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

[Chokingdogs]

I’m the biggest Wilson fan there is but I just feel like this isn’t very true anymore, we’ve lost with Wilson a lot.

I understand however, it’s not Wilson’s fault Darcy lets in softies, or Carlson has brain farts, or Strome cannot pass…

 

[bacchist]

Every team has underlaying weaknesses. Its about hiding yours and exposing opponents. Thats why suprises happen every year in playoffs. Thats why Bruins lost in the R1 and Toronto is still looking for their run (although puck luck also plays a big part on a single matchup).

Sure we may have ”more” weaknesses than many other teams, but we also have a new upcoming coach, some young guys with room to grow, undeperforming older core that still has it in their backbone what it takes to win - and we have cap space and assets (something that many others dont have) to address some weaknesses if it looks like we are in a position where we want to do it. So while we have glaring weaknesses, we also have potential to be better.

Sitting second in metro and right there with all the big guys in the division aswell, with games in hand too, i think we are in a good place right now and this kind of a negativity is weird. We are winning games now and we have some fireworks in the system with a lot of cap space opening that can help us keep that up in the coming years too. And our farm system is doing great things for our young guys at the same time.

I dont really understand the ”blow it up” mentality right now. You are of course completely allowed to have and express that opinion, but why bring it up when everything is looking good. Thats just dooming and glooming and getting the mentality in the boards down. Why not try to enjoy it a little bit, you might have a lot of years ahead where we all can doom and gloom together.

i admit we’ve had semi easy schedule to open the season and that might make us look a little stronger than we are, but this could also impact positively on the long run. We’ve gained the start we hoped for, and now its time to see if we can keep it up.

It might all come crashing down fast, and at that point ill gladly join to entertain and discuss the doom and its sort of fun to think about the chances of a rebuild and the new arising of the team too. (Although rebuild is way over romantized and it mostly looks really ugly and is painful.)

But until that this could be go the other way too. Life is too short and hockey is too random to not appreciate when we are doing well!

I don't want to blow it up. I just don't want to waste assets trying to be more competitive this year.

I'm savoring every win this year. They're not to be taken for granted.

I do like Carbery, and I hope he gets a couple more years after this one to really turn things around. We should have a decent first round pick again this year, and I'd like to see how he does when some youngsters with high end skill start to arrive.

 

[Calicaps]

I haven't moved the goalposts. I've simply pointed out that the caps don't have the capital to go after a modest improvement on Strome on the trade market. If you think the goalposts have moved, that trading for a 1C has no other implications, then you have not comprehended my point here.

I haven't advocated tanking this season, but thanks for throwing up a straw man. That's great fun.

they absolutely have the assets to go after a 1C in trade. and in another year, they'll have the cap space to go after a 1C in UFA if that's the better option.

 

[max21]

I understand however, it’s not Wilson’s fault Darcy lets in softies, or Carlson has brain farts, or Strome cannot pass…

Sure but this is a factor for every team in the NHL, the “other teams plan for Wilson” argument doesn’t hold much water anymore.

 

[Calicaps]

Sure but this is a factor for every team in the NHL, the “other teams plan for Wilson” argument doesn’t hold much water anymore.

I don't agree, but if that's the case, then why would he have all this purported trade value anyway? That fear factor is what teams would be buying so if they don't fear him... Get me?

 

[um]

Sure but this is a factor for every team in the NHL, the “other teams plan for Wilson” argument doesn’t hold much water anymore.

They never did.

When Wilson is on he’s a beastly power forward with great two way ability. But he’s at best a first liner, not a guy teams plan around.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Wilson isn’t the hockey equivalent of Lawrence Taylor….

But he’s a player other players think about when on the ice, it’s been obvious at times just watching a game, and I’ve heard enough from other players.

Only point I’m making is Wilson brings things that cannot be measured, that are valuable intangibles, which is/are beneficial to the team.

If GMGB put out the message he was available, every team in the league would be putting together a package. The same cannot be said for say….NAK.

 

[Capitals40]

athletes rally around players that hate to lose…..Tom Wilson is that kinda influence IMO. Fans like you don’t appreciate it, but it’s valuable.

He took a minor a couple of games ago after we scored an empty netter? Up 2 with 2 minutes left, and he takes a minor after our goal. Now it is 6 on 4 for up to 2 minutes giving them a much better chance to tie. Or, when he took an unsportsmanlike penalty earlier in the season for complaining to the ref. I'm sorry but he makes a good point. He takes selfish penalties that hurt the team.

 

[zappa4ever]

They never did.

When Wilson is on he’s a beastly power forward with great two way ability. But he’s at best a first liner, not a guy teams plan around.

um... what kind of short term memory is going on here?

Teams have literally changed their rosters and changed their lineups for Wilson

Reaves, DeLauriers, Ross Johnston et al have gotten sweaters solely b/c of Numero Cuarento-Three

 

[bacchist]

Strome is an above average 1C. Even if we were to get a fair deal, any significant upgrade would cost us too much in terms of picks and prospects. What we need to do if we're going to have any real chance in the near future is figure out what to do with Oshie and Kuznetsov. They both get a lot of minutes and they're frankly just bad. Hopefully we can do that with cap rather than assets, because mortgaging the future for short term improvement would be a disaster.

Obviously it is what it is with Ovechkin. I'd like to see him at least take a diminished role across the board, including the PP, but that's probably unrealistic. I'm all in on giving him every opportunity to beat the record, but I think his minutes and deployment needs to be managed.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I understand however, it’s not Wilson’s fault Darcy lets in softies, or Carlson has brain farts, or Strome cannot pass…

Strome can’t pass. WTF?

 

[pman25]

Lindgren keeps this up, they should sell him to Edmonton for two 1sts

 

[Chokingdogs]

um... what kind of short term memory is going on here?

Teams have literally changed their rosters and changed their lineups for Wilson

Reaves, DeLauriers, Ross Johnston et al have gotten sweaters solely b/c of Numero Cuarento-Three

And a front office…

 

[um]

um... what kind of short term memory is going on here?

Teams have literally changed their rosters and changed their lineups for Wilson

Reaves, DeLauriers, Ross Johnston et al have gotten sweaters solely b/c of Numero Cuarento-Three

Yes teams dress their low salary goons for Wilson in the regular season. That’s not really planning around a player.

Teams plan around Ovie and players who can take over games. Wilson is a great support/depth piece.

You guys are acting like hothead players who can hit and fight is some unique thing that only the Capitals have.

And a front office…

I’d say that has to more with the Rangers missing the playoffs four years in a row.

And getting a cheap tough guy they could easily shed later is not the franchise altering move they made.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Minutia!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

He took a minor a couple of games ago after we scored an empty netter? Up 2 with 2 minutes left, and he takes a minor after our goal. Now it is 6 on 4 for up to 2 minutes giving them a much better chance to tie. Or, when he took an unsportsmanlike penalty earlier in the season for complaining to the ref. I'm sorry but he makes a good point. He takes selfish penalties that hurt the team.

Guys who play on the edge always do take PIMs….and none of his teammates thinks it’s selfish I’d wager. That’s fan talk.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Dude, we are good. I am looking into buying with that $9 million Space we just got.

I’m still trying to identify my target

 

[twabby]

Dude, we are good. I am looking into buying with that $9 million Space we just got.

I’m still trying to identify my target

Mangiapane is one of the few guys I could see making sense this TDL. He is a non-rental who could contribute next year as well which makes him attractive.

 

[Misery74]

8-29-43

We need to see it.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

This team is putting me in a hard place. They looked like we were supposed to blow it up but now we’re playing good like really good.

 

[g00n]

This team is putting me in a hard place. They looked like we were supposed to blow it up but now we’re playing good like really good.

They had to be given to t-giving to adjust to the new coach. Whether or not they can keep it together is TBD.

I don't think we'll see a "quit on the coach" type of situation with the guys playing 20-40 min of decent hockey each game, so the problems will eventually be boiled down to personnel decisions.

If they're in a playoff spot by the TDL maybe they grab a rental or a long-term player they'd targeted previously. If not then some guys could be gone and we know who they are.

 

[zappa4ever]

Things I know about hockey:
- Shitty teams don't go on 8-1-1 runs
- Nor doth they go 10 gms hide-nor-hair of a PPG against
- And let it be said... Verily, teams of the caca type don't kill 23 straight

 

[Misery74]

Things I know about hockey:
- Shitty teams don't go on 8-1-1 runs
- Nor doth they go 10 gms hide-nor-hair of a PPG against
- And let it be said... Verily, teams of the caca type don't kill 23 straight

Our PP being terrible gives me hope too.

I think we know, the older guys can’t carry this team.

It’s beginning to look like the kids can.

 

[zappa4ever]

It's going to be interesting to find out where "the middle" is for this team

obv we're going to come back to Earf sooner or later so hope the youngins can keep it up and the old'ns get out of 1st gear

 

[g00n]

Our PP being terrible gives me hope too.

I think we know, the older guys can’t carry this team.

It’s beginning to look like the kids can.

Maybe. The G/60 for some of the younger guys is good but it's early and some of the younger guys have too small a sample size so far with only a few games and 1 or 2 goals.

When we have at least 3-4 young guys with 20G pace & potential we'll have the platform to springboard to the next generation.