Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2023-24 Regular Season Edition

[VaCaps Fan]

The screaming eagle black? What size? Fight strap (I will need that for random fights)?

Message me with price if still available and I'll let you know.

I will hit you up later when I talk to my guy.

 

[Misery74]

If we are going to blow it up, and we need to, start with BMac.

I know some think he can do no wrong, but he looks to be batting .200 since 2018.

 

[hb13xchamps]

A big reason this team stinks is Kuznetsov. He went from being one of the most exciting players to watch in the league to a complete uninterested disaster. I’m sure BMac has worked the phones on him and no one wants his contract for another season. I’d sell him off at 50% retention at this point.

The Ovechkin scoring problem is perplexing. I know age catches up to guys, but he has fallen off a cliff in terms of production. Has he been hurt all year? In his own head with the goal record constantly being brought up? Backstrom’s LTIRetirement lowering his compete level? They’ve talked about how he has messed with his sticks all year and tried out a few different ones. It’s just very, very odd.

I would sell at this point. Watching the Caps play hockey right now is the equivalent of watching the Islanders under Lambert. Boring hockey.

 

[bacchist]

Two primary assist last night. He's got 20 points in 35 games as a teenager playing with 3rd and 4th line guys most of the season. His English has improved significantly, he's fitting in with the guys and showing he's a good teammate. He also got his toes wet in the NHL so he knows what level he needs to be at to make the next step. Chill, he's having a fantastic year.

I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but there's really not much to fall back on statistically. His history has been inconsistent and kind of underwhelming. Stats alone point to him being kind of average. I'm not saying he's not good at hockey and won't eventually earn a spot on the Caps, but I see little indication that he's going to be a dominant player.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

If we are going to blow it up, and we need to, start with BMac.

I know some think he can do no wrong, but he looks to be batting .200 since 2018.

Batting .200 with regards to what?

 

[Misery74]

Batting .200 with regards to what?

Contracts, Coaches, Free Agency, etc.

I like the Strome and Lindgren signings. I like the draft this year.

Since the Cup, 3 coaches later. Malcontent like Kuzy still here after apparently requesting a trade years ago. Resigning guys for multiple years he didn’t need to: TvR, Jensen, Milano. Kuemper looks like a massive mistake. Wasting the last third of last season by not firing Laviolette.

Here we are. Probably missing some more good, but a lot more bad too.

 

[kicksavedave]

While GMGM hit on a few later first round picks like Kuzy, Mike Green and Carlson, the fact is the Caps would have mired in mediocrity if not for winning the Ovi lottery and landing Backy at 4 overall. If this team wants to compete any time in the next decade, they need to tank properly and land some franchise changing talent at the very top of the draft*. There really isn't any other formula, period. Basically all the contenders have had to go through this and all the teams that have been mired at the back of the first round for a decade are starting to regress back to the pack.

This half measure, walk the line, try to retool while competing, is a guaranteed loser strategy that will set them back a decade.

* I'd add that a Ryan Leonard, while he looks to be a nice player, he is not a franchise cornerstone type of player. They need to tank harder than last year, and this *gestures to all of this season* isn't cutting it.

 

[traparatus]

While GMGM hit on a few later first round picks like Kuzy, Mike Green and Carlson, the fact is the Caps would have mired in mediocrity if not for winning the Ovi lottery and landing Backy at 4 overall. If this team wants to compete any time in the next decade, they need to tank properly and land some franchise changing talent at the very top of the draft*. There really isn't any other formula, period. Basically all the contenders have had to go through this and all the teams that have been mired at the back of the first round for a decade are starting to regress back to the pack.

This half measure, walk the line, try to retool while competing, is a guaranteed loser strategy that will set them back a decade.

* I'd add that a Ryan Leonard, while he looks to be a nice place, he is not a franchise cornerstone type of player. They need to tank harder than last year, and this *gestures to all of this season* isn't cutting it.

Tank harder, draft better.

It's a real shame that the way the NHL is setup leaves no other options for building a successful team. It is what it is. Going through the list of successful franchises of the salary cap era, it's near impossible to find a team that didn't bottom out and still achieved something of note. Bottoming out is not a guarantee of future success but it seems to be a prerequisite.

It's really just Boston that has managed to to keep rolling along without hitting rock bottom. If you want to be like Boston, though, you have to start drafting players like Pastrnak, Bergeron, McAvoy, Marchand. Not going to get anywhere if your stand out draft pick is freaking Protas.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Next year will certainly be a full tank year, IMO. I’d wager we will have a decent sell off in about a month, and limp home as we did last year. Get an 8ish or so pick again, and then continue to sell over the summer.

If Ovy is cooked (truly sad for me, if so), then it’s full throttle to the bottom for me.

But I’m not there yet. Give me another month.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Hawks are doing it they won Bedard and about to be a top 3 pick again. Sucks the team has the hockey gods when they should have bad karma

 

[bacchist]

While GMGM hit on a few later first round picks like Kuzy, Mike Green and Carlson, the fact is the Caps would have mired in mediocrity if not for winning the Ovi lottery and landing Backy at 4 overall. If this team wants to compete any time in the next decade, they need to tank properly and land some franchise changing talent at the very top of the draft*. There really isn't any other formula, period. Basically all the contenders have had to go through this and all the teams that have been mired at the back of the first round for a decade are starting to regress back to the pack.

This half measure, walk the line, try to retool while competing, is a guaranteed loser strategy that will set them back a decade.

* I'd add that a Ryan Leonard, while he looks to be a nice place, he is not a franchise cornerstone type of player. They need to tank harder than last year, and this *gestures to all of this season* isn't cutting it.

Agree on Leonard. He is a good complementary piece, but I don't think he's the guy you build around long term.

 

[RedRocking]

I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but there's really not much to fall back on statistically. His history has been inconsistent and kind of underwhelming. Stats alone point to him being kind of average. I'm not saying he's not good at hockey and won't eventually earn a spot on the Caps, but I see little indication that he's going to be a dominant player.

While much of that is true, and he is a bit of an enigma as a player, this might be a case where you want to look past the numbers.

This kid is coming off a terrible illness (esp for someone so young), and has only played half a season in NA. Context matters.

Plus, you can see he has traits that will translate to the next level: his shot, frame, and compete level.

I know he’s not some undersized long shot that can be used to prove something about analytics - but maybe cut him some slack?

 

[bacchist]

While much of that is true, and he is a bit of an enigma as a player, this might be a case where you want to look past the numbers.

This kid is coming off a terrible illness (esp for someone so young), and has only played half a season in NA. Context matters.

Plus, you can see he has traits that will translate to the next level: his shot, frame, and compete level.

I know he’s not some undersized long shot that can be used to prove something about analytics - but maybe cut him some slack?

I am rooting for him. I hope he continues to develop and turns into a great player and has a long career with the Caps. I'm just saying I'm still in wait and see mode before I get my hopes up.

 

[YippieKaey]

Strome would easily get a 1st + and if not in the race in a few weeks then sell him and either of the goalies. Gives us assets and lowers our position in the standings which gives us better picks. Ovi, JC and maybe Wilson are the only ones out of the 28+ guys off the table for me.

 

[twabby]

I'd much rather keep Strome than either Carlson or Wilson. Strome is and likely will continue to be a bargain even at the end of his contract, when the Capitals could conceivably be competitive. If a team offers a huge haul for Strome then sure, entertain the deal. But they'll have plenty of opportunities to trade Strome in a few years if needed.

Carlson and Wilson on the other hand are already trending down (in Carlson's case) or below replacement (in Wilson's case). Their values will only drop in subsequent years so it'd be best to cash in on their names now before teams finally figure out their true value.

 

[Capitals40]

I'd much rather keep Strome than either Carlson or Wilson. Strome is and likely will continue to be a bargain even at the end of his contract, when the Capitals could conceivably be competitive. If a team offers a huge haul for Strome then sure, entertain the deal. But they'll have plenty of opportunities to trade Strome in a few years if needed.

Carlson and Wilson on the other hand are already trending down (in Carlson's case) or below replacement (in Wilson's case). Their values will only drop in subsequent years so it'd be best to cash in on their names now before teams finally figure out their true value.

Yes I would not trade Strome unless it was an insane offer.

 

[Bananas]

The Red Tank is firing up.

 

[Monsterrain]

They're not trading wilson. He just signed a longterm contract and he’s one of the few who give a shit.

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

The Red Tank is firing up.

 

[StrikingDistance]

I'm not ready for putting any blame on Carbs yet. Give me a season without Snuzy and we'll have a better picture.

He does need to shake up the lines a bit. Sit Kuzy and Ovi under the guise of being 'injured'.

No tank for me yet, but i can feel the rumble of Panzers coming down Fst.

 

[Roshi]

Hawks are doing it they won Bedard and about to be a top 3 pick again. Sucks the team has the hockey gods when they should have bad karma

I wouldnt say being worst team in the NHL for years is ’having hockey gods in your corner’. They did have great timing to suck with Bedard, but lets wait to see if they can get it going before giving them a rebuilder-award.

We’ve seen heavy tankers in Sabres. Oilers. Even Devils. Still nothing to show for it.

I love the Vegas approach. Trades and FA. Who needs draft picks.

 

[Kuz]

I dont think its likely we will beat out Flyers/Jersey/Penguins/Isles for the third spot in Metro and not in the Wild card race either where also Toronto/Tampa/Detroit are in the mix (One will get the third spot in Atlantic). NYR and CAR from the Metro and BOS and FLA from Altantic look like locks.

We are still in the mix point wise where a small winning streak we are in a wild card spot, but still it doesnt look likely that this team with the hardest schedule can do it. Down to Buffalo the distance isnt long (4 points). Then they are 6th worst. Sharks, Chicago and Anaheim is definetely gonna be bottom 3. Columbus and Ottawa is picking up some points so it depends a little on how hard Caps will struggle with their schedule going forward.

Caps last years point percentage would put them at 7th worst with 0.488 vs Buffalo at 0.479. Caps are actually 4 points behind what they had last year after 46 games. If they wont make the playoffs they can just as wll get a pick around where they picked last year. It looks like there are some good players available around 5-8. Hopefully they can get a 1st pick later in the round aswell and perhaps pick up a RHD like Jiricek who looks like will fall because of his injury. Caps seems to like to gamble on players with a high ceiling that gets an injury in their draft year.

 

[pman25]

They should have cashed in Wilson last offseason. But extended, he’s here for a while.

We’ll be a bottom dweller for several years but at least we have Wilson around to provide temper tantrums in the beatdowns to come! He cares!

 

[Caps8112]

tanking would be pulling the band aid off. Not sure if management wants to ride out the ovi era being middle of the pack competitive but they are just delaying the inevitable. No one on the team right now is part of the future so no one should be untouchable except for Ovi unless he asks to move. They are just staying afloat right now and even if they make the playoffs they will be first round fodder at best. Wonder if they could sell Lindgren to the Leafs for something decent. GMBM should be letting the others know anyone is available. the worst or best part about tanking is we are synced with the Pens. So when the league gifts them another top 10 all time player it will coincide with the caps being decent again.

 

[crazy8888]

tanking would be pulling the band aid off. Not sure if management wants to ride out the ovi era being middle of the pack competitive but they are just delaying the inevitable. No one on the team right now is part of the future so no one should be untouchable except for Ovi unless he asks to move. They are just staying afloat right now and even if they make the playoffs they will be first round fodder at best. Wonder if they could sell Lindgren to the Leafs for something decent. GMBM should be letting the others know anyone is available. the worst or best part about tanking is we are synced with the Pens. So when the league gifts them another top 10 all time player it will coincide with the caps being decent again.

He didn't ask to be moved all those years in his prime when he was being called a choker, bad captain, bad teammate, will never win the cup yada yada yada. Loyalty appears to be very important to him. So is playing for one team. In my opinion the only way i can see him asking to be traded is if the relationship with ownership begins to sour and he no longer feels wanted. As long as this does not happen promises from leonsis of a competitive team will probably be enough to keep him around.