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

[Brian23]

Looks like Lujo is back in and AA sits? Assume Protas will stay in for Mantha though, so Backstrom to 3C seems just like a general change. Much better lines imo.

 

[um]

Looks like Lujo is back in and AA sits? Assume Protas will stay in for Mantha though, so Backstrom to 3C seems just like a general change. Much better lines imo.

This is significantly better. Please no more old guys line.

Alexeyev was pretty bad yesterday. One of these guys (LuJo, Alexeyev) needs to capitalize on this opportunity before Edmundson or HHA boots them back to the minors.

 

[HTFN]

Looks like Lujo is back in and AA sits? Assume Protas will stay in for Mantha though, so Backstrom to 3C seems just like a general change. Much better lines imo.

@twabby

pretty much dead on, even put Backstrom at 3C. Have to like that (both for victory laps and because of the coach's read on the situation)

 

[Devil Dancer]

I appreciate that Carbs is willing to make changes after a win.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Looks like Lujo is back in and AA sits? Assume Protas will stay in for Mantha though, so Backstrom to 3C seems just like a general change. Much better lines imo.

And there it is, the Ovi-Strome-Willy line. Me like.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

One old guy per line should be the quota. Nice work.

I don’t think Dowd is fully healthy yet. He hasn’t looked himself. If that’s the case good on Carberry for not forcing him into the lineup and giving Protas a run at center.

 

[HeyMattyB]

That fourth line definitely does not look like one of the best fourth lines in the NHL, which we've grown accustomed to (and possibly taken for granted) for a while now. Maybe Dowd's playing hurt, maybe Dowd/Beck/Protas have yet to build the chemistry the Dowd/Hathaway combination had established, maybe they've yet to learn the new systems or those systems don't suit their playstyles as well. I don't know, but I miss at least having that fourth line provide quality hockey when the top six looks so terrible.

Anyway, hope Protas shows he can play well at 4C in the NHL.

 

[trick9]

Backstrom top-6 experiment seem to be over. Back to the reality again. I hope he can be effective in a smaller role. Give some of his prime minutes to Strome instead.

 

[bacchist]

One old guy per line should be the quota. Nice work.

I don’t think Dowd is fully healthy yet. He hasn’t looked himself. If that’s the case good on Carberry for not forcing him into the lineup and giving Protas a run at center.

Yeah, hopefully Dowd just needs a little extra time after his surgery. It will be a huge blow if he doesn't return to form. He was one of our best and most reliable players last year.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

What's the status of JC74? As much as I rag on the guy, considering how questionable our other d were last night, he seemed the best of the bunch.

 

[AZ Caps Fan]

Looks like Lujo is back in and AA sits? Assume Protas will stay in for Mantha though, so Backstrom to 3C seems just like a general change. Much better lines imo.

Really like those lines as far as the Centers go.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

I’m glad I didn’t buy into all the Backstrom hype and how he is back to his old self. He is old and had his hips resurfaced, like let’s not delude ourselves here. Sad to it play out this way but he is washed.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

let the tinkering begin……that “top pair“ is going to get roasted…..word on Dowd/Carlson?

 

[StrikingDistance]

let the tinkering begin……that “top pair“ is going to get roasted…..word on Dowd/Carlson?

I think they're taking a maintenance day otherwise we would of heard something more. Also, that top pair probably just for practice. haha

 

[IafrateOvie34]

This is significantly better. Please no more old guys line.

Alexeyev was pretty bad yesterday. One of these guys (LuJo, Alexeyev) needs to capitalize on this opportunity before Edmundson or HHA boots them back to the minors.

Agreed. Each line has a veteran presence and allows the younger guys to get in the zone first. This is going to take some time to adjust with new coach. Preseason isn't enough to get an idea of what to expect with players and a new coach. Last night was promising watching two youngsters score the regulation goals. The shot differential needs to be drastically better though.

Edit: With younger defense it will take a while for them to adjust. I hope.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I’m glad I didn’t buy into all the Backstrom hype and how he is back to his old self. He is old and had his hips resurfaced, like let’s not delude ourselves here. Sad to it play out this way but he is washed.

I don't think anyone did buy in. I know myself and others said he looks leaner than any time I can remember, however nothing about him getting faster. Age just catches fast, even faster with an injury like that. The best we can expect is a successful adjustment and not expecting top minutes.

 

[DanTHEMan71]

Nice to see Carbery quickly make the obvious changes we all saw were needed. Strome 1C, Wilson with Ovi, Backy out of top 6, and keeping Milano together with Phillips.

Protas and Mantha on the 4th is two big bodies. If only Mantha actually used his...

Only thing I'd like really to see now is keeping Carlson and Sandin separated.

 

[HTFN]

I don't think anyone did buy in. I know myself and others said he looks leaner than any time I can remember, however nothing about him getting faster. Age just catches fast, even faster with an injury like that. The best we can expect is a successful adjustment and not expecting top minutes.

I mean, you can tell the truth and not be spreading hype.

Saying "Backstrom looks a lot better than last year/before surgery" is true, but he may not be "back" to the point where he can be a threatening NHL player. There was only one way to test that and we're two games into it at this point, so it is what it is.

 

[Misery74]

Right now, Mantha is the giant turd in the punch bowl.

I would assume there is Zero possibility anyone is willing to take him as he is currently paid.

This is still a problem the requires a solution, as Pacioretty has incentive to play as many games as possible.

Four teams have cap space: CHI, ARI, NSH, and
ANH. I am not including BUF, as they will likely be buyers, and DET, for obvious reasons.

Pacioretty will be back before the end of the calendar year. Are we just banking on a vet going on LTIR?

Seems like trouble is brewing.

 

[Monsterrain]

I like the new lines. Keep 19 on the first pp. he still has his hands and he doesn’t have to move around much. Pretty much the same for 8.

 

[WanderingCapsFan]

I like the new lines. Keep 19 on the first pp. he still has his hands and he doesn’t have to move around much. Pretty much the same for 8.

That will work, because it seems to continue to be the plan for the PP that EVERYONE stands still.

 

[Monsterrain]

That will work, because it seems to continue to be the plan for the PP that EVERYONE stands still.

You know what I mean dude. They don’t have to go up and down the ice with all the youngsters.

 

[WanderingCapsFan]

You know what I mean dude. They don’t have to go up and down the ice with all the youngsters.

Hey, man, it wasn't a shot at you. It was a shot at the static power play.

 

[Hivemind]

With Edmundson on LTIR, I'm disappointed to see LuJo back in the line-up and HHA still in Hershey. Neither LuJo nor Alexeyev acquitted themselves well in their regular season debuts.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Now I’m pissed. Any one live “outside” of DC market, have Xfinity, and discover that your Teddy Monument station no longer works?

This morning went to watch the junkies, like I have for the past however many years, and all I saw was a black screen with the nbc peacock logo changing colors and some terrible music. It’s still that way.

Station was just fine yesterday when I dvr’d the game.