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

[Rayquaza64]

i’d only call up miro if he’s getting a top 9 spot, and idk if they’d give him that look yet

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

So your goal for the season is to make the playoffs while not being competitive for the cup? That's a waste of time.

Where have you been since we won? That’s exactly what we’ve had, but of course it’s not the goal. There is however a commitment that’s been made to Ovechkin to stay competitive, and that’s at least a playoff qualifier in terms of a team goal.

 

[alphabetical]

Where have you been since we won? That’s exactly what we’ve had, but of course it’s not the goal. There is however a commitment that’s been made to Ovechkin to stay competitive, and that’s at least a playoff qualifier in terms of a team goal.

I don't think it's worth prolonging a rebuild to see 5 playoff games this year. You do. That's the difference here.

 

[Kuz]

The left side of the defence have been bad. Not only Sandin, but we need more from Fehervary aswell. Both look like they are 3rd pairing guys right now, but Caps need them to perform like top 4 guys. HHA looks like a good 3rd pairing guy for now. Jensen havent been as solid as he have been the last seasons before this. Hoping Alexeyev takes a step forward this year.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I don't think it's worth prolonging a rebuild to see 5 playoff games this year. You do. That's the difference here.

The difference here is I understand the commitment they made to Ovechkin. I prefer to honor that, you don’t.

This is also a business and missing the playoffs hurts the bottom line, and costs the team season ticket holders.

Sorry it offends you that they are going to at least try instead of quitting on the season in November.

 

[Langway]

They can try but adding a Garland won't do enough. They've been trying to improve the roster for a considerable period and have only netted another couple of banged up vets and limited depth. I'd definitely prefer they don't trade a fair bit for Elias Lindholm, only to saddle themselves with another longer-term contract for a player that will decline over the duration. Mostly they need to understand what's likely to provide true impact, what won't, become more selective and better identify reliable depth. If there's a great value trade to make, exploiting a cap-strapped team, that's one thing. Maybe they can kill two birds with one stone and come ahead now and later. But I don't expect something like that to materialize in a hurry. They do have an advantage with perhaps so much cap space but, then again, I don't think they go out and burn that without a clear sense from Backstrom that he's not returning. If he's indeed still training with them then it's premature to block any potential return.

They need to be patient, continue to evaluate fits and see how Pacioretty & Edmundson fare. Maybe see how Miro fits as an internal solution adding more jam, intensity and team spirit. What they need most is a game-breaker yet they also shouldn't be a team paying a premium for it given their overall limitations unless it's a very rare player entering the trade market (like a Pettersson). If it's the case that this team doesn't have it then they need to take their lumps and get that impact in the draft in a player whose prime they'll be getting. I don't think there's going to be enough likely impact gained by yet more short-term thinking and not being a lot more critical of just what they have now.

I get their obligation to Ovechkin but then that should have resulted in more on-point depth fits than they have. They have basically only five forwards that they trust and perhaps one developing one in McMichael given his PK role and switch to center. It's not nearly enough in a long season where they're not going to be able to get away with month upon month of the likes of Kuznetsov & Carlson being top 5 in average TOI at their position. That's ridiculous at this stage. This is not a well aligned roster even in a more minimal sense and that should lead to more experimenting with various options to better optimize the mix.

 

[alphabetical]

The difference here is I understand the commitment they made to Ovechkin. I prefer to honor that, you don’t.

This is also a business and missing the playoffs hurts the bottom line, and costs the team season ticket holders.

Sorry it offends you that they are going to at least try instead of quitting on the season in November.

The caps didn't promise to burn capital getting ovechkin into the playoffs every year. They promised not to blow the whole thing up while he was still chasing the record. They aren't doing either of those things - they're a middling team that might make it into the playoffs.

However, I think this team is missing too many pieces to be compete for anything but a wildcard spot in the playoffs. I doubt they'll be able to bring in the #2 defender they need or the top six forward they're missing without seriously delaying their rebuild. They finally have some pieces of value in the pipeline, and it's time to let young players work themselves into the lineup. That process is not pretty, and I'm not kidding myself about this team's near term future.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

The caps didn't promise to burn capital getting ovechkin into the playoffs every year. They promised not to blow the whole thing up while he was still chasing the record. They aren't doing either of those things - they're a middling team that might make it into the playoffs.

However, I think this team is missing too many pieces to be compete for anything but a wildcard spot in the playoffs. I doubt they'll be able to bring in the #2 defender they need or the top six forward they're missing without seriously delaying their rebuild. They finally have some pieces of value in the pipeline, and it's time to let young players work themselves into the lineup. That process is not pretty, and I'm not kidding myself about this team's near term future.

They’re going to, at best, struggle to qualify…..but they will not quit early. Most of their young players are not ready to make an impact at this level, so they will battle on with few reinforcements available, and I‘d wager GMBM is still looking to improve the roster.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Im ready to give another player a chance over Phillips. Have no idea why Carberry likes him so much he’s small and doesn’t do much.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Im ready to give another player a chance over Phillips. Have no idea why Carberry likes him so much he’s small and doesn’t do much.

Agreed. I’d rather a few others players down at Hershey get those minutes.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

They’re going to, at best, struggle to qualify…..but they will not quit early. Most of their young players are not ready to make an impact at this level, so they will battle on with few reinforcements available, and I‘d wager GMBM is still looking to improve the roster.

we dont want our young players in quiting culture.

 

[Calicaps]

Agreed. I’d rather a few others players down at Hershey get those minutes.

There are cap and waiver considerations in play, I'm sure. Otherwise, you have to think NAK would have gotten a call-up by now.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

There are cap and waiver considerations in play, I'm sure. Otherwise, you have to think NAK would have gotten a call-up by now.

NAK cleared waivers and not in the future plans. I dont see the point of calling him up. I would give Frank a look over NAKs 10th chance.

 

[Calicaps]

They can try but adding a Garland won't do enough. They've been trying to improve the roster for a considerable period and have only netted another couple of banged up vets and limited depth. I'd definitely prefer they don't trade a fair bit for Elias Lindholm, only to saddle themselves with another longer-term contract for a player that will decline over the duration. Mostly they need to understand what's likely to provide true impact, what won't, become more selective and better identify reliable depth. If there's a great value trade to make, exploiting a cap-strapped team, that's one thing. Maybe they can kill two birds with one stone and come ahead now and later. But I don't expect something like that to materialize in a hurry. They do have an advantage with perhaps so much cap space but, then again, I don't think they go out and burn that without a clear sense from Backstrom that he's not returning. If he's indeed still training with them then it's premature to block any potential return.

They need to be patient, continue to evaluate fits and see how Pacioretty & Edmundson fare. Maybe see how Miro fits as an internal solution adding more jam, intensity and team spirit. What they need most is a game-breaker yet they also shouldn't be a team paying a premium for it given their overall limitations unless it's a very rare player entering the trade market (like a Pettersson). If it's the case that this team doesn't have it then they need to take their lumps and get that impact in the draft in a player whose prime they'll be getting. I don't think there's going to be enough likely impact gained by yet more short-term thinking and not being a lot more critical of just what they have now.

I get their obligation to Ovechkin but then that should have resulted in more on-point depth fits than they have. They have basically only five forwards that they trust and perhaps one developing one in McMichael given his PK role and switch to center. It's not nearly enough in a long season where they're not going to be able to get away with month upon month of the likes of Kuznetsov & Carlson being top 5 in average TOI at their position. That's ridiculous at this stage. This is not a well aligned roster even in a more minimal sense and that should lead to more experimenting with various options to better optimize the mix.

Seems to me they are being patient. They're letting the kids play down in Hershey, learning to be winners rather than having them up with the big club getting the shit kicked out of them night after night. The old guys are old. But they've been here before. They don't like losing, but it's not gonna ruin their future. And if they can win some, great. The plan has clearly been to get to offseasons '24 and '25 with assets in hand and move quickly to deploy those and fill what will then be a lightly populated roster. Nicky's hip f***ed up the plan and they've had to work around him trying to come back, eating up cap space, and now leaving a roster hole. But at least now the situation looks a bit clearer.

For all the hysteria around Lindholm on these boards, that doesn't seem at all like something GMBM is gonna do, precisely because it's out of line with the larger plan. Sure Patches and Edmundson are old and cost a bit to get, but part of what Mac paid for was short-term commitments on guys who aren't looking for big payday or to make a big mark. They're warm bodies to fill spaces. That's how you do a retool/low-grade rebuild. You fill the roster as best you can to not totally suck and allow time for your prospects to mature and your roster to turn over.

NAK cleared waivers and not in the future plans. I dont see the point of calling him up. I would give Frank a look over NAKs 10th chance.

The only point is he's serviceable and a known quantity. I think they hoped Philips would be more than that. But to my eyes, he's less. Frank is worth a look, but I'm not optimistic. As I said in another thread, he's got Aucoin vibes.

 

[HTFN]

There are cap and waiver considerations in play, I'm sure. Otherwise, you have to think NAK would have gotten a call-up by now.

One thing I found interesting is that NAK's buried cap hit is really, really small but his official cap hit is potentially annoying to deal with. I don't think he's coming back unless bodies keep dropping, it doesn't really serve them to bring him up as maybe even one of the first three callups (we've already seen Lapierre, but Miro and... other? Handful of other cheaper options by a fairly decent margin)

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I hope Bmac does an interview soon. I'd like to hear his thoughts on the state of the team. They are in a tough position with Backstrom if they feel like they need to reserve that cap space in case he wants to give it another go. I'm hoping behind the scenes the decision has been made he will not come back this year to at least provide some clarity.

 

[Calicaps]

I hope Bmac does an interview soon. I'd like to hear his thoughts on the state of the team. They are in a tough position with Backstrom if they feel like they need to reserve that cap space in case he wants to give it another go. I'm hoping behind the scenes the decision has been made he will not come back this year to at least provide some clarity.

It's Backstrom's call. He has a contract. If he wants to and physically can play, the team can't stop him. So it's not about whether the team "feels like they need to reserve cap space." They're obligated to do it.

 

[PlushMinus]

So your goal for the season is to make the playoffs while not being competitive for the cup? That's a waste of time.

It is not a waste of time if you want the Caps to continue with their record over the last 15+ seasons, of being the BEST team in the league at making the playoffs and NOT competing for the Cup - except that one time when they actually did

Sorry it offends you that they are going to at least try instead of quitting on the season in November.

Hey man, November has only just begun! There's still plenty of time for them to quit on the season!

 

[pman25]

Phillips is a pretty fine player for what he is asked to do. People see him get shoved down over a couple shifts and think he’s not NHL worthy. Eye test fails again

 

[HTFN]

Phillips is a pretty fine player for what he is asked to do. People see him get shoved down over a couple shifts and think he’s not NHL worthy. Eye test fails again

Nope. Sorry, but no. When you can make good touches but get immediately removed from play, you are unable to capitalize on advantages. You can create them potentially, but you can't be involved in what follows.

That's where Phillips falls apart. He can make good touches, but they don't result in odd-man opportunities. It's too easy for players to take him out of contention for follow up chances by delaying him, and once a D steps into the gap he's just kind of trailing the play (while also not likely to be the guy you actually want playing D as a forward). Players can already tell that regardless of what he does to you in the moment, if you just lean on him and let the rest of the team sort itself out 5 on 5 (or 4 on 4 as it were) you end up neutralizing a lot of his better touches.

He's not making mistakes, he just can't do what bigger framed players do after making the plays he does make and it limits them. When he's not getting ahead of the play he's just a chip out guy, the ultimate bumper player, but can't play another style either.

Biggest problem? Absolutely not, no pun intended. But good enough long term, the way he is now? Probably also not.

 

[bacchist]

Nope. Sorry, but no. When you can make good touches but get immediately removed from play, you are unable to capitalize on advantages. You can create them potentially, but you can't be involved in what follows.

That's where Phillips falls apart. He can make good touches, but they don't result in odd-man opportunities. It's too easy for players to take him out of contention for follow up chances by delaying him, and once a D steps into the gap he's just kind of trailing the play (while also not likely to be the guy you actually want playing D as a forward). Players can already tell that regardless of what he does to you in the moment, if you just lean on him and let the rest of the team sort itself out 5 on 5 (or 4 on 4 as it were) you end up neutralizing a lot of his better touches.

He's not making mistakes, he just can't do what bigger framed players do after making the plays he does make and it limits them. When he's not getting ahead of the play he's just a chip out guy, the ultimate bumper player, but can't play another style either.

Biggest problem? Absolutely not, no pun intended. But good enough long term, the way he is now? Probably also not.

This is a good example of how the eye test fails. Statistically, he is above average among our forwards this year. The Capitals are better with him on the ice than without him.

 

[HTFN]

This is a good example of how the eye test fails. Statistically, he is above average among our forwards this year. The Capitals are better with him on the ice than without him.

No, it means we're looking at different things. There are other players they can find to push play a little but Phillips gets sealed off in a way that leaves him less than viable. Last night for example, his actual measured impact was virtually all on defense via exits while McMichael actually did the creating for the line.

Would I rather that than them being hemmed in? Sure. Does it mean he's not still capped out as a player without an extra tool (skating, strength)? Probably also yes. He's missing one of the 5-ish major skills, it just is what it is.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Phillips is a pretty fine player for what he is asked to do. People see him get shoved down over a couple shifts and think he’s not NHL worthy. Eye test fails again

Come on….he‘s barely NHL-capable….due to being undersized. Skill level isn’t high enough to outweigh the physical limitations from what I see from him so far. Has some good energy and intention, seems smart on ice, but is limited by things he can’t control, genetics.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

This is a good example of how the eye test fails. Statistically, he is above average among our forwards this year. The Capitals are better with him on the ice than without him.

More a testament to how bad our roster is….

 

[bacchist]