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

[Cappy76]

At what point are some going to accept they're trying to thread an extremely fine hole here. They're not going to sell off oshie, Wilson, Carlson, etc. They're just not they want to somewhat remain competitive and loyal to ovie.
Asking for these trades to be made and then constantly dying on top of that hill is pointless they've made it very clear they're not going to.
Look more at Dowd, tvr, Jensen, Edmondson, Mantha, and these type players to be moved. Or something around what was done last year in getting Sandin.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Good luck signing UFA’s and expiring vets.

Loyalty goes two ways.

In what way would trading Oshie on an expiring to likely a contender be seen as a something other UFAs are upset at. If that’s the case they would be mad at every team because they all would make that trade.

Truth is we gave Oshie a long term deal when many others wouldn’t, he won a cup, and got paid. That’s loyalty to him as a player.

 

[Roshi]

In what way would trading Oshie on an expiring to likely a contender be seen as a something other UFAs are upset at. If that’s the case they would be mad at every team because they all would make that trade.

Truth is we gave Oshie a long term deal when many others wouldn’t, he won a cup, and got paid. That’s loyalty to him as a player.

if you trade a vet with his status for scraps against his will, thats a signal you are doing it again. Others will make notes.

Sure it doesnt effect for a guy looking his last paycheck, or just a NHL gig, but a guy with options propably (should) look at these things.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

if you trade a vet with his status for scraps against his will, thats a signal you are doing it again. Others will make notes.

Sure it doesnt effect for a guy looking his last paycheck, or just a NHL gig, but a guy with options propably (should) look at these things.

He has a NTC so it won’t be against his will, at least not places he really won’t go to. And who said they were trading him for scraps, you need at least a second round pick. Vegas could go after him, Eichel on LTIR, they have cap space. He goes to defending champ.

 

[Roshi]

He has a NTC so it won’t be against his will, at least not places he really won’t go to. And who said they were trading him for scraps, you need at least a second round pick. Vegas could go after him, Eichel on LTIR, they have cap space. He goes to defending champ.

Trading him to Vegas for atleast a second doesnt sound like the original ”you trade every asset you can” thought. Thats the ideology im going after, some assets are worth keeping over ”whatever you can get”.

Sure, if TJ wants to go to Vegas to hunt a cup and we get overpaid for it, its good business. Unlikely to happen too.

 

[twabby]

Wilson is more valuable to the team RIGHT NOW as a shut down guy. What do the stats say about that?

Mediocre defensively at 5v5 and weak on the PK:

I think it's charitable to say that Wilson has been moved to the 4th line for his defensive prowess. I think it's much more accurate to say that Wilson has been outplayed by Oshie and Mantha at top 6 RW so they had to move him down.

 

[g00n]

Mediocre defensively at 5v5 and weak on the PK:

View attachment 823824

I think it's charitable to say that Wilson has been moved to the 4th line for his defensive prowess. I think it's much more accurate to say that Wilson has been outplayed by Oshie and Mantha at top 6 RW so they had to move him down.

That includes when he was top 6, not when he was moved to the 4th line only which would be apples and oranges.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Ridley Simon]

Interesting move by the team, and the timing of it all. Seems everyone knew that removing Kuz, and this stretch was their salvation for this years team. Almost like the pressure is somehow off, with Kuz distraction over.

The really sad part, would be them getting derailed by injuries (Fever, Dowd, and now Oshie). They gotta truly plug some “next men in” mantra to keep it going.

They still have a heckuva hill to climb. However, they’ve climbed a nice hill the past 6 games. So, it’s seemingly “in them” to do it.

The injuries will further test their mettle. But I love how they are playing, and shame on GMBM if he sells off into this. I know he knows that, so I truly don’t think he will. Hockey trades sure, but not a sell off.

At least not yet.

 

[twabby]

I am becoming further convinced that selling Anthony Mantha for anything less than a first round pick would be a mistake. Unless he makes it absolutely clear that he won't return to DC under any circumstances, but even then if they are competing for a playoff spot I'd rather just keep him as a free rental. He'd be motivated to keep performing for his next contract.

Who is a better option in free agency to replace him? He's been their best winger all season.

 

[Roshi]

As much as it is exciting to get closer to wildcard spots and it suddenly looks like we have some life again, im not letting them wheel me in again.

Caps need 35-40 points from the last 27 to make it. Do the math.. 6 points in a loser-point league is a lot to gain even with games in hand.

We still need to be sellers.

Anyways.. fun to see them win games.

 

[Acallabeth]

Selling seems lucrative, but a stretch like that can be extremely important for the young players from a character building perspective, especially if Kuznetsov was indeed a distraction as big as it seems.

Stepping up to make the playoffs when several guys are injured or otherwise unavailable is exactly the type of response I'd love to see from the young players.

There are still several games to assess if their surge has been a fluke or for real. If the playoff chances are real, then perhaps supporting the group that has it in then is more important than another low 2nd rounder and a tweener prospect.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

With the way they are playing, I say give them more time before selling. The Caps have 6 more games until the trade deadline (March 8). We can wait until closer to the deadline to make any moves. If there's a chance for this team to make the playoffs, I'm all for giving them a little more time.

 

[Kuz]

Playing both Detroit and Philly in the next 4 games. Win those in regulation and they are right there.

Anyway the best part is seeing guys play well and it gives some hope for the future. McMichael with another strong game and 5 goals in the last 4. Looking good at C. The same with Protas who looked good at C and have 4 pts in the last 3.

Sgarbossa have filled in well at C aswell and is good enough for 4th line job in the NHL. Not at Dowd level, but good enough that if they get a 1st for Dowd they should take it. You also have Lapierre pushing for a C spot going forward.

At least its a lot more fun seeing the younger guy get more minutes and new players from Hershey coming in and giding it all instead of Kuznetsov playing 20 minutes and not have any effort at all.

To bad with Oshie his play have really improved from the weak start to the season and was a guy they needed.

Depending on how the next games go I guees we know if they are gonna sell or just go with the team they have. Dont see them buying unless for a young player they can have for several years.

Anyway they can still get futures for the cap space to help other with trades.

 

[pman25]

The wild card and the metro is pretty crap, they are definitely still in the race and the guys know it. Gonna be hard to sell in that case.

Best approach might just be wait until closer to the deadline and see

 

[Misery74]

The wild card and the metro is pretty crap, they are definitely still in the race and the guys know it. Gonna be hard to sell in that case.

Best approach might just be wait until closer to the deadline and see

I think Mantha has to go regardless, as he may be worth a late first.

 

[Hivemind]

Don't get fooled by three wins in a row. Sell sell sell. This is a team with a -30 goal differential. Only Montreal and Columbus have a worse GD in the East. With only 142 goals scored, they're dead last in offense in the Eastern Conference as well.

 

[twabby]

I think I'd at least give them until closer to the deadline, especially since Dowd is currently out with injury.

They're a bad team overall but in the past 6 games their xG share is by game: 61%, 65%, 59%, 50%, 50%, 63%. And these games were against BOS, VAN, COL, MTL, NJ, TB. This has been their best stretch of hockey of the year from an underlying POV. And I don't think it's a coincidence that it's happened when Kuznetsov is away from the team.

They have important games against the Red Wings and Flyers coming up, and also a big challenge against Florida tomorrow. It could come crashing down in the next week or so. But if they're within a few points by the TDL I'd much rather they selectively sell rather than do a fire sale. Maybe Dowd since he'll garner a first round pick in all likelihood.

Of course by no means should they be buyers.

 

[crab]

A proper rebuild will take a number of years. So if you can get value from some of the players in a trade now you are better off doing so. Does re-signing someone like Mantha really make sense when you are probably looking at 5 years before the team is competitive again? Mantha will be at the end of his career then; better off getting a decent asset now.

Understandably it makes sense to keep some key vets that have good character, leadership, etc. not really sure that is Mantha though.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

As the old adage goes, "It's not who you play, but rather when you play them". Both Jersey and TB are in down trends at the moment and the Capitals just happened to play them during this time.

That being said they have five games remaining till the TDL, 3 home against the likes of Ottawa, Philadelphia and Arizona and two away against Detroit and Pittsburgh. You look at the schedule after the TDL and OOF! It'll include a western road trip (Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Seattle and Vancouver) and then they return home to play Toronto, Carolina, Winnipeg and Detroit and then finish the month on the road against Toronto and Boston.

The month of March should be the death knell of any playoff hopes and more likely will have the result of entrenching this team in having a draft pick in the top 10 of the first round.

Bottom line, even with the recent success, Capitals need to be sellers.

 

[zappa4ever]

The Eastern "race" lol

more sharting different week... Only TOR and DET have moved forward

as of Feb 23:
L10:
PHI 5-4-1 (MET3)
DET 6-3-1 (WC1)
TBL 5-5-0 (WC2)
WSH 4-4-2
NYI 3-4-3
NJD 4-5-1
PIT 4-4-2

I posted on Feb 11:
L10:
PHI 5-5-0
TOR 5-5-0
NYI 3-5-2
NJD 3-6-1
PIT 3-4-3

At this point ATL 1/2/3 and MET 1/2 are pretty much decided
MET 3 and WC1/WC2 are the only 3 spots left TBD

Whomever of WSH/NYI/NJD/PIT can bust out a W streak is gonna be right there

PTS (projected pace)
TBL 92
WSH 89
NYI/NJD/PIT 88

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Ridley Simon]

As much as it is exciting to get closer to wildcard spots and it suddenly looks like we have some life again, im not letting them wheel me in again.

Caps need 35-40 points from the last 27 to make it. Do the math.. 6 points in a loser-point league is a lot to gain even with games in hand.

We still need to be sellers.

Anyways.. fun to see them win games.

Caps have 3 game in hand vs Tampa. They are 5pts behind.

Is that some insane hill to climb?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

And most people thought it was concussions that would shorten/end his career….might end up being his back…