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

[Devil Dancer]

I've read (and observed to an extent) that future stars are usually pretty productive off the bat in the AHL. Miro hasn't been, so that's a concern.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Miro has a great skill set but I’d like to see a little more intensity in his play. He floats a lot.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Chris Clark had better hands than McMichael does. Prove me wrong.

 

[bacchist]

Miro is mid. Waiting to be proven wrong. Hope it happens.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Miro is mid. Waiting to be proven wrong. Hope it happens.

I don’t see how he is mid. Dude is playing like his what, fourth game in the NHL and first season in NA?

 

[bacchist]

I don’t see how he is mid. Dude is playing like his what, fourth game in the NHL and first season in NA?

Sixth game. But who's counting

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Sixth game. But who's counting

Touché. Sixth game. He has stuff to work on like every kid his age.

 

[um]

That's just what the stats say

View attachment 833318View attachment 833319View attachment 833320

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There are literally zero stats here.

 

[bacchist]

There are literally zero stats here.

The models are based on stats. You can look up Miro's stats if you want though. They're not much to look at, though.

 

[Langway]

With Miro I think it's still all about adding more burst. If he can manage that it'll open up more skill wise and make him an even more disruptive forechecker. He's got pretty impressive strength on his skates for his age so the elements of a developing power game are there. Get him on the Protas skating plan.

 

[Misery74]

I honestly didn’t mean CMM/Lapierre in any particular order, I just haven’t seen any of them commanding the game yet, even in short instances (although I haven’t been watching as many games in the last few years as I previously used to, since I became a father and am living +6 timezones away from DC).
That’s why I’m hesitant on either being a 1C, and wouldn’t be opposed trading either for a future core piece needed in another position.

Lapierre looks like a 1c.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Hershey Caps playoff push. Im all in now. We can catch the flyers and wings

 

[alphabetical]

The models are based on stats. You can look up Miro's stats if you want though. They're not much to look at, though.

Yea, that season where he had cancer really brings him down. A more robust statistical model would remove that season as an outlier.

 

[bacchist]

Hershey Caps playoff push. Im all in now. We can catch the flyers and wings

We just crossed 20% playoff chances according to moneypuck. Mantha was having a good year, but aside from him we didn't really lose anything at the deadline. Time for guys to step up.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I used to look at making the playoffs as getting bonus games at the end of the year. And every game won in the playoffs was one more extra game. If we won a whole series, that's 4 extra games! Never thought we were going to win it all, but I always looked forward to the next game and playoff hockey is one of the best events in all of sports.

It's not going to be easy, but they can do it if they play their best hockey of the season down the stretch here. I'd love to see the Caps play hockey in May this year.

 

[pman25]

Miro seems to have a a great shot, good hands, and instincts but don’t know about his IQ.

Comparables, maybe he gets to an Owen Tippett type player? Maybe Burakovsky? That’s my hope of what he ends up as.

I’m also not as high on him, certainly not to the point of penciling him into a Top 6

 

[YippieKaey]

Miro seems to have a a great shot, good hands, and instincts but don’t know about his IQ.

Comparables, maybe he gets to an Owen Tippett type player? Maybe Burakovsky? That’s my hope of what he ends up as.

I’m also not as high on him, certainly not to the point of penciling him into a Top 6

Yeah a more physical but slower Bura is probably a good reasonable estimation.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Miro just turned 20 and played most of his first full season in North America in the AHL as a teenager while trying to learn a foreign language after very recently recovering from cancer. Get a grip. He's fine and developing quite nicely.

 

[pman25]

Miro just turned 20 and played most of his first full season in North America in the AHL as a teenager while trying to learn a foreign language after very recently recovering from cancer. Get a grip. He's fine and developing quite nicely.

No one is saying otherwise…he’s a fine prospect but he’s just that. We always tend to overrate prospects. He’s good organizational depth and seems on track to grab a middle six winger slot one day. He’s just not at the top prospect level that you need to plan around or keep a spot open for

 

[Random schmoe]

Miro 2023-24, age 20 (as of Feb 4 2024), first season in North America, first season in the AHL:

Games: 47
Goals: 9 (.19/game)
Assists: 16 (.34/game)
Total PPG: .53

LaPierre 2022-23, age 21 (as of Feb 9 2023), entire life spent in North America, first season in the AHL:

Games: 60
Goals: 15 (.25/game)
Assists: 15 (.25/game)
Total PPG: .50

McMichael 2022-23, age 22 (as of Jan 15 2023), entire life spent in North America, second season in the AHL:

Games: 57
Goals: 16 (.28/game)
Assists: 23 (.40/game)
Total PPG: .68

Protas 2021-22, age 21 (as of Jan 6 2022), fourth season in North America, first full-ish season in the AHL (16 games the previous season):

Games: 42
Goals: 8 (.19/game)
Assists: 16 (.38/game)
Total PPG: .57

He compares favorably number-wise to all our other 'top young guys'.

Add in the context of learning the language, getting comfortable on the ice size, less than 2 years removed from lymphoma...

Between the start of the 2020 season , when he was 16 years old at the time, and conclusion of the 2023 season, when he was 19, he played a total of 98 professional games. Those are among the years most critical for evaluation and growth of a player.

Lets give it some time shall we?

To actually put any faith in a model that says he has a 28% chance of becoming a full time NHLer at this point is absolutely stupid and only a moron would so.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Miro seems to have a a great shot, good hands, and instincts but don’t know about his IQ.

Comparables, maybe he gets to an Owen Tippett type player? Maybe Burakovsky? That’s my hope of what he ends up as.

I’m also not as high on him, certainly not to the point of penciling him into a Top 6

I would've gone with less flawed Daniel Sprong as a comparison.

 

[Raikkonen]

Miro should just have more TOI in AHL for the time being. I dont know if he becomes top-6 wing or not honestly. Im no expert in the end AINEC.

Jimi on the other hand... was ever a time than he was considered worse than CMM in potential? I dont remember those, he was deemed more talented from the start IIRC.

Strome
Jimi
CMM
?

I think there is still potential to sign some Lindholm guy if he's up to that

PS: Kuzy light is excellent description for Lapierre. Hopefully he can stay healthy and progress further.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Let's not forget that Miro also spent his first season playing on an absolutely stacked AHL team(on track most of the year to be the best AHL team ever statistically) coming off a championship where most of the team came back. He didn't really get that first line, #1 pp time you see in a lot of other organizations for their top draft picks. I think Miros numbers suffered a bit because of it. But, that's how Hershey is usually designed. Lots of vets, super competitive and step by step logical growth plans for young players. Guys like CMM and Lappy also spent long significant chunks playing 4th line roles in the AHL. Lappy got scratched last year and was one of the best players during the Calder cup playoffs. To put it in perspective, he's clear cut #2 prospect in this organization right now on just about every organizational review you can find. I'd say he ends up a high end 2nd line winger if this team ever fills out but likely to spend a good bit of time on a top line and getting PP 1 minutes most of his career.

 

[CapsSkins]

Here's what I'd pencil in next year up front:

Ovie-Lappy-Wilson
20/30 Goal scoring Winger*-Strome-Protas
Patches/3rd line W*-McMichael-Milano
Malenstyn-Dowd-Young Guy

Oshie slotting in when he can but likely won't be available for much of the season
Miro up and down again

*acquired via FA or trade

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Here's what I'd pencil in next year up front:

Ovie-Lappy-Wilson
20/30 Goal scoring Winger*-Strome-Protas
Patches/3rd line W*-McMichael-Milano
Malenstyn-Dowd-Young Guy

Oshie slotting in when he can but likely won't be available for much of the season
Miro up and down again

*acquired via FA or trade

Leonard and Miro could very well make the team and be good. And right Oshie is good when he's able to play he's our wildcard.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Miro 2023-24, age 20 (as of Feb 4 2024), first season in North America, first season in the AHL:

Games: 47
Goals: 9 (.19/game)
Assists: 16 (.34/game)
Total PPG: .53

LaPierre 2022-23, age 21 (as of Feb 9 2023), entire life spent in North America, first season in the AHL:

Games: 60
Goals: 15 (.25/game)
Assists: 15 (.25/game)
Total PPG: .50

McMichael 2022-23, age 22 (as of Jan 15 2023), entire life spent in North America, second season in the AHL:

Games: 57
Goals: 16 (.28/game)
Assists: 23 (.40/game)
Total PPG: .68

Protas 2021-22, age 21 (as of Jan 6 2022), fourth season in North America, first full-ish season in the AHL (16 games the previous season):

Games: 42
Goals: 8 (.19/game)
Assists: 16 (.38/game)
Total PPG: .57

He compares favorably number-wise to all our other 'top young guys'.

Add in the context of learning the language, getting comfortable on the ice size, less than 2 years removed from lymphoma...

Between the start of the 2020 season , when he was 16 years old at the time, and conclusion of the 2023 season, when he was 19, he played a total of 98 professional games. Those are among the years most critical for evaluation and growth of a player.

Lets give it some time shall we?

To actually put any faith in a model that says he has a 28% chance of becoming a full time NHLer at this point is absolutely stupid and only a moron would so.

From one RS to another …. Well said!!