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

[Ridley Simon]

Edmonton and Toronto both seem on the verge of making a Forsberg/Erat caliber mistake.

We can only hope.

 

[HeyMattyB]

Given our fourth-line and third-pairing struggles, this is encouraging.

 

[Ridley Simon]

If the Caps can meander along around .500 or so for the first 20, get their reinforcements back, and learn Carberry’s system even more — they could surprise some people.

And that’s with NO adds w Backstrom’s 9m slot.

 

[zappa4ever]

Dowd returning will help with several issues,
5/6 of bottom 6 being rookies one of the biggest

brings some balance back, maybe even help with some secondary scoring

also will help Carbs from having to shorten the bench too much (which he's been relying on quite a bit)

and on PK helps w/Kuz getting too many minutes

 

[Brian23]

I was chewing on this last night after the game, not sure I'm fully on board but I still wonder.I wonder how much of Ovi's issues with scoring shooting is due to the new offensive system and him either choosing not too or being unable to really move anymore.

I think this offense is seemingly designed so much around moving the puck, the constant whirling motion when they get setup, and using all that movement, control, and pace to pull the defense out for a pass into a high danger area. If not that then, they've done a pretty solid job at getting the puck moving it up for rush opportunities. Neither of these things Ovi is really all that good at anymore. He's probably still got the speed to play on the rush, but he doesn't move himself enough to really get those opportunities. And when he gets into the offensive zone he's so stagnant, he's never in the high danger spots to get the shot opportunity. It's why I think he's probably showing his passing so much more, which he's always been really good at, because other people are getting to those spots while the defense keys in on his spot.

Gotta think this is the most foreign offense anyone on the Caps has played on. Probably the closest would have been the BB days, but even then I think those were fundamentally different offenses.

 

[HecticGlow]

Dowd returning will help with several issues,
5/6 of bottom 6 being rookies one of the biggest

brings some balance back, maybe even help with some secondary scoring

also will help Carbs from having to shorten the bench too much (which he's been relying on quite a bit)

and on PK helps w/Kuz getting too many minutes

Not disagreeing that having (a healthy) Dowd back will be beneficial, but worth noting Protas isn’t really a rookie anymore having played in excess of 100 regular season NHL games. CMM has 86 regular season games under his belt now too, and Malenstyn has considerable pro experience (albeit mostly at the AHL level). They’re young/relatively inexperienced, sure, but none of those three are typical rookies (compared to Lapierre, for example). It’s not unreasonable to expect some consistency and quality from them, and I think we’re seeing that.

The bigger issue there, I think, is Lapierre not looking quite ready for the NHL and Phillips not looking better than a #13F.

 

[OV Rocks]

I have been waiting to form an opinion on this team and I think mine might be met with some laughter, I think this team is going to be competitive

I think we are a few healthy players away from a solid lineup, and a trade away from a team that can make a run.

Another unpopular opinion - the youth movement is paused. McMichael is a full time 3C, Protas is a full time bottom 6 winger. Besides that, nobody else is ready. Alexyev is a bust, Lapierre isn't ready, sorry guys I am team anti-Phillips - good story but he isn't close, Johansen is also a bust. It has been a tough run for the 2018-2021 picks. The next generation of Miro, Leonard, Cristall, that is the future. Not saying give up on them but I don't mind playing vets over those first batch of younger players.

The Caps have a competitive team, the goalies need more timely saves, add in Patches and Edmundson, trade Mantha, add a player like Hertl and now we are cooking. Carbs is a great coach.

Ovechkin-Hertl-Kuznetsov
Pacioretty-Strome-Wilson
Milano-McMichael-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Edmonton and Toronto both seem on the verge of making a Forsberg/Erat caliber mistake.

I hope so.

 

[zappa4ever]

Main issue is still Offense/GF/PP
we still don't know what we've got with OV being snakebitten along with Oshie and who knows which Kuzy we get (I'm still assuming OV is one breakout game from resuming old school production, or at least .5g/gm)

with Team Shooting at 6.8%, if they get near 10% (15th place) and get their PP% out of the doghouse we're right there with everybody

we're like 6th in D in the East, PK has been rolling, much improved over the 1st few games

going to be an interesting gm11-20 split, Dowd and Edmundson are back soon, and Patches may be a couple weeks depending on his progress

 

[traparatus]

Looks like a lineup good enough to finish in ~10th spot, that's if Ovechkin starts scoring at his customary pace.

Before the season, I thought the best they could hope for is McMichael, Protas and Alexeyev to establish themselves as full time useful NHLers. Sandin becomes a top-4 cornerstone. Ovechkin scores goals. Backstrom situation is resolved. Oshie, Kuznetsov and Mantha build up enough value to be shipped out for some return. Hockey isn't painful to watch.

Honestly, they are doing pretty well so far. Backstrom situation is resolved. McMichael is doing well enough. The rest, I'm not sure about, I'll call it work in progress. Lack of scoring from Ovechkin is a concern.

 

[crab]

I think they will have significant challenges due to Kuznetsov. Backstrom was expected but I was hoping Kuznetsov was going to step up with a new coach, but he is still playing poorly. I think they could work around some of the other issues with trades but Kuznetsov makes too much, has no trade value and plays too important of a position.

 

[hockeykicker]

Seems like Dowd returning or perhaps something out of left field

 

[SherVaughn30]

Main issue is still Offense/GF/PP
we still don't know what we've got with OV being snakebitten along with Oshie and who knows which Kuzy we get (I'm still assuming OV is one breakout game from resuming old school production, or at least .5g/gm)

with Team Shooting at 6.8%, if they get near 10% (15th place) and get their PP% out of the doghouse we're right there with everybody

we're like 6th in D in the East, PK has been rolling, much improved over the 1st few games

going to be an interesting gm11-20 split, Dowd and Edmundson are back soon, and Patches may be a couple weeks depending on his progress

I think it could be longer than 2 weeks before Patches even starts practicing with the team. My guess is if he progresses accordingly then he might be inserted in the lineup late December to early January.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Main issue is still Offense/GF/PP
we still don't know what we've got with OV being snakebitten along with Oshie and who knows which Kuzy we get (I'm still assuming OV is one breakout game from resuming old school production, or at least .5g/gm)

with Team Shooting at 6.8%, if they get near 10% (15th place) and get their PP% out of the doghouse we're right there with everybody

we're like 6th in D in the East, PK has been rolling, much improved over the 1st few games

going to be an interesting gm11-20 split, Dowd and Edmundson are back soon, and Patches may be a couple weeks depending on his progress

The sooner Edmundson is back in the lineup, the sooner we don't have to see Alexeyev/LuJo. HHA has already surpassed both those 2. I think Chase Priskie might be a better option than Alexeyev/LuJo.

 

[DWGie26]

With Mantha not traveling (maybe IR), we need a 12 and 13. I’d bring up NAK to steady 4th line with Lapierre and Malenstyn. When Dowd comes back I think Lappy goes to 13 or back to Hershey. I’d also bring up Priskie. He has been playing well in Hershey and Caps rewarding that. Alexyev sits, Aktell and Priskie third pair. Johansen to Hershey (I think he is still waiver free),

 

[HecticGlow]

Johansen to Hershey (I think he is still waiver free),

He has been waiver eligible for a while now - certainly he had to go on waivers after the 2022 training camp to report to Hershey. I think the only real risk is a motivational one for the player/roster that he’s sent down - very small chance he’s claimed, based on his play, age and trajectory.

 

[Brian23]

Gonna say Keumper is hurt?

 

[trick9]

Kuemper to Edmonton for Jack Campbell and 3 1st round picks.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I have been waiting to form an opinion on this team and I think mine might be met with some laughter, I think this team is going to be competitive

I think we are a few healthy players away from a solid lineup, and a trade away from a team that can make a run.

Another unpopular opinion - the youth movement is paused. McMichael is a full time 3C, Protas is a full time bottom 6 winger. Besides that, nobody else is ready. Alexyev is a bust, Lapierre isn't ready, sorry guys I am team anti-Phillips - good story but he isn't close, Johansen is also a bust. It has been a tough run for the 2018-2021 picks. The next generation of Miro, Leonard, Cristall, that is the future. Not saying give up on them but I don't mind playing vets over those first batch of younger players.

The Caps have a competitive team, the goalies need more timely saves, add in Patches and Edmundson, trade Mantha, add a player like Hertl and now we are cooking. Carbs is a great coach.

Ovechkin-Hertl-Kuznetsov
Pacioretty-Strome-Wilson
Milano-McMichael-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas

I don't see them being a trade away from making a run. They just don't have any elite offensive talent any more. Kuznetsov is a total drag and a detriment to the team. Love Ovi but time is catching up to him. Strome is a solid low-end 1C or high-end 2C. Oshie is not a top six player any more. Pacioretty is 34 and coming off of two torn Achilles. Wilson is a fine 2RW but he's not going to drive offense. McMichael, Milano, and Mantha are rounding into nice complimentary players. Where do the goals come from?

Even if I grant you that Patches comes back and is a solid 2LW, they still are missing at least two players in the top six.

Ovi-Strome-xx
Patches-xx-Wilson
Milano-McMicheal-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK/Protas

To be clear I really like Carberry and think he is doing as well as could be expected but I think they'll take their lumps this year and tread water before ultimately drafting anywhere from 8-12. Next summer should be interesting. Mantha will be off the books, Backstrom will be LTIRed, and Kuznetsov will only have one year left which should make him more tradable.

The future isn't bleak but it's going to be a very small hole to thread the needle through for BMac over the next two seasons if they really want to be competitive.

 

[YippieKaey]

Edmonton and Toronto both seem on the verge of making a Forsberg/Erat caliber mistake.

Hertl to Caps
Kuemper to Oilers
Nurse to Toronto
Blackwood to Toronto
Nylander to Caps
Tavares to Caps
Kuznetsov to Oilers

I dream

 

[Kalopsia]

Main issue is still Offense/GF/PP
we still don't know what we've got with OV being snakebitten along with Oshie and who knows which Kuzy we get (I'm still assuming OV is one breakout game from resuming old school production, or at least .5g/gm)

with Team Shooting at 6.8%, if they get near 10% (15th place) and get their PP% out of the doghouse we're right there with everybody

we're like 6th in D in the East, PK has been rolling, much improved over the 1st few games

going to be an interesting gm11-20 split, Dowd and Edmundson are back soon, and Patches may be a couple weeks depending on his progress

Man, I knew it was bad but I didn't realize it was that bad. They're 2nd to last in the league right now, only ahead of the Sharks, and they're a full 2 points below the lowest team at the end of last season. There's definitely regression to the mean coming there.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

They definitely could turn themselves into a middling playoff team with a big trade or 2.

An impact center and a stout defender would be huge additions. Cut out the bad parts.

 

[tycoonheart]

Dowd and NAK in tonight.

 

[zappa4ever]

Man, I knew it was bad but I didn't realize it was that bad. They're 2nd to last in the league right now, only ahead of the Sharks, and they're a full 2 points below the lowest team at the end of last season. There's definitely regression to the mean coming there.

30 shots/gm x 6.8% shooting = 2.04 goals/gm
30 shots/gm x 10% shooting = 3 goals/gm

and then factor in getting a goal overturned every other game

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I know most fans really don’t like Mantha but it’s hard not to feel bad for him. He scored in his first four games here then went cold but was one of their better forwards in the series against Boston. He was hoping to build off that with a good training camp in 2021-22 but had that shoulder injury that kept him out for months and it was clear he wasn’t himself when he got back. Last year he played the first three months of the season at a 25+25 pace but never seemed to be appreciated by Laviolette and fell off a cliff in January. Now he starts the season relatively well and on the night he scores two goals and you think that he might be turning the corner he gets injured again and is back on IR. Real shit luck for him and for the Caps.