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

[HTFN]

Nougats

 

[g00n]

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

 

[ovikovy817]

Caps give us hope.
At least I hope they won't finish in the "miss PO and not in the top 10 at the draft" tier.
For me it's make it or tank properly

 

[Chokingdogs]

I am already kinda nostalgic for NBCSW…

I still pine for HTS, the basic graphics, the sweatered and bespectacled dude they always showed celebrating after a goal, and of course Mike Fornes Frankenstein haircut.

 

[trick9]

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

Yes we should. Be worried about the PP.

Alex Ovechkin - PPTOI: 72:34 -PP stats: 1+1
John Carlson - PPTOI: 60:27 - PP stats: 0+2
Evgeny Kuznetsov - PPTOI: 53:09 - PP stats: 0+2
TJ Oshie - PPTOI: 50:03 - PP stats: 0+0

Nicklas Backstrom - PPTOI: 17:22 - PP stats: 0+0
Tom Wilson - PPTOI: 24:24 - PP stats: 0+1
Matthew Phillips - PPTOI: 16:38 - PP stats: 0+0
Rasmus Sandin - PPTOI: 16:08 - PP stats: 0+0

Time to try something new? How the hell do you even play an hour on the PP and have between 0 to 2 points to show for it?

 

[Marshall]

I still have Johnny O. trauma.

 

[itsjustsurvival]

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

The Capitals have the lowest Goals For in their division. They have one player in double digit points. The only team with fewer is Columbus. Islanders have 3 players with at least 10 points. Every other team in the division has at least 6.

I wouldn't worry about any one specific player and how they get their points. They need to find some chemistry and momentum in their top 6/PP. It's wild they are winning like they are. I like the general way they are playing under Carbery. I hope GMBM can find that top 6 player he's looking for. Seems like they are pretty close to being a good team.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Strome was on the junkies a bit ago, quizzed about no helpers.

Based on his response I, personally, wouldn’t be too concerned. Just a fluke event currently.

 

[g00n]

Seems like a good time to bet on him getting 2 the next game...

 

[Ridley Simon]

Trivial but interesting stat:
both of Malenstyn's goals came within 16 seconds of another Caps goal

Malenstyn - Dowd - NAK
has been an instant impact; Dowd has been a great 4C for a few years now, Malenstyn had a great run last season showing his potential until his hand injury; this season he's hitting his stride, throws the body, cpl of goals, and he's got some speed, and same with NAK; NAK's been keeping out of the box which was one of his biggest problems last year
LOVE a physical 4th line, it's like NYI's identity line except not over the hill, overpaid, and ineffective anymore

(Not meant at you, Frankie)

Maybe….just MAYBE….Caps fans should give more credit to Dowd. The 4th line has been not only amazing for his tenure, it has had quite a few moving parts (wingers). The one constant? Dowd.

And the team seems to win a lot more when he’s healthy and playing well.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Could Kuemper be held out due to being in trade talks? Like Kuemper to EDM for Nurse + a high pick or something like that?

Nurse blows, and his contract is an absolute albatross.

 

[trick9]

(Not meant at you, Frankie)

Maybe….just MAYBE….Caps fans should give more credit to Dowd. The 4th line has been not only amazing for his tenure, it has had quite a few moving parts (wingers). The one constant? Dowd.

And the team seems to win a lot more when he’s healthy and playing well.

Already said it last summer... Hathaway owes a good chunk of that new contract to Dowd.

It's not a coincidence that both Malenstyn and NAK look better now with Dowd back.

 

[Devil Dancer]

There was a time when Dowd consistently took bad penalties. That seems to be over, thank goodness.

 

[Neil Racki]

were 2nd in the metro?

lol wtf is going on

Im sure we will regress to our expected mean but damn, nice watching competitive hockey.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Already said it last summer... Hathaway owes a good chunk of that new contract to Dowd.

It's not a coincidence that both Malenstyn and NAK look better now with Dowd back.

Stop…Hathaway earned his last UFA contract with us because he plays well. He‘s just a solid player either way. Dowd is great in his role, don’t get me wrong, but we had two damn good 4th liners there.

 

[Roshi]

Stop…Hathaway earned his last UFA contract with us because he plays well. He‘s just a solid player either way. Dowd is great in his role, don’t get me wrong, but we had two damn good 4th liners there.

I wouldnt say Hathaway owes Dowd anything or take any knocks on him as a solid player, but i do agree that it is not coincidence that anyone who plays with Dowd seems to instantly arise as a damn good 4th liner.

Dowd is undervalued. He makes his linemates and team better.

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

Yes. Since theres nothing else to worry right now, i think this is exactly what we should do!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

Not “worried“ but Yeah…should monitor that. Crazy….

 

[Raikkonen]

I will quote AlexBro from GDT

They need a rebuild based on... what, exactly? They do not need a rebuild. A rebuild is the last thing any organization should want to do because it sucks ass and there's no guarantee for if or when the rebuild is over. Want to be the Sharks right now? Hard pass. They should try to retool and if that doesn't work then in a few years you take another look at your options.

There is too much depth and talent for them to completely tear it down. What they need to do is tread water and do what they can to compete over the next two seasons while they're still saddled with some expensive anchors with their focus really being on building the team for 2025-26 and beyond. There's a good young nucleus here with guys like Strome, McMichael, Protas, Milano, Malenstyn, Sandin, and Feverbaby along with some kids like Miro, Cristall, Leonard, Iorio, and Chesley developing nicely who should be ready for the big boys in 2-3 years. Their cap structure is in a really nice place.

When I read this I think they should at least consider trading Wilson I dont see timing being a match for Wilson in the next cup window.

 

[HTFN]

The Capitals have the lowest Goals For in their division. They have one player in double digit points. The only team with fewer is Columbus. Islanders have 3 players with at least 10 points. Every other team in the division has at least 6.

I wouldn't worry about any one specific player and how they get their points. They need to find some chemistry and momentum in their top 6/PP. It's wild they are winning like they are. I like the general way they are playing under Carbery. I hope GMBM can find that top 6 player he's looking for. Seems like they are pretty close to being a good team.

They also have a collectively low shooting percentage, seems to me like what they need is luck, not some change in chemistry. They're pushing play, possessing the puck, and seem to be creating decent offensive chances that just aren't going in (or keep getting called back) but they're playing good hockey (and for most of 60 minutes at a time, too, which is crazy for this team)

I'd trust the process on this one, personally.

 

[Calicaps]

Guys/gals, should we be worried that Strome has zero assists?

He has 7 goals but the 0A stat line is puzzling. I know the top line is a little snakebit but I don't recall a C1 having not even accidentally blundered their way into a secondary assist somewhere after 14 games.

has largely been addressed already, but I'm here to pile on! Strome even mentioned it in his intermission interview last game. said he wanted to pass to Milano but the shot was just too open to pass it up. at this point, I want them thinking like that. pucks on net. shoot and score. if pucks start going in, guys will necessarily get apples. we need goals.

 

[HTFN]

I will quote AlexBro from GDT


When I read this I think they should at least consider trading Wilson I dont see timing being a match for Wilson in the next cup window.

Won't show up on the stat sheet, but I want Wilson to be for Leonard like what Oshie was (sort of) for Wilson.

Teams still need leaders and Wilson's a good one, I'd prefer to keep him as a hard playing, tough, approachable big brother/father for the kids than punt for assets or because of his "cup window".

Orpiks win cups too

 

[bacchist]

has largely been addressed already, but I'm here to pile on! Strome even mentioned it in his intermission interview last game. said he wanted to pass to Milano but the shot was just too open to pass it up. at this point, I want them thinking like that. pucks on net. shoot and score. if pucks start going in, guys will necessarily get apples. we need goals.

That was my man Phillips.

 

[twabby]

When I read this I think they should at least consider trading Wilson I dont see timing being a match for Wilson in the next cup window.

Folks...more and more people are saying this!

 

[Calicaps]

Folks...more and more people are saying this!

It all depends why you think he was resigned. That's what determines his value to team on the roster vs. traded.

 

[twabby]

I think if they wanted someone to show Ryan Leonard and other youngsters the ropes they could have signed some veteran UFA for cheap.

After declining to trade him and instead signing him to a 7 x $6.5 million contract starting next year, Wilson needs to have a strong positive on-ice impact to make it worth it. Right now he's playing like a 4th liner.