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

[StrikingDistance]

Can’t wait to see 43 out there again

'I think it moved'

 

[Jags]

Couple that with the weirdly opportunistic Carlson injury, not that I want to revel in it, but it's going to let them add Carlson down the stretch in much the same way without making any particularly difficult decisions.

Plus, some of us wondered last year if Carlson's postseason falloffs were because of his workload. Getting him back rested for the playoffs would at least take that excuse off the table. And if we play well without him in the interim, it might signal to management that his $8m pricetag could be expandable.

It's all kind of going... really well for them in a way that I definitely wouldn't have called if I were placing bets.

D'oh, now ya jinxed it.

 

[John Price]

 

[Jags]

Wow. I wonder if the Devils forum's version of twabby is over there posting how shocking it is that the Caps are suddenly contenders.

 

[twabby]

Wow. I wonder if the Devils forum's version of twabby is over there posting how shocking it is that the Caps are suddenly contenders.

To be fair Washington has put up legitimately good performances since Thanksgiving. Only Carolina, Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay have put up a better 5v5 xG differential since then. That’s some good company to be in.

So Devil-twabby hopefully shouldn’t be that surprised! Especially since the Kuemper-Lindgren duo is also legit, even if Kuemper has a few gaffes now and then.

 

[tycoonheart]

Wow. I wonder if the Devils forum's version of twabby is over there posting how shocking it is that the Caps are suddenly contenders.

There can only be one [twabby]

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

We need to slow down on the Backstrom hype until we actually we actually see him play. I hope he looks like a fresh player who can skate well again but I highly doubt it.

 

[Jags]

We need to slow down on the Backstrom hype until we actually we actually see him play. I hope he looks like a fresh player who can skate well again but I highly doubt it.

Maybe, but I think we're just generally happy that he's pain-free after skating hard for a month or so. And given that he put up pretty great boxcars while slow and in lots of pain last year, being cautiously optimistic about his ability to do the same without the pain and with greater mobility isn't unreasonable.

So long as we don't trade Eller (did I just say that?), his durability isn't much of a concern. I don't think the team lets him play if they believe he's fragile.

Anyway, I don't think it's premature hype as much as genuinely being happy for the guy. It doesn't sound like anyone's expecting him to come back and play like he's a decade younger. If there's any unbridled optimism, it's probably just that he figures to have more impact than whoever he replaces in the lineup, and upgrades are good.

 

[um]

What are the numbers on Kuzy and Ovie playing together?

The eye test tells me they're terrible together.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

We need to slow down on the Backstrom hype until we actually we actually see him play. I hope he looks like a fresh player who can skate well again but I highly doubt it.

It’s not like he was ever an explosive skater……

 

[twabby]

What are the numbers on Kuzy and Ovie playing together?

The eye test tells me they're terrible together.

They haven't been terrible together statistically: 52% xGF, 57% GF in 200 minutes.

But Strome and Ovechkin have been better: 55% xGF, 60% GF in 314 minutes.

 

[YippieKaey]

Around that time i was adamant the Caps were out of the playoffs and should start the rebuild. I still don't think they'll make it past the first round but still, a heroic comeback by a veteran heavy team. Nice work and i have some humble pie to eat.

 

[Calicaps]

We need to slow down on the Backstrom hype until we actually we actually see him play. I hope he looks like a fresh player who can skate well again but I highly doubt it.

Nick's game always was cerebral first. The problem recently (last year especially) was that his body was actually preventing him from playing that game. Obviously he's not gonna have a 25 year old's physical abilities again, but if his body can keep up with his brain, that's very promising.

 

[twabby]

Around that time i was adamant the Caps were out of the playoffs and should start the rebuild. I still don't think they'll make it past the first round but still, a heroic comeback by a veteran heavy team. Nice work and i have some humble pie to eat.

I think if they get the 2 or 3 seed in the Metro they have a great chance of advancing to the second round. Their opponent would likely be one of New Jersey, NY Rangers, Pittsburgh, or NY Islanders. With the way they’re playing now they should be favored against most of those teams.

They really need to avoid the wild card spot this year. Boston or (likely) Carolina in the first round would make the road much more difficult.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I'm not calling myself Nostradomus but I did say back in November that barring a stretch where they win 12 in 15, this season is likely lost and they should look to sell so they could retool this summer. Well, here we are, and they've won 12 in 15 and hockey is fun again.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Maybe, but I think we're just generally happy that he's pain-free after skating hard for a month or so. And given that he put up pretty great boxcars while slow and in lots of pain last year, being cautiously optimistic about his ability to do the same without the pain and with greater mobility isn't unreasonable.

So long as we don't trade Eller (did I just say that?), his durability isn't much of a concern. I don't think the team lets him play if they believe he's fragile.

Anyway, I don't think it's premature hype as much as genuinely being happy for the guy. It doesn't sound like anyone's expecting him to come back and play like he's a decade younger. If there's any unbridled optimism, it's probably just that he figures to have more impact than whoever he replaces in the lineup, and upgrades are good.

My biggest concern is him taking a big against the boards or a fall alone the ice (or a leg to leg whip) that his “new” hip joint cannot weather.

His playing will be good, IMO. But can he take the punishment.

PS — they should just have Tom or Ovey give him a nice solid check into the boards and see what happens. If he can handle that, he should be good?

 

[HecticGlow]

My biggest concern is him taking a big against the boards or a fall alone the ice (or a leg to leg whip) that his “new” hip joint cannot weather.

His playing will be good, IMO. But can he take the punishment.

It may well be, though, that we have to view Backstrom like we do Oshie - a big part of games he’s in, but someone we have to be capable of winning without due to injuries. I think that’s why keeping Strome beyond this season would be huge - to have top-6 capable centers available even if Backstrom’s out.

 

[usiel]

My biggest concern is him taking a big against the boards or a fall alone the ice (or a leg to leg whip) that his “new” hip joint cannot weather.

His playing will be good, IMO. But can he take the punishment.

PS — they should just have Tom or Ovey give him a nice solid check into the boards and see what happens. If he can handle that, he should be good?

At least as a center it will be less than a winger.

 

[DWGie26]

It may well be, though, that we have to view Backstrom like we do Oshie - a big part of games he’s in, but someone we have to be capable of winning without due to injuries. I think that’s why keeping Strome beyond this season would be huge - to have top-6 capable centers available even if Backstrom’s out.

It’s also why Eller must stay and run out his contract. The bad is we will get no value for trading him at the deadline. The good is that we have a lot of center depth and that is important in a cup run.

The eastern conference playoffs are going to be tough regardless of who we draw And like every year injuries will derail teams. We should be good on that front at least.

 

[YippieKaey]

It may well be, though, that we have to view Backstrom like we do Oshie - a big part of games he’s in, but someone we have to be capable of winning without due to injuries. I think that’s why keeping Strome beyond this season would be huge - to have top-6 capable centers available even if Backstrom’s out.

I agree. But that is not the best way to build a roster. Very unpredictable and limiting to spend that much on players that may only play 50% of games.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

With Carlson out the Total cap hit for our 7 active D

$11,755,000

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Gus is gonna need a big raise. Jensen type money to start.

 

[twabby]

It seems clear at this point that Mantha is going to be an odd man out when Wilson and Backstrom return. The trajectory has not been great and while I do think people give him a little undeserved flak, he hasn’t done anything of late to show he wants a lineup spot.

After that my guess will be NAK sitting, along with Protas. NAK has had a few sick dangles recently but I don’t see him staying in the lineup over guys like Milano, Johansson, or Eller.

My prediction:

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

I don’t like Strome going to wing at all, but I think it might happen. If it were me, given the same players above I’d do:

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

Who do you guys think will be eating nachos when Wilson and Backstrom return?

 

[shtorm2005]

It seems clear at this point that Mantha is going to be an odd man out when Wilson and Backstrom return. The trajectory has not been great and while I do think people give him a little undeserved flak, he hasn’t done anything of late to show he wants a lineup spot.

After that my guess will be NAK sitting, along with Protas. NAK has had a few sick dangles recently but I don’t see him staying in the lineup over guys like Milano, Johansson, or Eller.

My prediction:

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

I don’t like Strome going to wing at all, but I think it might happen. If it were me, given the same players above I’d do:

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

Who do you guys think will be eating nachos when Wilson and Backstrom return?

Posted in GDT, but seems we have same guys out NAK and Mantha.

Ovy-Strome-Sheary
Kuzy-Backstrom-Wilson
Johanson-Eller-Oshie
Milano-Dowd-Hathaway

 

[twabby]

I know there will likely be more injuries which would allow him to get back into the lineup, but I have to think Mantha has a decent likelihood of being traded by the TDL. It seems like he’s completely fallen out of favor with the staff, and it’s hard to see them keeping $5.7M in the press box when they’re a cap team who will surely be looking to upgrade in some way.

The problem is I wonder if Mantha is even a positive asset at this point. It’d be one thing if he was a UFA at the end of this year, but having another year really makes it difficult to see teams paying anything to take him. Maybe a token late round pick if they’re lucky.

 

[DWGie26]

It seems clear at this point that Mantha is going to be an odd man out when Wilson and Backstrom return. The trajectory has not been great and while I do think people give him a little undeserved flak, he hasn’t done anything of late to show he wants a lineup spot.

After that my guess will be NAK sitting, along with Protas. NAK has had a few sick dangles recently but I don’t see him staying in the lineup over guys like Milano, Johansson, or Eller.

My prediction:

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

I don’t like Strome going to wing at all, but I think it might happen. If it were me, given the same players above I’d do:

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

Who do you guys think will be eating nachos when Wilson and Backstrom return?

Well first, I think both Backstrom and Wilson could play today. I think/hope that they are holding off because they are trying to move someone, and hopefully that someone is Mantha. But once they come off IR/LTIR, we have to move two forwards. I think those players will be Protas and Snively. Then NAK will have to sit. After tonight, it looks like Mantha may get some nacho duty.

OV-Strome-Sheary (go back to this please)
Milano-Kuzy-Wilson
Johanson-Backstrom-Oshie
Eller-Dowd-Hathaway

There will probably be a lot of line changes but one i would like to see IF Backstrom is really in good form:

OV-Backstrom-Wilson
Strome-Kuzy-Oshie
Milano-Eller-Sheary
Johanson-Dowd-Hathaway