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

[Hivemind]

A benching? He's 3C.

Which of Backstrom or McMichael do you think will be playing 3C in those lines?

 

[Brian23]

A benching? He's 3C.

Along with Backstrom.

It's assuming one of those two is eating the healthy scratch, and just based on tenure and everything else I think everyone is probably right in being more worried they're sitting CMC then they are benching Backstrom.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

A benching? He's 3C.

He's splitting 3C with Backstrom which would lead me to believe that one of them isn't going to be in the lineup on Thursday. I would hope Carberry is going to sit Backstrom based on performance and maybe he will as he's decreased his ESTOI and removed him from PP1 but I'll believe a rookie head coach benching a franchise legend and future HHoFer for a young player when I see it.

 

[Calicaps]

Along with Backstrom.

It's assuming one of those two is eating the healthy scratch, and just based on tenure and everything else I think everyone is probably right in being more worried they're sitting CMC then they are benching Backstrom.

He's splitting 3C with Backstrom which would lead me to believe that one of them isn't going to be in the lineup on Thursday. I would hope Carberry is going to sit Backstrom based on performance and maybe he will as he's decreased his ESTOI and removed him from PP1 but I'll believe a rookie head coach benching a franchise legend and future HHoFer for a young player when I see it.

My bad. I read that as McMike at 3C and 19 splitting RW duties. Was not sufficiently caffeinated to be posting, I guess.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Backy should get some games off. He hasn’t been an 82 game player in years

Cautionary tale is how fast Chara fell off a cliff with out getting the rest, even though he wanted to play every game. He was a different player the 2nd half and not in a good way.

 

[RedRocking]

My bad. I read that as McMike at 3C and 19 splitting RW duties. Was not sufficiently caffeinated to be posting, I guess.

It’s strange. Why prioritize Lappy at 4C over either Backy or CMM. It’s not like he’s a physical, checking guy that can replace Dowd. Just sit Lappy and stick Nick at 4C, since they’re giving him such low minutes as it is. Or sit Phillips, and play Lappy at wing.

Anyways, I think it’s probably a good sign that CMM is getting a look at C - his play, on both ends, has earned it. Since they’re off until Thursday, Carbs might just be trying different looks.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Hard to imagine Carbery sitting McMichael, but it's also hard to imagine them sitting Backstrom even if he's not playing well. Unless it's just for maintenance or whatever. But even then I'd expect that to happen on a b2b rather than a lighter part of their schedule.

Either way I'm glad they're moving CMM to center, even if for just a single practice. They can't have Kuznetsov playing 25 minutes a night because the bottom 2 centers can't handle more than 10-12 minutes a night.

I posted the ice time averages….those number# are low….14+ mins on average…12+ on average the last 3. Worth watching the trend for sure.

I’d worry more about the replacement 4C getting 5-8 mins a night….

 

[HTFN]

It’s strange. Why prioritize Lappy at 4C over either Backy or CMM. It’s not like he’s a physical, checking guy that can replace Dowd. Just sit Lappy and stick Nick at 4C, since they’re giving him such low minutes as it is. Or sit Phillips, and play Lappy at wing.

Anyways, I think it’s probably a good sign that CMM is getting a look at C - his play, on both ends, has earned it. Since they’re off until Thursday, Carbs might just be trying different looks.

Honestly that's probably the move, and Backstrom at 4C

That said, that's an optimal lineup and frankly they don't need to fall into that trap. If they want to load manage Backstrom and experiment with Lapierre while he's here at his natural position, that's okay. It's one game. This is something I called for a lot last year so I won't be wringing my hands a lot over not treating every lineup decision like it's Game 7

I will say, the Backstrom/McMichael thing is complicated with Lapierre there. McMichael has been playing a lot of wing, which he's adapting to but we've seen before that he generally does a little better at center (so far). My ideal reality is that they load manage Backstrom or he's dealing with a little thing, so they play CMM and Lapierre at 3 and 4 and just let that be what it is but scratching McMichael for a call-up center on the 4th line is not going to be easy to explain to him.

Problem with that is that McMichael has had back to back meh games, while Backstrom has done a little better with the demotion, and Mantha has absolutely been dangerous enough to deserve a promotion. There's going to be an odd man out for the time being, but if Backstrom's not ailing or tired (and there's a lot of rest coming up) there's no good guy to sit. Phillips may be it just because he's riding on a better situation than ever before, while other guys are carrying some various baggage.

 

[zappa4ever]

That's my take, let's see what they're doing Wed. practice
Plus isn't Dowd back soon too? that should help out the shortening of the bench

///...Since they’re off until Thursday, Carbs might just be trying different looks.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Lappy probably just getting some extra practice cause Hershey off until Wednesday. Sgarbossa likely tore his ACL Sunday night, Lappy probably heading back soon and moves up to 1C down on the farm.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

JFresh puts out a lot of good content so I'll take his word for it. Shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone and maybe it's no coincidence that McMike is taking reps at 3C so they can get more speed up the middle.

 

[HecticGlow]

Also posted in the player chat, but:





Sounds like this might be it for Nick, which might well be the right decision but still awful news.

 

[Marshall]

Sucks on all levels - he hasn't been himself, obviously, but absolutely a cornerstone of the franchise.

All the best, Nick. Class act and Stanley Cup champion.

Now somebody tell me the cap ramifications of this.

 

[HecticGlow]

I wonder if this also explains why we saw Lappy get the call up over Miro, given he pushed Protas back to the wing (so there wasn’t a need for a center)?

 

[Brian23]

So I wonder how that works for retirement. Can he just leave and not play with his contract? I also feel like he won't just give up the 9+ million for next year.

I'm kinda surprised. He wasn't old Nick, but he seemed at least like an okay bottom 6 NHLer to some extent. Wonder if the hip kept giving him issues.

 

[HecticGlow]

Sucks on all levels - he hasn't been himself, obviously, but absolutely a cornerstone of the franchise.

All the best, Nick. Class act and Stanley Cup champion.

Now somebody tell me the cap ramifications of this.

I suspect we’ll hear soon that he’s either on LTIR or some technical non-roster spot that somehow discounts his cap that nobody knew was a thing. This sounds like Carey Price’s decision to step away - a retirement in all but name, but keeping the door just slightly ajar?

 

[HecticGlow]

Thank goodness we managed to get Strome. Big test for CMM now, but with NB gone and Dowd on IR (and not looking great post-return), it wouldn’t shock me if GMBM looked for a new 3C to bolster their depth there.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Hate it for Nick but it’s the right call for him and the team if he can’t physically continue to play. I will be in attendance in my Backstrom jersey when they raise his number to the rafters.

Excited to see McMike get his shot as a full time center. He’s ready.

 

[Hivemind]

Thank goodness we managed to get Strome. Big test for CMM now, but with NB gone and Dowd on IR (and not looking great post-return), it wouldn’t shock me if GMBM looked for a new 3C to bolster their depth there.

Between McMichael, Protas, and Lapierre - I don't see any need to add a center in the short or mid-term. Let the kids rise to the role. If Dowd continues to look poopy and Protas struggles at C, I could see adding a 4C much later in the year. But let the kids handle it first.

 

[The Dude]

Thank goodness we managed to get Strome. Big test for CMM now, but with NB gone and Dowd on IR (and not looking great post-return), it wouldn’t shock me if GMBM looked for a new 3C to bolster their depth there.

38-26-29
27-31-37
29-23-25
25-21-23

And suddenly, there are only 3 guys over 30 among the forwards...

Wishing Backstrom all the best. He will always be a true Caps legend.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Between McMichael, Protas, and Lapierre - I don't see any need to add a center in the short or mid-term. Let the kids rise to the role. If Dowd continues to look poopy and Protas struggles at C, I could see adding a 4C much later in the year. But let the kids handle it first.

I don’t disagree but Lapierre does not appear ready to play in the NHL full time and I don’t love having him as the 4C. I’d rather send him down, bring NAK back up, and run a 4th line of Malenstyn-Protas-NAK.

If they have money to burn find a top six winger who can anchor one of the two lines. I’ll just plug in Ehlers.

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Milano-Kuznetsov-Ehlers
Mantha-McMichael-Oshie
Malenstyn-Protas-NAK

Also if they have $9.5M in cap space available next summer there’s a guy in Toronto that goes by the name of Circles JR that would be a perfect addition. Adding Nylander to this team changes a lot.

 

[Caps8112]

I know he may believe this isnt the end but it really cheated him and the fans out of saying goodbye. The send off would have been loud.

 

[Hivemind]

I don’t disagree but Lapierre does not appear ready to play in the NHL full time and I don’t love having him as the 4C. I’d rather send him down, bring NAK back up, and run a 4th line of Malenstyn-Protas-NAK.

I don't entirely disagree, and that's why I mentioned Protas in that post in addition to Lapierre and McMichael (and also mentioned the potential for adding a 4C if Protas struggles).

 

[HTFN]

I know he may believe this isnt the end but it really cheated him and the fans out of saying goodbye. The send off would have been loud.

He can come back for one more if he wants, I think we’ll all eat that

 

[g00n]

Not surprising. LTIR is certainly the next step. I doubt he ever comes off it or retires and gives up his salary, but you never know.

Ted may just pay him to stay on LTIR and not retire, as a thank you payment for services rendered at arguably below market value for so many years.

I assume that's cap-legal.