah, another depth option in case of injury.

 

[twabby]

You sureeeee you want Carlson back for the postseason?

I'd like a working version of Carlson!

I mean at some point he has to put together at least a decent postseason right? I think the formula had been working before his injury because he wasn't being asked to do too much. Orlov and Jensen are doing the defensive heavy lifting. Gustafsson had really started gelling with Carlson and made a functional two-way pairing. A Fehervary-TVR third pairing really should get a decent chunk of ice time and not heavily sheltered minutes that will drive up TOI on the other two pairings.

 

[bacchist]

Is Corsi just a broken metric? Dowd dead last on the team. Makes no damn sense.

 

[twabby]

Is Corsi just a broken metric? Dowd dead last on the team. Makes no damn sense.

View attachment 627404

Is this all situations or 5v5? If it’s all situations then it’s not really a good metric because PKers are going to be on the ice for more attempts against.

In general Corsi isn’t the most useful stat, but I wouldn’t say it’s broken.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Maybe a depth defenseman if Carlson returns. If he can’t return by the postseason then top 4 RD makes sense as a trade target.

Otherwise with Wilson and hopefully Backstrom returning it’s hard to see where a forward pickup makes sense.

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Mantha-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie
Eller-Dowd-Hathaway
Milano/Protas/NAK

A lot of things can and will change. Their hot streak will end and they’ll slump to some extent at some point. Someone will likely get injured. But as of this moment unless they pick up a true impact talent in the top 6 I don’t see a reason to trade for a forward. They have plenty of good NHL depth at this point.

I don’t love Milano leaving the lineup but this is probably close to right. I thought they’d for sure trade Eller but he got an A last night and Lavi seems to love him so I doubt that happens. NAK has played really well as of late as well.

 

[YippieKaey]

Inter

Interesting. I don’t think JC420 has been a top 4 dman since 2018.

He has his gaffes for sure but he is also the highest scoring defenseman in the league from 2018 to this day. 21 points in 30 games this season. Pretty good.

 

[bacchist]

Is this all situations or 5v5? If it’s all situations then it’s not really a good metric because PKers are going to be on the ice for more attempts against.

In general Corsi isn’t the most useful stat, but I wouldn’t say it’s broken.

That makes total sense. I think it was all situations. Probably partly explains why Ovechkin was at the top.

 

[bacchist]

Inter

Interesting. I don’t think JC420 has been a top 4 dman since 2018.

I hope you're just trolling.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Totally forgot about Beck. Seems like he's close as well.

 

[Devil Dancer]

They sure don't need a depth acquisition. Go for the Kane/Chychrun tier or stand pat.

 

[Calicaps]

Lavi had comments on Carlson this morning. Sounds like it was nasty.

oof

 

[StrikingDistance]

I hope you're just trolling.

Nope. I have a solid history of being critical of his play, especially his playoff performances, since 2018. For me, his play has not matched his pay since. I wanted he and Eller gone in the off-season…I wasn’t the only one with this opinion.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

He has his gaffes for sure but he is also the highest scoring defenseman in the league from 2018 to this day. 21 points in 30 games this season. Pretty good.

Pretty DAMN good. I mean if only JC74 didn’t singlehandedly ruin the postseason since 2018….what a bum! Everyone else has without a doubt played to the best of their abilities so HE must pay!

 

[YippieKaey]

Pretty DAMN good. I mean if only JC74 didn’t singlehandedly ruin the postseason since 2018….what a bum! Everyone else has without a doubt played to the best of their abilities so HE must pay!

I mean it's fair he gets criticism for poor play given his cap hit and wearing the A. But he's still a high level 1D when not worn down.

 

[Rayquaza64]

John Carlson has been the least of our issues in the regular and postseason. he makes a lot of money and has some rough moments but if we don't have Carlson we don't just start magically going on cup runs

As for the deadline, I don't see the need to make any moves, maybe a big splash if injuries continue but if fully healthy not entirely sure we have the need (or the cap space really) to do much