Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2023 Off-season

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I don’t have the exact quote but at one point Ovechkin had said he would stop playing if he couldn’t be a top player still. I wonder how Backstrom will feel about being a third liner at best?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

LTIR only works if he can't play, or has an injury preventing him to play. I'm not sure not being able to play well is LTIR-able in this day and age.

Let’s say this was a starting pitcher who reached the high 90s, he returns from injury and only throws in the 80s…..feels like there should be some room to accommodate a degradation in performance to a point at which he can‘t perform his role up to expected levels. The hard conversation is likely telling Backstrom ”it’s over buddy”……and then he fights that.

 

[crazy8888]

I don’t have the exact quote but at one point Ovechkin had said he would stop playing if he couldn’t be a top player still. I wonder how Backstrom will feel about being a third liner at best?

Well, Backstrom never said this sooooo….. besides, i think that he is a realistic person and must realize that he has not been a top player for a few years at least even before the surgery. He will get his $. You guys are not going to will him into retiring.

 

[g00n]

Trying to remember how we finally got Poti and Nylander off the books when they became boat anchors.

Right now looks like we have to pray NB gets back to at least 80% of his potential, or else has some kind of LTIR setback. Don't want to root for failure.

Unless it's a RED TANK.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Well, Backstrom never said this sooooo….. besides, i think that he is a realistic person and must realize that he has not been a top player for a few years at least even before the surgery. He will get his $. You guys are not going to will him into retiring.

His production was decent before the last two injury seasons. 53 in 55, 54 in 61. (79, 72 point paces)…

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Well, Backstrom never said this sooooo….. besides, i think that he is a realistic person and must realize that he has not been a top player for a few years at least even before the surgery. He will get his $. You guys are not going to will him into retiring.

Who is trying to will anyone? LMAO

Yes, Backstrom surely reads HFBoards. Get a grip son.

 

[Kalopsia]

Trying to remember how we finally got Poti and Nylander off the books when they became boat anchors.

Right now looks like we have to pray NB gets back to at least 80% of his potential, or else has some kind of LTIR setback. Don't want to root for failure.

Unless it's a RED TANK.

I just looked it up, and apparently we loaned Nylander to the Red Wings, who stuck him on their AHL team initially and then loaned him to a Finnish club. I didn't even realize loaning players out was a thing in the NHL, but I assume it doesn't help with the cap hit. He was loaned to the Panthers AHL team for 7 games the next year, but otherwise didn't seem to play. Poti was just LTIRed for a while before making it back to the club for the end of his contract, then retired after that season.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

/// I do think there's some wisdom in banking on a coaching change and more of a focus on skill development as being the main move. Not to the exclusion of sweeping personnel changes but, as said, it can't be forced. That's going to need to be the biggest difference-maker to help finesse some tricky situations going forward.

Bingo! What shoulda happened in the season just ended.

I wonder if NB would be open to contract restructuring (if that's legal per the CBA)?

He gets a different deal to stay around and watch/help Ovie break the record, retires a Cap, gets his number retired (probably), and maybe makes the HOF...and the team gets cap space back.

Even better ... Nick retires, forgoes his $9.2m x2 player contract, the next day gets hired as AC, 4 yrs @ $4.6m. Probably the highest-paid AC in the league. And worth every cent! (Is there anything in the CBA/elsewhere that would prohibit this?)

 

[StrikingDistance]

I don’t have the exact quote but at one point Ovechkin had said he would stop playing if he couldn’t be a top player still. I wonder how Backstrom will feel about being a third liner at best?

Here's how he feels about it.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

again tho, Ovie has said publicly more than once that he won't be part of a rebuild. so are you prepared to trade him and have him break that record with another club?

I'll always put the franchise over the player even it's Ovy. I wouldn't like it at all, however I look back at history. They had chances and blew it for a cup before 2018 and even in 2019. Nobody wants to see their best ever franchise player traded. I didn't like it when Gretzky was traded to LA, Bourque to Colorado (Even though it was good gesture), and I hated when Iafrate was traded to Boston (had to get a scorer with Cap's Defense surplus). Then we have the years where GMGM pretty much wasted Ovy's prime years. Again, I hate the results, however it's history. Somethings got to give. Backstrom needs to retire or other players need traded because I see no way this team can be a contender soon. I fully understand Ovy's thinking. He's not getting younger and the taste of one cup just isn't enough. Personally, I would like a miracle to happen and the Caps win another one with Ovy. Everyone knows Ovy is going to retire his jersey as a Cap even if he doesn't break the record with them. If it comes to that, I don't want it being with Boston, NYR, NJD, or Leafs. The Kings seemed poised for contention. I know you won't Cali, but I'm sure lots of posters going to go nuts over this post. For those who can't chillout and over react, I'm not for trading Ovy and I want him to break the record with the Caps. Getting clones of Mantha types aren't going to cut it. Go big and suffer 20 year rebuild or be patient.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

OV is not leaving even if they rebuild it's just talk. You think he will just give up on the record? Never. Also there is zero chance of him playing for any other club outside of Capitals, next in line is the Moscow Dynamo.

Personally, I can see him playing as long as Jagr did in the NHL and score way more than the record breaking goal. Then there should be an asterisk next to his name for those lockouts because we all know he would have it now.

Here's how he feels about it.

Just might be the better decision. Lots of former scoring guys adjusted to bottom lines. Folks on HF riot over it due to salary. Hopefully, one day they get rid of the salary cap. If teams can't compete or spend for players, let those franchises fold. Too many teams now anyway.

 

[Brian23]

Hopefully, one day they get rid of the salary cap. If teams can't compete or spend for players, let those franchises fold. Too many teams now anyway.

wut.

The salary cap isn't becuase teams can't pay or spend on players, it's entirely because players would want to play in premier locations. Good luck getting a player to go to your team when they could just go to a nice beautiful coastal city instead. I guess screw most fans of teams not in a vacation area.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Personally, I can see him playing as long as Jagr did in the NHL and score way more than the record breaking goal. Then there should be an asterisk next to his name for those lockouts because we all know he would have it now.



Just might be the better decision. Lots of former scoring guys adjusted to bottom lines. Folks on HF riot over it due to salary. Hopefully, one day they get rid of the salary cap. If teams can't compete or spend for players, let those franchises fold. Too many teams now anyway.

BMac sounds like he begs to differ on that being a good decision.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

wut.

The salary cap isn't becuase teams can't pay or spend on players, it's entirely because players would want to play in premier locations. Good luck getting a player to go to your team when they could just go to a nice beautiful coastal city instead. I guess screw most fans of teams not in a vacation area.

It's too late to do it now because of all the expansion anyway. I can dislike the salary cap if I want. At the time of salary cap discussions it was the issues of Canadian teams minus Toronto and Montreal complaining about rising salaries in addition to desirability. If I recall correctly GMGM and Ted were all on board with the salary cap implementation. What does Edmonton do right after lockout? They go hog wild on inflated UFAs. It's a player choice where they want to go. I understand your concern, however it's a free market or was. I don't believe the beautiful coastal cities argument either. People make independent decisions and not everyone wants to live in those beautiful coastal cities, unless it's Erik Karlsson. I'm sure plenty of players who don't want insane property taxes etc or ludicrous city laws. As stated earlier, it will never happen because of all the expansion so it's a moot point anyway.

 

[CapsJunkie]

just trade him for a 5th rounder and use it to sign someone

 

[crazy8888]

Who is trying to will anyone? LMAO

Yes, Backstrom surely reads HFBoards. Get a grip son.

Its a saying buddy. Will into existence. like lets say you keep posting that he will leave $ on the table and retire and he actually does it. You can come back and tell people you willed it into existence.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Its a saying buddy. Will into existence. like lets say you keep posting that he will leave $ on the table and retire and he actually does it. You can come back and tell people you willed it into existence.

Definitely not trying to will anything. It’s a place where people share ideas and discuss pundit opinions. Tarik seems to think the Caps brass may be trying to convince Nick he isn’t what he use to be and they need that $$$ or at least could be a point they get too. That isn’t me that is a beat writer.

 

[pman25]

LTIR only works if he can't play, or has an injury preventing him to play. I'm not sure not being able to play well is LTIR-able in this day and age.

Doesn’t seem like it would be that hard to LTIR him if they really wanted to. They can fail him on a physical, they have plenty of documentation and history on his hip, which is also a procedure no player has really come back from. They’ve tried rest, physical therapy, and surgery. League wouldn’t really question it

 

[Brian23]

Doesn’t seem like it would be that hard to LTIR him if they really wanted to. They can fail him on a physical, they have plenty of documentation and history on his hip, which is also a procedure no player has really come back from. They’ve tried rest, physical therapy, and surgery. League wouldn’t really question it

I very much doubt the NHL wouldn't question it, but I'd bet the NHLPA would be all over it if Backstrom wanted to play.

How many of the LTI-Retirees came back from their massive injury/surgery, played half a year, and then "couldn't" play anymore?

 

[crazy8888]

Definitely not trying to will anything. It’s a place where people share ideas and discuss pundit opinions. Tarik seems to think the Caps brass may be trying to convince Nick he isn’t what he use to be and they need that $$$ or at least could be a point they get too. That isn’t me that is a beat writer.

Chill. Was not trying to take stabs. Just see many people mention something along those lines. I just dont see it happening.

 

[Hivemind]

I don't think any of the LTIRments have involved a player who wanted to continue playing thru their current injuries (or "injuries" in some cases).

 

[Calicaps]

I'll always put the franchise over the player even it's Ovy. I wouldn't like it at all, however I look back at history. They had chances and blew it for a cup before 2018 and even in 2019. Nobody wants to see their best ever franchise player traded. I didn't like it when Gretzky was traded to LA, Bourque to Colorado (Even though it was good gesture), and I hated when Iafrate was traded to Boston (had to get a scorer with Cap's Defense surplus). Then we have the years where GMGM pretty much wasted Ovy's prime years. Again, I hate the results, however it's history. Somethings got to give. Backstrom needs to retire or other players need traded because I see no way this team can be a contender soon. I fully understand Ovy's thinking. He's not getting younger and the taste of one cup just isn't enough. Personally, I would like a miracle to happen and the Caps win another one with Ovy. Everyone knows Ovy is going to retire his jersey as a Cap even if he doesn't break the record with them. If it comes to that, I don't want it being with Boston, NYR, NJD, or Leafs. The Kings seemed poised for contention. I know you won't Cali, but I'm sure lots of posters going to go nuts over this post. For those who can't chillout and over react, I'm not for trading Ovy and I want him to break the record with the Caps. Getting clones of Mantha types aren't going to cut it. Go big and suffer 20 year rebuild or be patient.

Honestly, I think working around Ovie is in the best interest of the franchise. What do you really gain by rebuilding now, possibly losing Ovie, no matter what @Peeri says, and looking like a douchebag franchise to rest of the world for doing it? Better to retool, do the best they can with Ovie's remaining years, get him the record, and then rebuild. It's what, 2-3 extra years to be part of something only a handful of teams ever get near?

There's no "enough" with winning championships. We'll always want more, and I'm all in for them doing their best to be competitve. But there's only one "our Captain broke the all-time goals record." That's a unicorn, and I want it.

And ultimately, what I--or you--want doesn't matter. Uncle Ted wants it. Ovie wants it. And Mac's gonna work within those constraints. LGC!

 

[Rayquaza64]

im way too tired to be reading this rn. mcmichael 45 point season next year!

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Honestly, I think working around Ovie is in the best interest of the franchise. What do you really gain by rebuilding now, possibly losing Ovie, no matter what @Peeri says, and looking like a douchebag franchise to rest of the world for doing it? Better to. retool, do the best they can with Ovie's remaining years, get him the record, and then rebuild. It's what, 2-3 extra years to be part of something only a handful of teams ever get near?

There's no "enough" with winning championships. We'll always want more, and I'm all in for them doing their best to be competitve. But there's only one "our Captain broke the all-time goals record." That's a unicorn, and I want it.

And ultimately, what I--or you--want doesn't matter. Uncle Ted wants it. Ovie wants it. And Mac's gonna work within those constraints. LGC!

We don't gain anything rebuilding totally now. Ovy isn't going anywhere but for conversation purposes I understand others point of view. I want Ovy to break record here. In hockey there is no promise of a championship no matter how stacked or well coached a team is.

 

[g00n]

Honestly, I think working around Ovie is in the best interest of the franchise. What do you really gain by rebuilding now, possibly losing Ovie, no matter what @Peeri says, and looking like a douchebag franchise to rest of the world for doing it? Better to. retool, do the best they can with Ovie's remaining years, get him the record, and then rebuild. It's what, 2-3 extra years to be part of something only a handful of teams ever get near?

There's no "enough" with winning championships. We'll always want more, and I'm all in for them doing their best to be competitve. But there's only one "our Captain broke the all-time goals record." That's a unicorn, and I want it.

And ultimately, what I--or you--want doesn't matter. Uncle Ted wants it. Ovie wants it. And Mac's gonna work within those constraints. LGC!

This.

There's also the issue with how several other Caps "legends" have been treated in their last days (Bondra, Kolzig, Hunter, etc).

Most eventually reconciled with the organization in some way but there were several untidy breakups that seemed to cause some resentment for long periods of time.

We need to do this one right.