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

[pman25]

Did the league just not schedule games for us in November? Not enough Twabby game pucks

 

[g00n]

Monumental network currently showing g6 vs Pens in 2018. Just started

 

[Calicaps]

I thought it'd be a higher cap hit to be honest. I was thinking a $50 million overall contract value.

And this seems to be why Mac prefers term to AAV. By year 5 of the deal, the cap hit is low enough to be manageable or movable. Obviously, that strategy didn't quite work with Nick, Kuz, and Oshie's deals because of Covid and the resultant flat cap, but barring another catastrophe of that sort, $6.5 should not be too big of a deal.

 

[bacchist]

And this seems to be why Mac prefers term to AAV. By year 5 of the deal, the cap hit is low enough to be manageable or movable. Obviously, that strategy didn't quite work with Nick, Kuz, and Oshie's deals because of Covid and the resultant flat cap, but barring another catastrophe of that sort, $6.5 should not be too big of a deal.

I always forget about the impact of Covid on the cap. These contracts wouldn't look quite as bad these final couple years, and we might have even been able to do a little more dumpster diving

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Going to the game tomorrow!

 

[bacchist]

Evgeny Kuznetsov does not practice with either power play unit, status to be determined for Sabres game

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has been a full participant at practice for the past two days. Despite that, it doesn't sound…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

PP2 looks good

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Evgeny Kuznetsov does not practice with either power play unit, status to be determined for Sabres game

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has been a full participant at practice for the past two days. Despite that, it doesn't sound…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

PP2 looks good

No center?

 

[zappa4ever]

Monumental network currently showing g6 vs Pens in 2018. Just started

guess they've been replaying that one, I dvr'd it last week? and threw some of it on today

pretty low event battle for the 1st 40

OV - Kuz - Stephenson
Vrana - Eller - Oshie
Connoly - Boyd - DSP
Walker - Beagle - Chiasson

Kempny - Carlson
Orlov - Niskanen
Orpik - Djoos

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

The Backstrom LTIR room this year puts the Caps in a very favorable position to more easily follow the strategy I have been espousing - assess the youth over this and next year and make the big-spend decisions a year or two down the road.

Using the space immediately just because and trading promising youth away before they have really had a chance to develop and grow into the NHL is not optimal (Siegs, Stevenson...).

We have Patches coming, and room to move youth in and out and around to find chemistry for this year and next (may add Leonard, Miroshnichenko, Cristall...).

So two years of a simmering gumbo will likely see more of the players I've mentioned exceed others expectations (CMM is exhibit A) and we can then look at any who are well developed, but potentially surplus, as even more valuable chips two or three years from now for gap filling value hockey trades.

I still think we have four centres who will all be very good in time (Strome, CMM, Lapierre, and Protas). We don't want to trade for a C now that blocks us at C before seeing what they can all do at their natural positions.

I'd be happy to move Kuzy and even Kemper for high picks if offered this or next year. Those picks could be flipped for a great young D. Same with Mantha later near the deadline. Take someone's expiring contract dump at the deadline for favorable picks if we have the space...

Accumulate assets, assess assets over time, maximize value and avoid mistakes. Add the right FAs a little later when you know what our youth is becoming. Do that and you could become a powerhouse before too long.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I'm not usually one to suggest trades to bring back former Caps, but maybe the Ducks give us back Leason for a 3rd and/or Lujo... Recall that he and Protas were GOLD together in the WHL, and the Caps knew that when they picked them.

With the cap space we could again give them the chance to do the same in the NHL. it was the original plan, and playing with Protas was when Leason exploded offensively in Prince Albert.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Worrying about blocking someone who may never pan out as well as acquiring an existing established NHL star would. seems misguided to me.

Leason blows…no place on this roster for him.

I guess I also don’t view CMM as exceeding the expectations of his draft position, but he’s at least on track now.

Kuzy will COST a high pick to move, not return one. DK could return something I guess, but not some high pick.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Kuzy will COST a high pick to move, not return one. DK could return something I guess, but not some high pick.

If that is indeed the case let Kuzy ride out his contract on the wing (or scratched if he goes vacant - and please note i want him to do well). I think there are always dumb or desperate GMs, especially at the deadline.

 

[trick9]

Biggest hole for them going forward is definitely the 1C spot and that's also the toughest position hockey to fill, to find that elite 1C that allows your team to really compete. If there ever becomes one even close to being available on the market they should definitely pounce on it and make it work. There are still minutes to be had for other players and there is always possibility to shift someone to the wing for a stretch. It's much smaller problem to have too many good players to fill your roster with rather than filling the most important spot in your roster.

Getting that coveted 1C spot filled elsewhere would allow them to really avoid the tanking part which often is the only way to acquire an elite 1C. If they were to manage to get that somewhere via trade that'd be huge, because they have lots of wingers (Leonard, Miro, Cristall) coming up and that'd allow them them to shift their focus more on D's that they need to replace over time.

I'd move basically close to anything for an elite 1C. I love the steps that our younger players and prospects have taken but i don't see us having anyone with elite 1C potential in the pipeline. If you could move assets to acquire that it'd be huge. Those assets, such as picks and prospects can be acquired by weaponising the cap space that they are going to have lots and lots off.

 

[YippieKaey]

In reality the only attractive trade pieces we have are the kids, with CMM likely the most coveted right now. Kuzy, Osh and Wilson might get us some decent picks or whatever but other GMs know what we know and won't play favors.

So the question for this team is how many, and which, kids are we willing to surrender for pieces that help us get better today? For me the answer is pretty much none unless it's like a CMM for McDavid thing but im not holding my breath for that one.

 

[Roshi]

In reality the only attractive trade pieces we have are the kids, with CMM likely the most coveted right now. Kuzy, Osh and Wilson might get us some decent picks or whatever but other GMs know what we know and won't play favors.

So the question for this team is how many, and which, kids are we willing to surrender for pieces that help us get better today? For me the answer is pretty much none unless it's like a CMM for McDavid thing but im not holding my breath for that one.

If an opportunity waves at us, go for it.

I only have couple that i would blink to move. Guys that I really feel like can be real contributors in 2-4 years from now.

Dont get me wrong, I like a lot of our "kids" and im not trading them for mediocricity. But honestly if there is the right guy for us avaivable, most of them are still replacable with good pro-scouting. Which seems to be atleast somewhat working for us. BM has been good with dumpster diving trades and finding really good depth pieces from free agency.

 

[max21]

Monumental network currently showing g6 vs Pens in 2018. Just started

I watched it all, it was glorious. Oshie was a beast that game, never remembered him wearing the A

 

[YippieKaey]

If an opportunity waves at us, go for it.

I only have couple that i would blink to move. Guys that I really feel like can be real contributors in 2-4 years from now.

Dont get me wrong, I like a lot of our "kids" and im not trading them for mediocricity. But honestly if there is the right guy for us avaivable, most of them are still replacable with good pro-scouting. Which seems to be atleast somewhat working for us. BM has been good with dumpster diving trades and finding really good depth pieces from free agency.

I guess it depends on the definition of "the right guy"? Im just doubtful that we could get that without giving up too much.

 

[Misery74]

Biggest hole for them going forward is definitely the 1C spot and that's also the toughest position hockey to fill, to find that elite 1C that allows your team to really compete. If there ever becomes one even close to being available on the market they should definitely pounce on it and make it work. There are still minutes to be had for other players and there is always possibility to shift someone to the wing for a stretch. It's much smaller problem to have too many good players to fill your roster with rather than filling the most important spot in your roster.

Getting that coveted 1C spot filled elsewhere would allow them to really avoid the tanking part which often is the only way to acquire an elite 1C. If they were to manage to get that somewhere via trade that'd be huge, because they have lots of wingers (Leonard, Miro, Cristall) coming up and that'd allow them them to shift their focus more on D's that they need to replace over time.

I'd move basically close to anything for an elite 1C. I love the steps that our younger players and prospects have taken but i don't see us having anyone with elite 1C potential in the pipeline. If you could move assets to acquire that it'd be huge. Those assets, such as picks and prospects can be acquired by weaponising the cap space that they are going to have lots and lots off.

Why not see what Lapierre can do before any big moves.

I’m not saying he’s a 1c, we just don’t know.

I will say, 11/22/23, he is the best center on this team.

 

[crazy8888]

You put him in Oshie's spot and you're neutering his strongest asset. Why not get someone who fits that role better?

But though? Who is currently available that would fit in good? Im strictly talking right now, for this season.

 

[lakai17]

Is Lapierre the odd man out until an injury occurs?

 

[g00n]

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Covid round 92?

 

[zappa4ever]

some good stuff, the goalie saves esp

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That Edmonton goalie trade thread has me thinking to myself what Lindgren’s value is right now….or if his play would make them comfortable moving DK and platooning Shep….

 

[Calicaps]

That Edmonton goalie trade thread has me thinking to myself what Lindgren’s value is right now….or if his play would make them comfortable moving DK and platooning Shep….

It's risky. But, man, would that open up some options... Assets for DK (does EDM have anything we want/need excluding the obvious and unavailable?). His cap hit off the books.