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

[IafrateOvie34]

Exactly…..pretty sad to see fans wanting this team to fail when they’re finding a way right now to do otherwise. All this retention talk is loser talk. Not quite there yet.

I miss the days when 29 win teams made the playoffs. Even the North Stars came up short 2 games of winning it all. Those mid 80s Leaf's teams were terrible in the regular season too. I don't feel there is any true underdog with teams so close in standing in today's game.

 

[DWGie26]

I really like the idea of signing Ethan Bear and trading one of TVR / Jensen for value. I assume that is part of the holdup in finding a partner for Jensen/TVR. I get Bear isn’t ready to play yet, so fine stash him on IR (not LTIR) as we can afford it Cap wise.

Also, time is the enemy of all deals. Lock that shit down!

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

"CAPS TODAY: Connor McMichael skated a career-high 20:02 and scored a goal on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. McMichael has recorded five points (2g, 3a) in his last eight games and ranks third on the Capitals this season in individual scoring chances at five-on-five (45)"

"Updated #Caps individual stats from @Sportlogiq. One takeaway: Connor McMichael’s name is all over the place. Dylan Strome’s name is, too.
Expected goals
Wilson 9.48
Ovechkin 9.43
Strome 8.32
McMichael 7.08
Kuznetsov 5.73"

 

[DWGie26]

I’d really like to see us change up the first line and see if we can get something going. Been a lot of comments about Strome being a scoring center versus a distributor which i agree with. I like a scoring center. But what if we tried this:

OV-McMichael-Protas (pro and McMike playing well together and both distributors)
Mantha-Strome-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK (and not opposed to playing Phillips and sitting NAK who’s been bad)

 

[bacchist]

I’d really like to see us change up the first line and see if we can get something going. Been a lot of comments about Strome being a scoring center versus a distributor which i agree with. I like a scoring center. But what if we tried this:

OV-McMichael-Protas (pro and McMike playing well together and both distributors)
Mantha-Strome-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK (and not opposed to playing Phillips and sitting NAK who’s been bad)

Not sure Phillips is a good fit on that 4th line. As much as I like him, I don't expect to see him back in the lineup unless we get a couple injuries. Even though he's got the team best 5v5 relative xGoals %. I just think the chemistry isn't there with the rest of the team. He is smart and hustles and often gets in position with space and somehow nobody can find the pass button. I think they just fetishize size and either consciously or unconsciously write him off as an option.

 

[DWGie26]

Not sure Phillips is a good fit on that 4th line. As much as I like him, I don't expect to see him back in the lineup unless we get a couple injuries. Even though he's got the team best 5v5 relative xGoals %. I just think the chemistry isn't there with the rest of the team. He is smart and hustles and often gets in position with space and somehow nobody can find the pass button. I think they just fetishize size and either consciously or unconsciously write him off as an option.

Yeah, I’m with you. But NAK has been bad. Phillips, though small, does have good possession metrics I believe which could play well on the 4th line.

But curious what you think about what I proposed with top 6. It means breaking up our best line which i don’t like, but we need to get OV going.

 

[bacchist]

Yeah, I’m with you. But NAK has been bad. Phillips, though small, does have good possession metrics I believe which could play well on the 4th line.

But curious what you think about what I proposed with top 6. It means breaking up our best line which i don’t like, but we need to get OV going.

I'm hesitant to break up McMike and Mantha. They've been a pleasant surprise.

It would be nice for Ovie to get going, but I just don't know what you do about a 5% spct. The only other time he had less than 10% was 2010-11, when he had 8.7% and most years he's been in the 13-15% range.

I have no idea what to make of it, really.

 

[Raikkonen]

I’d really like to see us change up the first line and see if we can get something going. Been a lot of comments about Strome being a scoring center versus a distributor which i agree with. I like a scoring center. But what if we tried this:

OV-McMichael-Protas (pro and McMike playing well together and both distributors)
Mantha-Strome-Wilson
Snively-Kuzy-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK (and not opposed to playing Phillips and sitting NAK who’s been bad)

Nah, keep Mantha-CMM-Protas together.

Maybe try Paci-Strome-Wilson

2 working top-6 lines would be helpful

What's left?

Ovi-Kuzy-?

maybe NAK with them? Oshie probably... all problematic players on one line... maybe Miro with them later. maybe buy someone else?

just dont mess with Mantha-CMM-Protas please

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

As much as I love Orlov and his game I am so glad we did not give him some massive long term deal

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Any ideas on why the Bear contract hasn’t been solidified yet?

 

[um]

Nah, keep Mantha-CMM-Protas together.

Maybe try Paci-Strome-Wilson

2 working top-6 lines would be helpful

What's left?

Ovi-Kuzy-?

maybe NAK with them? Oshie probably... all problematic players on one line... maybe Miro with them later. maybe buy someone else?

just dont mess with Mantha-CMM-Protas please

OH GOD NO!

Never again please.

 

[CapsCrazyX17]

Any ideas on why the Bear contract hasn’t been solidified yet?

He's apparently still recovering from injury and bringing him in will likely require a corresponding move (trade/waivers) for one of our other defensemen so there's probably no rush if you're GMBM. Perhaps he's waiting until right before the holiday roster freeze to see if he can sneak AA or Johansen down to the AHL.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Based on what we’re seeing lately, when Patches is back I’d like to go:

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Patches-McMike-Mantha
Protas-Kuznetsov-Phillips
Snively-Dowd-Oshie

The 4th line has been awful and needs to be broken up. I think Malenstyn in particular has been bad.

Would be nice if BMac could make a move for either a bonafide top line winger or a middle six winger. Or they call up Miro and see what he’s got because they’re doing pretty well with what they’ve got but they really need to figure out how to score more goals and they can’t afford a fourth line that bleeds chances against with their current lack of goal scoring.

 

[zappa4ever]

Problem with Phillips is Carbs seemingly doesn't trust him anymore to not hurt the team or move the needle much; he's the 1st one losing TOI when he shortens the bench
5:32 TOI v CAR and under 3min v NSH

He was getting decent mins for most gms (12:00 or so) and just doesn't produce
8 of last 10 gms = 0 SOG
2 pts last 16gms

Hope Max Power can push him down to 13F b/c IMO he belongs on a lottery team and not any .500 or better team

Wouldn't mind some diff Hershey callups b/c Snively hasn't done anything with his chances so far either

Looking forward to see if the offense can generate more when Milano and Max Power make the lines more balanced in a week or two

 

[bacchist]

Problem with Phillips is Carbs seemingly doesn't trust him anymore to not hurt the team or move the needle much; he's the 1st one losing TOI when he shortens the bench
5:32 TOI v CAR and under 3min v NSH

He was getting decent mins for most gms (12:00 or so) and just doesn't produce
8 of last 10 gms = 0 SOG
2 pts last 16gms

Hope Max Power can push him down to 13F b/c IMO he belongs on a lottery team and not any .500 or better team

Wouldn't mind some diff Hershey callups b/c Snively hasn't done anything with his chances so far either

Looking forward to see if the offense can generate more when Milano and Max Power make the lines more balanced in a week or two

Yeah, if Carbs isn't going to give Phillips a full load, I'd rather get a look at some of the kids from Hershey, or maybe Frank (who isn't really a kid, but brings some speed and deserves a shot to score some NHL goals). I really think Phillips has gotten a raw deal here, but it is what it is.

 

[twabby]

Based on what we’re seeing lately, when Patches is back I’d like to go:

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Patches-McMike-Mantha
Protas-Kuznetsov-Phillips
Snively-Dowd-Oshie

The 4th line has been awful and needs to be broken up. I think Malenstyn in particular has been bad.

Would be nice if BMac could make a move for either a bonafide top line winger or a middle six winger. Or they call up Miro and see what he’s got because they’re doing pretty well with what they’ve got but they really need to figure out how to score more goals and they can’t afford a fourth line that bleeds chances against with their current lack of goal scoring.

I think Milano has to be in the lineup when healthy. He's flawed but he still produces. I don't know where he'd fit in if everyone is healthy but I also don't think everyone will be healthy because, well you know.

Agreed with Malenstyn and the 4th line in general. Beck is a non-factor and while he kills penalties I'd much rather see guys like Protas or Mantha step in and kill penalties in his stead.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I think Milano has to be in the lineup when healthy. He's flawed but he still produces. I don't know where he'd fit in if everyone is healthy but I also don't think everyone will be healthy because, well you know.

Agreed with Malenstyn and the 4th line in general. Beck is a non-factor and while he kills penalties I'd much rather see guys like Protas or Mantha step in and kill penalties in his stead.

Agreed. Wasn’t sure how long Milano would be out for so I left him off. But yeah, swap Protas with Phillips and put Milano on 3LW. Snively/Phillips/whoever can compete for the last spot on the 4th line.

 

[trick9]

Why does the 4th line suck?

They've outscored opponents 7-2 while 5-on-5?

 

[twabby]

Why does the 4th line suck?

They've outscored opponents 7-2 while 5-on-5?

They've been getting routinely outchanced to the tune of 35% xG as a line. And while a lot of that is due to tough deployment it doesn't explain enough to keep them together as a trio.

 

[HecticGlow]

Johansen on waivers.

 

[Ridley Simon]

So….do we lose LuJo?

 

[Kolzilla]

So….do we lose LuJo?

Not sure who would take a chance on him. Any team have a lot of LD injuries?

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Hopefully Lujo sneaks pass waivers

 

[trick9]

They've been getting routinely outchanced to the tune of 35% xG as a line. And while a lot of that is due to tough deployment it doesn't explain enough to keep them together as a trio.

Who replaces him?

I wish we could get prime Bergeron to our 4th line but there are very few players in the game that can tilt the ice on the 4th line with 8% OZ starts and facing tough competition.

This seems premature. Goals count. It's actually funny that their line has gotten that sorts of GF/GA results despite absolutely garbage minutes.

 

[pman25]

Every team has a Lucas Johansen tbh. Not sure why anyone would want him. If he was a RHD, different story