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

[kicksavedave]

Remember that time he waved a wand and turned Brooks Laich and his crazy contract into Daniel Winnik? That was a neat trick.

Or that time he turned Brooks Orpik Making WAY Too Much Money into Just Brooks Orpik?

Hmmmmm.... Maybe he's only a genius at handling guys named Brooks.

Or that time he found DSP, Conno and Kempny on the scrap heap and they helped us win a Cup.

 

[HTFN]

Some folks love to point out BMacs glaring misses, but he's won more than a handful of transactions too. Hath and Dowd have anchored one of the best 4th lines in the league for a few years running and both were dirt cheap, perfect fits.

I feel like it's such a lame thing to say but I remember the year Dowd got here there were some people ripping on him in GDTs and all I could think was "are we watching the same guy, because this dude is gonna play". Both he and Hathaway have such obviously above average skillsets for the mentalities they also bring to the game/line, they're great role players.

One thing I really like about them is that they don't have a visually defined "stupid" weakness. I guess you can maybe say Hathaway takes a few too many penalties but he's also a world class shit disturber and almost definitely the team's appointed asshole even with Wilson in the lineup so... eh. Neither are poor skaters or handle the puck like a grenade, they contribute everywhere and generally the worst thing you can say about them is that they aren't more skilled and can't be more consistent. That's such an unsung thing to be.

 

[Jags]

Neither are poor skaters or handle the puck like a grenade, they contribute everywhere and generally the worst thing you can say about them is that they aren't more skilled and can't be more consistent.

Totally agree. And even on the consistency thing, when it does come up in regard to those two guys, it's always because they occasionally get hot, never because they've had stretches of being liabilities in any way.

So Dowd going on a run like he is now, Hathaway doing the same for a stretch last year... It's like they catch fire every now and again and it feels like we've got middle-sixers at 4th-line prices.

 

[HTFN]

Totally agree. And even on the consistency thing, when it does come up in regard to those two guys, it's always because they occasionally get hot, never because they've had stretches of being liabilities in any way.

So Dowd going on a run like he is now, Hathaway doing the same for a stretch last year... It's like they catch fire every now and again and it feels like we've got middle-sixers at 4th-line prices.

Yeah, it's always just that they couldn't manage to do a little better, not that they botched the obvious.

 

[YippieKaey]

Yeah Dowd & Hath are awesome and even when the rest of the team are sleeping/hungover they come to play. I hope they are given leeway to be leaders in the room.

 

[DWGie26]

Haters gonna hate!

 

[WanderingCapsFan]

Dowd is an infinitely more skilled hockey player than Hathaway.

I'm not hating on Hathaway, he's a valuable 4th liner, but Dowd has faceoff skills, and much more offensive instincts and skills. Over the last 3 years, Dowd has 11 goals in 56 games, 10 goals in 64 games and now 7 goals in 33 games. Just a gut feeling, but if you go back over the time Dowd has been with the Caps, I would wager he has led the team in posts hit. He's vastly underrated and under paid.

 

[trick9]

I don't get the hate on NAK here. I've actually liked him and especially that he's a guy who is noticeable even when he's not on the scoreboard. We need guys who show a pulse with Wilson out and NAK is a guy who hits everything. He's basically the exact same player as Hathaway. Which makes it so weird that Hathaway is generally loved here while NAK is an useless plug who shouldn't get a sweater.

His stats are pretty good here:
8 games | 0+4 = 4 | +5

Corsi for | Corsi against
98 | 60 (62.03%, best on the team)

Scoring changes for | Scoring chances against
47 | 20 (70.15%, best on the team) ; fun fact, Connor McMichael has the exact opposite stat line, 20 | 47.

Goals for | Goals against
6 | 1 (85.71%, best on the team)

xGF | xGA
4.24 | 2.82 (60.08%, 4th best on the team)

All while starting less than 30% of his shifts on the offensive-zone.

I'm not trying to bang the NAK to top-6 drum and although it's a small sample-size this propably isn't the guy who deserves to be scratched first.

 

[twabby]

I don't get the hate on NAK here. I've actually liked him and especially that he's a guy who is noticeable even when he's not on the scoreboard. We need guys who show a pulse with Wilson out and NAK is a guy who hits everything. He's basically the exact same player as Hathaway. Which makes it so weird that Hathaway is generally loved here while NAK is an useless plug who shouldn't get a sweater.

His stats are pretty good here:
8 games | 0+4 = 4 | +5

Corsi for | Corsi against
98 | 60 (62.03%, best on the team)

Scoring changes for | Scoring chances against
47 | 20 (70.15%, best on the team) ; fun fact, Connor McMichael has the exact opposite stat line, 20 | 47.

Goals for | Goals against
6 | 1 (85.71%, best on the team)

xGF | xGA
4.24 | 2.82 (60.08%, 4th best on the team)

All while starting less than 30% of his shifts on the offensive-zone.

I'm not trying to bang the NAK to top-6 drum and although it's a small sample-size this propably isn't the guy who deserves to be scratched first.

For me it’s mainly waiting for the penalty train to begin. Historically he’s taken a lot of penalties, though he can certainly change that aspect of his game.

If he stays disciplined I think he’s earned a spot in the lineup with his play.

 

[um]

Boston the only team in the conference I see the Caps having issues. Add the Pens because this team just can't seem to show up for them in important games. All the other teams in the NHL don't scare me at all. The NYR are starting to get hot, so maybe them. This team cannot lose the easy schedule games at all after the poor start, even after trending way up rececently.

Colorado is still legit, that defence is scary.

They just can't stay healthy this year.

Dowd is so underpaid. He could easily be 3C. What a find during FA a few years ago. Gotta say we are pretty good at dumpster diving (Dowd, Sheary, TVR, Milano)

We were lucky to go from Beagle to Dowd so quickly.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

We’re almost to the “Its happening” gif.

 

[trick9]

For me it’s mainly waiting for the penalty train to begin. Historically he’s taken a lot of penalties, though he can certainly change that aspect of his game.

If he stays disciplined I think he’s earned a spot in the lineup with his play.

He has taken 2 penalties with the Capitals and drawn 1. That major was stupid and he sat for it. First 3 games through suspension and then nearly a month more as a healthy scratch. After that he has taken 1 minor and has 4 points in 4 games. So far he seems to have learned his lesson and has earned his spot.

 

[Raikkonen]

Hath is slowing down. Dowd is here to stay. I mean you can find another RW to play 4th line next season and be better along the way.

Pity Brown went down too soon.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Hath is slowing down. Dowd is here to stay. I mean you can find another RW to play 4th line next season and be better along the way.

Pity Brown went down too soon.

But a guy that brings Hathaway’s grit isn’t just any body who can skate a 4th line role. I’ve been pulling for Malenstyn to make the club for a while and he brings a lot of what Hathaway does, but not that nasty edge that only he and Wilson truly bring.

Trying to save $750k on the 4th line seems like missing the bigger picture to me for this off-season.

 

[Raikkonen]

speed kills. you can't use grit if you can't catch anybody. him slowing down is only my impression though

 

[KaraLupin]

Connor Brown expected back this season? What line was he playing when he got injured?

 

[Brian23]

Connor Brown expected back this season? What line was he playing when he got injured?

Out for the year, was on the 3rd but I'd bet he'd be in the top 6 with injuries we've had.

I kinda hope they can give him a one year deal and a shot next year though.

 

[YippieKaey]

There are good options for the 4th line in Malenstyn and NAK. Snively could be added to bring some offensive flavour and speed, or Connor Brown could play there if we really want to make it a shutdown line. I like Hath and his caphit ain't huge, he seems to have good chemistry with Dowd so i say we keep him and add one of the above mentioned players.

 

[Hivemind]

I love Hath, but they should let him go after this season. Aside of Leason being claimed on waivers (as I alluded might happen), not much has changed on this in my opinion since I posted about it in August. The 4th line is great, but building your team around your 4th line is letting the tail wag the dog. 4th liners come and go over time, and we've let other quality 4th liners go over the years and I don't think we've ever really regretted it. Even when internal replacements have failed, we've been able to find great 4th line replacements off the scrap heap (Beagle a UDFA, DSP on a 2-way contract, Matt Hendricks on an PTO, NAK on waivers, etc). The most "troubling" thing that could happen to 4RW next year is if Protas earns a permanent top 9 spot simultaneous to Malenstyn underwhelming (which in my book he did in his 5 games so far this year) and NAK walking in free agency. And even in that scenario, Ethen Frank has played himself into consideration of a two-way contract next year.

Hatheway fills his role well, but 4th liners generally aren't terribly hard to replace and the Capitals have historically benefited from moving on from their 4th line grinders rather than hanging on past their expiration dates. There's already enough roster congestion as it is, so they should let this spot be an opportunity for turnover going forwards.

 

[DWGie26]

I also love Hath but gotta find places to move on, and get younger, versus keeping everyone together. hath and Eller are those guys. I think Mojo as well. All have been good and Will be hard to say goodbye, but…

I’m out on Brown as well. Just didn’t work out with his injury, But likely that Caps move on. The right side will have Wilson, Oshie for sure. then you have Mantha, Sheary, Protas who can all play right side. Then NAK could be re-signed, Ethan Frank, Rybinski, and even Sutter could be in the mix for 4RW.

 

[twabby]

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary #14 on the list. If they can keep this up then being able to slot Wilson on the second line when he returns becomes a good option to bolster their scoring depth.

 

[kicksavedave]

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary #14 on the list. If they can keep this up then being able to slot Wilson on the second line when he returns becomes a good option to bolster their scoring depth.

I thought I read they ran Ovi Backie Wilson in practice, so "if they can keep this up" may not be a thing.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary #14 on the list. If they can keep this up then being able to slot Wilson on the second line when he returns becomes a good option to bolster their scoring depth.

Dont feel great about playing the #3 line tonight they are fast and have tons of skill.

Also damn Devils have the top line and its not even the Hughes line. Sucked we gifted them and top D and goalie LOL

 

[DWGie26]

Dont feel great about playing the #3 line tonight they are fast and have tons of skill.

Also damn Devils have the top line and its not even the Hughes line. Sucked we gifted them and top D and goalie LOL

to be fair, they did pay. Chesley could be better than Siegs.