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

[Acallabeth]

At 2024 draft.

John Carlson @7M (1M retention) to Toronto

John Tavares at 11M + 2025 3rd.

JT would be a 1 year contract

I mean, if the idea is a cap relief for the Leafs, the price will have to be way higher.
In your proposal Washington trades their only good defenseman who's a franchise icon and routinely leads the team in assists for one year of past-his-prime centerman (who will block the prospects from potentially seizing the 2C position), a 3rd rounder and some crappy return Tavares may get at the deadline.

 

[HTFN]

I cant argue that. Outside of making a bold move that sparks the team, this team is going to slowly fall out of the chase... just like last year. But that is to be expected. The roster had holes last year driven by an aging group that was often banged up... so how does GMBM fix it, brought in an aging forward coming off 2x Achilles tears and joe Edmundston. I was supportive of firing PL.. and I think Carberry has shown decently so far... but PL wasnt the biggest problem. So that's 2 years in a row GMBM scapegoated the entire roster construction on 2 discrete events. 2 years ago it was the goalies... fix the goalies and everything else will work. last year, it was the coach.... get a new coach and everything else will work. Nah, this roster is flawed at every single level.

Again, did you forget Backstrom was coming back and had to be accounted for?

Did you forget that Mantha was a visible dud at the time? Nobody using their hockey brain thought this team was getting fixed this year, least of all GMBM. First of all, the goalies were a problem and that's being proven this year as they sputter elsewhere. He made the signings available to him and got improvements without making big mistakes or losing assets.

Seriously, you guys need to think this through if you really believe GMBM signed Pacioretty then patted himself on the back and went "I did it, I fixed the team, I'm a genius". Team building is a multi-year process, it's not something you can generally turn around in a few days...

 

[hamzarocks]

What exactly does your proposal do for the caps?

Basically to get a better center than Strome to play with OV who can try to get him better passes so he can complete the goal scoring record.

Fair though, if you dont want JT. He can still make decent passes, but hes slow to pucks, and I guess unless the caps have a speedy young puck hound winger (hyman for the leafs when he was here), the OV and JT connection wouldnt work.

Thanks for the response

Value seems kinda equal on the surface - but aging, declining offensively productive D-man who are not fleet afoot and at best just OK at D are probably more valuable than aging, declining semi-productive forwards who are not fleet afoot and at best just OK at D. We already got Max P. and a slew of legacy old forwards, we don't need more. And the salary retention thing would have to be reversed: you take all Carlson $ plus retain $2 million of JT and we maybe think about it. But ultimately, we say no because we are already so . . . f***ing . . . old up front.

Any interest in Kuemper?

I mean, if the idea is a cap relief for the Leafs, the price will have to be way higher.
In your proposal Washington trades their only good defenseman who's a franchise icon and routinely leads the team in assists for one year of past-his-prime centerman (who will block the prospects from potentially seizing the 2C position), a 3rd rounder and some crappy return Tavares may get at the deadline.

That is fair thanks for the comments

I wouldnt retain on JT, and I get capitals dont want to retain on Carlson either

Guess there isnt a fit here

 

[HTFN]

Basically to get a better center than Strome to play with OV who can try to get him better passes so he can complete the goal scoring record.

Fair though, if you dont want JT. He can still make decent passes, but hes slow to pucks, and I guess unless the caps have a speedy young puck hound winger (hyman for the leafs when he was here), the OV and JT connection wouldnt work.

Thanks for the response




That is fair thanks for the comments

I wouldnt retain on JT, and I get capitals dont want to retain on Carlson either

Guess there isnt a fit here

Yeah that's arguably the least helpful thing for this team and that line right now, and definitely not by making the D substantially weaker.

 

[twabby]

Also Strome is quite a bit better than Tavares.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I can see Jensen and or TVR being traded at the deadline

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Basically to get a better center than Strome to play with OV who can try to get him better passes so he can complete the goal scoring record.

Fair though, if you dont want JT. He can still make decent passes, but hes slow to pucks, and I guess unless the caps have a speedy young puck hound winger (hyman for the leafs when he was here), the OV and JT connection wouldnt work.

Thanks for the response




That is fair thanks for the comments

I wouldnt retain on JT, and I get capitals dont want to retain on Carlson either

Guess there isnt a fit here

Strome is better than JT at this moment.

 

[Roshi]

i dont mind trading guys, even the unusual names like f.e Carlson, but there needs to be real value and real goal to do so. Not just because they arent as good as three years ago.

Using Carlson as example, theres no real market for him currently. The return would be underwhelming. And we dont really have a guy to fill his shoes in house which just makes us worse team today. This likely wont benefit us neither, next year or five years down the line, so whats the catch to do so? Just because he is getting old?

Same with Dowd. He is good. Very good for his role. He is not really in any up&coming prospects way either. What can we get for him if we trade him out? Couple middle round picks and ill say no thanks.

It likely comes down to copy last year. See how it goes, if we stay in the mix just go for it. If we fall out from it, try to take whatever you can out of the UFA-guys (Pacioretty, Mantha, Edmundsson).

Im expecting one bigger trade too, maybe at the tdl but more likely in the summer. After they have a better feeling what Bear can do. We have decent pieces. Jensen/TvR+2nd+ could potentially get a top6 forward if the cards play out the right way.

 

[Kuz]

Using Carlson as example, theres no real market for him currently. The return would be underwhelming. And we dont really have a guy to fill his shoes in house which just makes us worse team today. This likely wont benefit us neither, next year or five years down the line, so whats the catch to do so? Just because he is getting old?

Carlson is only worth trading if the Caps decides to go in full rebuild mode which isnt the case. As Carlson at 50 % would be very valuable for a contender. At 8 million he isnt that valuable as teams contending cant fit him in and its in question if his play on ice will be valuable enough for 8 mill. So no point in trading him unless they decide to go full rebuild.

 

[trick9]

Carlson's true trade value is the fact that we are a strong #1 overall pick candidate without him.

I doubt we are there yet, though. It's another question if we should be there yet, but we aren't.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

If we got a legit offer for Carlson we would have to listen. Seeing what the other Karlson got this off-season after a Norris season does not bold well for his value.

 

[pman25]

I would take overpays for Dowd/Lindgren

A strong backup, if not starter and the best 4c signed to an extra year at $1.1 AAV would be very valuable to a contender

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Basically to get a better center than Strome to play with OV who can try to get him better passes so he can complete the goal scoring record.

Fair though, if you dont want JT. He can still make decent passes, but hes slow to pucks, and I guess unless the caps have a speedy young puck hound winger (hyman for the leafs when he was here), the OV and JT connection wouldnt work.

Thanks for the response




That is fair thanks for the comments

I wouldnt retain on JT, and I get capitals dont want to retain on Carlson either

Guess there isnt a fit here

My big issue with a JC/JT swap is it doesn’t make sense for Washington from a timing perspective. If they trade Carlson (who is still far and away their best defenseman and still a 1RD) then they’re going to be a worse team. This team was awful when Carlson was hurt last year.

If they’re trading JC they’re essentially starting a rebuild or a heavy retool and in that case I don’t think someone like JT helps them. If they traded Carlson I’d expect them to do it for young players or draft assets and I don’t think they’d do anything with him this year.

Ship JT to Colorado and see if you can snag one of their defensemen. Or see if the Bruins (gulp) would be interested. I think there are better trading partners for Toronto than Washington if acquiring a defenseman is on your wishlist, unless Jensen or TvR interest you.

 

[trick9]

I would take overpays for Dowd/Lindgren

A strong backup, if not starter and the best 4c signed to an extra year at $1.1 AAV would be very valuable to a contender

There is such an easy path for this team to blow it up if they wanted to.

Carlson for a pick and prospect.

Dowd for a pick.

Lindgren for Campbell and boat full of high picks.

That's workhorse #1D, most trusted defensive forward and our Vezina candidate out which would propably lead to us finishing below 70 points.

That said, i don't think we are there yet.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Wearing screaming eagle caps stuff tonight…

 

[hockeykicker]

There is such an easy path for this team to blow it up if they wanted to.

Carlson for a pick and prospect.

Dowd for a pick.

Lindgren for Campbell and boat full of high picks.

That's workhorse #1D, most trusted defensive forward and our Vezina candidate out which would propably lead to us finishing below 70 points.

That said, i don't think we are there yet.

Woah now, let's not go too far here lol

 

[Langway]

Trevor Zegras trade scenarios: Why the Ducks would deal him, 6 teams that should call

The Ducks aren’t actively shopping Trevor Zegras. But there's some smoke around him and it's worth exploring trade ideas.

theathletic.com

Washington Capitals

The big question is what the Capitals’ direction will be from here. Washington kicked off a rebuild on the fly last deadline but did not do anything to further the process in the offseason. Management has to decide whether there’s going to be that same effort to get younger at the deadline, or if the focus is solely on Alex Ovechkin’s chase for history. Either way, Zegras would be valuable because he could check off two key needs: More playmaking and help down the middle.

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s game has trended in the wrong direction the last few years, to the point where he isn’t top-six caliber for a team with any playoff aspirations. Dylan Strome’s a fine middle-six option, but ideally, Washington can find someone to move ahead of him on the depth chart. So Zegras would be an upgrade that would help other centers slot into more appropriate roles.

If the Capitals see that franchise potential, maybe there’s a way to build around him in the post-Ovechkin era.

Hard to believe they're not a bottom ten team give or take.

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

Hey outside fan here inquiring on a trade proposal I was thinking off

Didnt want to go to main boards and get flamed. If deal doesnt work for Caps then better to let it die here

At 2024 draft.

John Carlson @7M (1M retention) to Toronto

John Tavares at 11M + 2025 3rd.

JT would be a 1 year contract

f*** no baby

 

[Nick Lang]

Hey there Caps fans. Canuck fan here just checking in and seeing how Ethan Bear is looking.

1 assist and a -6 in 8 games. Are the stats telling the story or how happy are people with his performance?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Tom Wilson fails lie detector test when asked how good-looking he thinks he is — RMNB

Tom Wilson is a two-time All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, and Washingtonian of the Year. But according to the NHL, he’s also A LIAR.

apple.news

Hey there Caps fans. Canuck fan here just checking in and seeing how Ethan Bear is looking.

1 assist and a -6 in 8 games. Are the stats telling the story or how happy are people with his performance?

He’s taken a little criticism, makes some mistakes, but not bad IMO.

 

[HandsomeTom43]

Tom Wilson fails lie detector test when asked how good-looking he thinks he is — RMNB

Tom Wilson is a two-time All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, and Washingtonian of the Year. But according to the NHL, he’s also A LIAR.

apple.news

He’s taken a little criticism, makes some mistakes, but not bad IMO.

I'm heterosexual male engaged to a beautiful woman, but I would leave her in an instant for Tom, obviously.

 

[Langway]

He’s taken a little criticism, makes some mistakes, but not bad IMO.

Not bad but also probably not an upgrade over any of their other RD either.

If TVR sits for him tonight and Alexeyev plays...well...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Not bad but also probably not an upgrade over any of their other RD either.

If TVR sits for him tonight and Alexeyev plays...well...

Agreed, kinda a somewhat lateral move as of today skill wise, but they got younger (26 vs 31 and 33) and this allows them to reallocate some $ if they want. (1-2 mil)…

 

[Langway]

Younger but smaller, less physical and IMO with minimal upside from what we've seen. He's cheaper and his salary slots in better on the third pair but he's not all that great I don't think. Maybe he acclimates better eventually but I don't see a raw skillset that leads me to believe he's top 4 material.

Maybe they can get a top two round pick for TVR at the deadline but competitively they won't come out ahead in that exchange. They should have enough cap space via other losses to not really need to make rejiggering the blueline much of a priority (at least not for another relatively unproductive player offensively). As-is they're arguably (reportedly) sitting their #4 tonight. For a team that can't score that seems like a bad idea if they want to win.