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

[CapitalsCupReality]

It's not a speed metric, it's an effort metric and right now his effort level is too low. He could be closing out on more plays if he wanted to but he isn't.

You’re saying what….he’s loafing? Not that he hasn’t lost a 1\2 step?

 

[HTFN]

You’re saying what….he’s loafing? Not that he hasn’t lost a 1\2 step?

Yes, actually, much as I don't like it.

If he's lost a step it's not in foot speed, it's in conditioning, because the problem right now isn't him being slow it's him staying upright and not closing out on opportunities that aren't 100% direct scoring chances. He doesn't get to enough 50/50 pucks or make it hard for defenders in the defensive zone when he's the closest guy to prevent a clear. And to be fair that's always been him a little bit, but it's more pronounced right now and it takes an extra second for him to commit to the times he needs to do it.

That means he's not creating many burst opportunities unless the puck and goal are both in front of him, but when those situations arise he doesn't look tangibly slower than last year. He's not even finishing checks that the Ovechkin we know would do just to prove a point, especially when they're losing even when they're there.

That's not being slow because he's not late at all, it's just him not doing it.

EDIT: If he's not loafing I think between this and his general reluctance to really fire slapshots he might be working through something

 

[DWGie26]

Yes, actually, much as I don't like it.

If he's lost a step it's not in foot speed, it's in conditioning, because the problem right now isn't him being slow it's him staying upright and not closing out on opportunities that aren't 100% direct scoring chances. He doesn't get to enough 50/50 pucks or make it hard for defenders in the defensive zone when he's the closest guy to prevent a clear. And to be fair that's always been him a little bit, but it's more pronounced right now and it takes an extra second for him to commit to the times he needs to do it.

That means he's not creating many burst opportunities unless the puck and goal are both in front of him, but when those situations arise he doesn't look tangibly slower than last year. He's not even finishing checks that the Ovechkin we know would do just to prove a point, especially when they're losing even when they're there.

That's not being slow because he's not late at all, it's just him not doing it.

EDIT: If he's not loafing I think between this and his general reluctance to really fire slapshots he might be working through something

This is well said. Now to be fair the eye test has seen that for a couple/few years now. He’s gotta know he is better when he is flying around. He gets energy from it. Hope he finds it soon!

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Contrast our speed with Nathan MacKinnon. Already 50 bursts at over 20 mph.
That's half of the entire Caps team combined, all by himself (100 exactly).
Dude is a freaking rocket out there.

 

[YippieKaey]

This is well said. Now to be fair the eye test has seen that for a couple/few years now. He’s gotta know he is better when he is flying around. He gets energy from it. Hope he finds it soon!

I agree, but at this stage and with his age he doesn't have the energy to do so. Would be great if he did but i honestly prefer him like this, scoring 40+ goals and throwing the occasional big hit and then loafing.

Players like that are great, if you can surround them with players that compensate for the loafing whilst also being able to somewhat hang on a first line which the Caps outside of Wilson haven't been able to do.

Contrast our speed with Nathan MacKinnon. Already 50 bursts at over 20 mph.
That's half of the entire Caps team combined, all by himself (100 exactly).
Dude is a freaking rocket out there.

View attachment 756823

Would have been cool to see these stats for Ovi at Mackinnons age.

But yeah, the Caps are a very old and very slow team these days

 

[PlushMinus]

For some (obviously naive) reason, I never expected the hockey media (whatever the f*** that actually is) to start shitting on Ovie's goal chase, but here we are. Growing number of articles questioning if he's "fallen off a cliff" and "shadow of former self etc" "can he even beat Gretzky's record??" blah de blah

4 games into the season, and even after what I personally think was his best effort (the Habs game)...but there you go.

 

[PlushMinus]

NHL scheduling this is pretty funny: all 32 teams play tonight in some kind of weird promo that the NHL thinks is going to be super cool - sigh, so f***ing lame.

Then tomorrow night: the ONLY game in the entire league is Caps vs Devils. what the actual??

I guess Caps haters will get to enjoy the Devils destroying us on a back to back, right? I'm going with a 2-7 loss. Youth and piling on / revenge will be the driving force haha

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

For some (obviously naive) reason, I never expected the hockey media (whatever the f*** that actually is) to start shitting on Ovie's goal chase, but here we are. Growing number of articles questioning if he's "fallen off a cliff" and "shadow of former self etc" "can he even beat Gretzky's record??" blah de blah

4 games into the season, and even after what I personally think was his best effort (the Habs game)...but there you go.

This is all clickbait… they know he’ll pick it up eventually and this will seem silly when he hits 30 goals yet again.

Any player would appear to have declined by the time they reach 38, it’s like saying the sky is blue.

Gretzky only scored 9 goals in his final season…

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

For some (obviously naive) reason, I never expected the hockey media (whatever the f*** that actually is) to start shitting on Ovie's goal chase, but here we are. Growing number of articles questioning if he's "fallen off a cliff" and "shadow of former self etc" "can he even beat Gretzky's record??" blah de blah

4 games into the season, and even after what I personally think was his best effort (the Habs game)...but there you go.

I’m mean he’s old….players typically fall off sooner……sure it’s soon, but it’s not something to ignore either (for the Press)…..

How many games into the season does it become a “fair” question? If he goes scoreless in 10?

I’m a tad worried….because he has no support. Strome move helps, but overall it’s not enough….

 

[Devil Dancer]

NHL scheduling this is pretty funny: all 32 teams play tonight in some kind of weird promo that the NHL thinks is going to be super cool - sigh, so f***ing lame.

Then tomorrow night: the ONLY game in the entire league is Caps vs Devils. what the actual??

I guess Caps haters will get to enjoy the Devils destroying us on a back to back, right? I'm going with a 2-7 loss. Youth and piling on / revenge will be the driving force haha

What's the problem? The Devils will be on the back end of two in a row as well.

Besides, I like the gimmick.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Gretzky only scored 9 goals in his final season…

But that's kinda the worry. Wayne fell off a cliff that last season.

 

[Hivemind]

The thing I don't get about the whole "16 games, all 32 teams, bounce around Red Zone-style coverage" thing is --- NFL RedZone coverage works because of well, the "red zone." You know when team's are likely to score soon because of field position. Is this just going to be cutting between whatever team is on a powerplay?

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Espn is only starting powerplay at 8pm but NHL (caps) start at 6. Should be a cool night for hockey fans.

 

[Cappy76]

The thing I don't get about the whole "16 games, all 32 teams, bounce around Red Zone-style coverage" thing is --- NFL RedZone coverage works because of well, the "red zone." You know when team's are likely to score soon because of field position. Is this just going to be cutting between whatever team is on a powerplay?

I think that will be a lot of it yea. Bucci was interviewed recently and he said as much about PPs and I think they'll jump in when goals are scored ala redzone when teams are out of the redzone and score. Maybe jump to games where a team has the other team pinned down for a bit or something like that. Should be interesting to see how it plays out at least.

 

[traparatus]

NHL scheduling this is pretty funny: all 32 teams play tonight in some kind of weird promo that the NHL thinks is going to be super cool - sigh, so f***ing lame.

Then tomorrow night: the ONLY game in the entire league is Caps vs Devils. what the actual??

I guess Caps haters will get to enjoy the Devils destroying us on a back to back, right? I'm going with a 2-7 loss. Youth and piling on / revenge will be the driving force haha

You are a ray of sunshine.

 

[Brian23]

Really love listening to Carbs do break down, so much better then Lavi and just refreshing in general.

I like that he also seems to identify what we all see too, the defense is probably worse then the offense even if the offense isn't scoring. They're generating chances, and they need to finish them, but they've had their shots and it's just been unlucky so far. Defense has been baaaaad.

 

[bacchist]

I agree, but at this stage and with his age he doesn't have the energy to do so. Would be great if he did but i honestly prefer him like this, scoring 40+ goals and throwing the occasional big hit and then loafing.

What gives you the impression he's going to score 40 goals?

 

[trick9]

Julien BriseBois (Tampa GM) was in the stands watching Habs - Caps -game.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Really love listening to Carbs do break down, so much better then Lavi and just refreshing in general.

I like that he also seems to identify what we all see too, the defense is probably worse then the offense even if the offense isn't scoring. They're generating chances, and they need to finish them, but they've had their shots and it's just been unlucky so far. Defense has been baaaaad.

Been watching Carbery's post-game pressers and his knowledge, details, and candor are definitely a vast improvement over the last coach.

Also, heard Joe B on the 106.7 today and he commented on the PP practice looking more fluid/dynamic than the in-game PPs. At 0/13, think it's time to implement these changes.

 

[DWGie26]

Love Carbs. Hopefully he is keeping spirits high while also calling people to task.

The fact that Jensen is our worst dee is troubling. Something going on there. Hope he is OK both in hockey and in his personal life which is where i suspect the issues is. We just don’t know what it is and it is none of our business. So just want to wish him well with whatever.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Been watching Carbery's post-game pressers and his knowledge, details, and candor are definitely a vast improvement over the last coach.

Also, heard Joe B on the 106.7 today and he commented on the PP practice looking more fluid/dynamic than the in-game PPs. At 0/13, think it's time to implement these changes.

It’s his willingness to discuss them in depth….last guy was from the Belichick vein in that aspect…..

 

[YippieKaey]

What gives you the impression he's going to score 40 goals?

More than 800 previous examples.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

But that's kinda the worry. Wayne fell off a cliff that last season.

I’m not too worried, because the shot is still there. Just 6 months ago, he was still hammering one timers in. The supporting cast just needs to find ways to feed him the puck consistently on the PP.

 

[kicksavedave]

Love Carbs. Hopefully he is keeping spirits high while also calling people to task.

The fact that Jensen is our worst dee is troubling. Something going on there. Hope he is OK both in hockey and in his personal life which is where i suspect the issues is. We just don’t know what it is and it is none of our business. So just want to wish him well with whatever.

IIRC, Jensen started slow with us after the trade and again took a little bit when PL was brought in... its like he struggles to feel the game when he's in a new system. But he sure picked it up after a while and earned his extension. I feel like Jensen will be back to a high level in a month or so. Or maybe he just misses the security of having Orly next to him?

 

[SherVaughn30]

I’m not too worried, because the shot is still there. Just 6 months ago, he was still hammering one timers in. The supporting cast just needs to find ways to feed him the puck consistently on the PP.

Partially wrong there! The others need to produce, then opponents have to start focusing less on OV. Force feeding OV has never worked and should not be how the Caps generate their offense. OV still draws multiple opponents players on him. He actually makes some great passes, but his teammates have not been finishing. If the others finish on some consistency, then opponents have no choice but change their defensive positioning. As it stands now, opponents try to blanket OV and force the other Caps forwards to beat them.

Same goes for the Caps PP. If others shoot more and score goals, then OV can't be marked as much as opponents PK's game plan for.