SecretaryofDefense5
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kuzy getting scratched and the smoke around Columbus…coincidence? Probably but interesting.
Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2023-24 Regular Season Edition
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Ovechkins Wodka
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zappa4ever
Music is the Best!
Carbery has used benching a ton already on the "lesser" forwards, I think Milano had under 6 min. v ANA (right after Leo Carlsson? split him and Strome to go to goal, never saw ice after that play); Phillips and Lapi and NAK have all had minutes cut aggresively
Fine with the tactic for much of the RS (esp since it's worked many times) , but that won't cut it come Playoff time or tough stretches of calendar later in the season (which we will have tons of)
I think Kuz will respond well to it (and secretly might enjoy getting paid to sit), we shall see
Fine with the tactic for much of the RS (esp since it's worked many times) , but that won't cut it come Playoff time or tough stretches of calendar later in the season (which we will have tons of)
I think Kuz will respond well to it (and secretly might enjoy getting paid to sit), we shall see
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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Next step..ejector seat……jettison this bum after he enjoys his night off and it changes nothing. Waive his ass.
I dont even think it's lack of effort with Kuzy. His hockey mind went on vacation and didn't come back. He's trying but doesn't know how.
ClevelandCapsfan
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It’s official. Kuzy has been banished to an asteroid.
Misery74
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He told them he wanted to “get high”.
g00n
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g00n
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We're poking some fun but it's really kind of sad. Kuzy was a huge part of that Cup run. The G6 OT goal to knock out the Pens is the stuff of Caps legend.
But you can't coast on that shit forever, man. This is a Janet Jackson league.
Oooooo ooo ooo oooo yeah
But you can't coast on that shit forever, man. This is a Janet Jackson league.
Oooooo ooo ooo oooo yeah
It really sucks man. Joking is kind of our coping mechanism but that dude was magic for a few seasons and it’s sad to see him in his current state. There were stretches of games where every time he’d touch the puck I’d move a bit closer to the edge of my seat. “Kuzy Magic,” the Twister pass, the tucks from behind the net, the effortless way he just glided by people… dude was so fun to watch. He had unreal vision and IQ and the confidence to try new and different things. He was such a breath of fresh air from the “get pucks deep, get traffic in front of the net, play it safe,” hive mind that permeates throughout the NHL these days.
I hope he finds happiness in his life because hockey sure isn’t providing it any more. He went from looking like a kid playing pond hockey after school with friends to a dude who looks like playing hockey is a chore he must endure. What happened to this guy??
I think he’s lost a step too. I noticed it last year, and was shouted down by everyone saying it was just poor effort. But, seriously, even when he’s “trying” and really winding it up through the NZ, he doesn’t have the same speed and explosiveness.
I think that’s one of his biggest issues - he doesn’t know how to adapt being over 30, and dealing with the first diminishment of his athleticism. He’s more apt to just blame others, and not be self-aware (or care) enough to work on other aspects of his game to compensate.
Plus, he’s just so soft, and won’t imitate contact driving the center of the ice anymore. He’s always whining and diving at the slightest hook, or slash.
g00n
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I mean, people tell me Columbus is a nice town, but it doesn't seem like Kuzy's kind of place. I'm always amused about rumored swaps of malcontents. But this stings a bit, because it's hard to get at what happened here. In his heyday, Kuzy was a highly skilled and immensely creative play-driver who seemed to defy physics by being able to accelerate while gliding. He was given a lot of freedom by otherwise hard-assy coaches like Trotz and Lavi to do things that if tried by others would be seen as forcing plays or high-risk decisions - but the risk/reward with him paid off, at least with Trotz.
And now it doesn't - his plays with the puck and passes often look more forced, he's dispossessed of the puck easily, and his aversion to shooting and getting pucks deep when entries are closed off are now endemic. Is there an if you don't embrace my f***ups and love my creativity even when it kills possession, then I'll show you what happens when I play safe (answer: not much good) thing going on? I think the team is way tired of trying to figure it out.
And now it doesn't - his plays with the puck and passes often look more forced, he's dispossessed of the puck easily, and his aversion to shooting and getting pucks deep when entries are closed off are now endemic. Is there an if you don't embrace my f***ups and love my creativity even when it kills possession, then I'll show you what happens when I play safe (answer: not much good) thing going on? I think the team is way tired of trying to figure it out.
SecretaryofDefense5
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Who knows but I feel like they gave him a ton of playing time early on to either a.) increase his trade value b.) relationship mending.....failures on both fronts. Time for the Kuz to fly elsewhere.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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It’s immensely sad. Totally likable character, just lacking in heart. He could have been great.
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One thing I found interesting was Spence's quotes in the paper today on how the Mikey-Protas-Mantha trio provide one another with really good puck support. That may also have been an implicit dig at what the top line doesn't do. Maybe he kept Ovi and Kuzy together for as long as he did because Kuzy doesn't really want puck support, and Ovi at this stage isn't particularly adept at providing it.
Hivemind
We're Touched
Somehow I think Columbus is on Kuzy's no trade list. Just a hunch.
SecretaryofDefense5
Registered User
CBJ has followed the Caps for four games in a row. That isn't a nothing burger. As I said, it is probably a coincidence when it comes to Kuzy but it certainly means something in general.Somehow I think Columbus is on Kuzy's no trade list. Just a hunch.
Portable Mink
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StrikingDistance
Buford T. Justice
Marshall
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So, Chinakhov...Jenner? Texier?
Jenner seems an unlikely piece to move - good player at a reasonable number and a few years control. Were it me, easy keep from CBJ perspective.
Texier? Doesn't seem like a vertical move, more a lateral one.
Jenner seems an unlikely piece to move - good player at a reasonable number and a few years control. Were it me, easy keep from CBJ perspective.
Texier? Doesn't seem like a vertical move, more a lateral one.
Brian23
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I really just don't think it's that.
I think winning the cup was probably the worst thing for Kuzy. I could see a world where there was always this summit, and then he got their and life goes on. After that it's just where's the fun, where's the joy? Nothing will be like the first time.
Being a professional player is so much about self motivation. Look at the greats, you have to be almost psychopathic in your drive to be a consistently top and successful pro player. Though, I will say I don't know if Ovi had that level of commitment which may have rubbed off a bit on Kuzya.
Its no surprise kuzy's performance has dipped (in concert with a couple other of our core players), he still has the skills, but the rest of his linemates aren't commanding enough respect or have enough skills to open the ice for him. If you ship him to a faster team, he'd excel just based on pure skill and nothing else. Basically we need to get some skill and speed back in this lineup. Ovechkin is basically doing nothing on the first line, Carlson hasn't either, neither has Oshie or Backstrom or Jensen or TVR. Just too many players that have no skill / too old / not performing.
I'd rather keep kuzy (can't afford to lose a top 6 center) and then try and jettison tvr/jensen + prospects for some faster D men... ones that can get to the puck before the other team. Tired of seeing our team hemmed in and watching other players get to the puck before our defensemen in our own zone. Wonder if werenski could come the other way in a trade.
I'd rather keep kuzy (can't afford to lose a top 6 center) and then try and jettison tvr/jensen + prospects for some faster D men... ones that can get to the puck before the other team. Tired of seeing our team hemmed in and watching other players get to the puck before our defensemen in our own zone. Wonder if werenski could come the other way in a trade.
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