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

[um]

So he’s 100%….so if he comes backs and stinks, he’s just cooked…fingers crossed.



CMM waiver exempt still? Oh the drama if he is and doesn’t make the opening night roster….

There’s a good chance. Caps didn’t make room for him and we’ve got a rookie coach who probably won’t be able to scratch the vets.

 

[Langway]

MacLellan seemed to talk like McMichael will be on the roster. Not a lock by any means. He'll have to earn it but with Pacioretty out there's a top nine spot free. Investing in CMM initially would be ideal if he indeed earns it. It could be Protas or any number of alternatives but, yeah, you'd definitely hope the time has come for CMM.

 

[Capitals40]

MacLellan seemed to talk like McMichael will be on the roster. Not a lock by any means. He'll have to earn it but with Pacioretty out there's a top nine spot free. Investing in CMM initially would be ideal if he indeed earns it. It could be Protas or any number of alternatives but, yeah, you'd definitely hope the time has come for CMM.

Yes, he said he might being playing wing to start..which is the only way he will play unless there is an injury obviously. I'm not thrilled with him playing wing..do not know if this helps the team or CMM.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Yes, he said he might being playing wing to start..which is the only way he will play unless there is an injury obviously. I'm not thrilled with him playing wing..do not know if this helps the team or CMM.

Kuzy already limping after the 1st skating drills of the season. With NB19 injury risks I think CMM will see center pretty early on.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Carbery seems like a breath of fresh air.

 

[usiel]

Kuzy's interview today mentioning that his kids are getting older and starting to give him shit for performance and him not being able to lie to them was great.

 

[usiel]

Oh also Wilson jersey on the way. First purchase since Bondra 92-93 home authentic.

 

[twabby]

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Milano-Kuznetsov-Wilson
McMichael-Strome-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Jensen
Edmundson-TVR

These have been the lines at camp so far.

Subject to change of course, but I can't see how Backstrom/Ovechkin works unless there is some Carbery magic going on or Backstrom is back to his old self.

I like the top 2 D pairings. I think Sandin and Carlson will work well together despite both being more offensively inclined. I get why they're initially putting Edmundson in the top 6 but he needs to be on a really short leash.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Milano-Kuznetsov-Wilson
McMichael-Strome-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Jensen
Edmundson-TVR

These have been the lines at camp so far.

Subject to change of course, but I can't see how Backstrom/Ovechkin works unless there is some Carbery magic going on or Backstrom is back to his old self.

I like the top 2 D pairings. I think Sandin and Carlson will work well together despite both being more offensively inclined. I get why they're initially putting Edmundson in the top 6 but he needs to be on a really short leash.

I don’t think we trade for a free agent and give him a short leash as much as I would like youth I think we play him until we trade him

 

[Ridley Simon]

Yeah. Edmundson will play until he shows he cannot play.

I don’t see it any other way.

 

[WanderingCapsFan]

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Milano-Kuznetsov-Wilson
McMichael-Strome-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Jensen
Edmundson-TVR

These have been the lines at camp so far.

Subject to change of course, but I can't see how Backstrom/Ovechkin works unless there is some Carbery magic going on or Backstrom is back to his old self.

I like the top 2 D pairings. I think Sandin and Carlson will work well together despite both being more offensively inclined. I get why they're initially putting Edmundson in the top 6 but he needs to be on a really short leash.

Sandin-Carlson are going to be looking at a bunch breakaways behind them.

Both offensive minded, both slow. Yikes.

 

[trick9]

I hope Ovechkin has rested his back over the summer.

 

[John Price]

 

[John Price]

 

[g00n]

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[ovikovy817]

Kuzya was the guest on the Nikolishin podcast.

Few interesting comments about the Caps :

1. Kuzya wasn't happy with the dump and chase hockey style
"When you have C's like Nicky, Strome, Dowd and me (and Eller) you should play another style of hockey."
Discussed it with GMBM "I'm paid big money to do things I can do well but now the coach asks me to dump and chase"
So that's why we had the trade rumors .

2. Orly wanted to play his whole career with the Caps. Was very important for him to stay with one organization through his career.

3. Even now the players do not understand what was the defensive system supposed to be.

4. He had 2 phone calls with the new HC and he likes him. The Caps will play another style of play that under Laviolette.

 

[Brian23]

It's still weird how discontent Kuzya was with Lavi, when Lavi seemed to give him the longest leash out of anyone. But yes, more examples that Lavi was damaging to the room here. Maybe we can stop appealing to the previous staff as the authority figure.

As for the lineups, I actually really like them. I'd rather they have someone in to replace or knock Milano down the lineup (maybe one of the kids can do it), and swap Kuzya and Backstrom, but I think those forward lines seem about it. On defense, still annoying to me AA finally gets a shot and looks good last year and we instantly relgate him to the bench agian. But I guess I kinda get it, no way were they running a 3rd young guy on the left side after already playing Sandin and Fehervary. But like...the right side is so veteran, shouldn't they be able to handle the younger players on their left?

 

[Langway]

Seems a bit harsh but, I mean, sure. Edmundson shouldn't play if he's that bad. Ditto NAK. Their depth may be underrated some but in the grand scheme of things it only goes so far.

The lack of strong defensive value is most concerning. At least if you're going to be older and limited athletically they could attempt to be responsible and structured defensively. I think that was Lavi's basic aim in how he structured their game. If I'm Carbery--as much as I want to up their tempo--I'm not 100% wedded to the idea that they're still capable of playing an effective possession game. It's easier to defend when preaching owning the puck but do they still have the juice to play that way?

Fehervary needs a massive campaign and the centers have to be substantially more determined if they're to be a factor. They can't be both inconsistent/ineffective offensively and also pretty light defensively and have much hope aside from goalie-ing.

 

[Brian23]

Some of those stats just seem wildly divorced from reality. I wouldn't ever call Wilson a negative defensive player, and Milano certainly wasn't a negative player overall last year. Dowd only a +2 defense last year? Come on now.

 

[Langway]

The article doesn't even spell Carbery's name right. I get the modeling and age curves so it's a relatively easy bet but are they worse than Nashville? Vancouver?

One promising note:

Since 2020, Strome has the 28th highest relative impact on expected goals in the league among forwards, sandwiched between Pavel Buchnevich and Carter Verhaeghe. That’s top-line company and stems from his growing ability with the puck. He’s become better at exiting his own zone, entering the opponent’s zone and facilitating offense in-zone. Strome might be Washington’s best puck transporter at the moment and it’ll be interesting to see how much a new coach leans on him over the old guard. He should be right behind Ovechkin in ice time.

One big X factor is to what degree Lavi stifled them offensively 5v5. I think that's likely to have been the case, as it was in Nashville toward the end. But even if they're closer to average 5v5 their ability to contain younger, quicker teams is a huge question. I expect a lot of pond hockey. Entertaining but at best high event both ways.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Brian23]

While there isn't much to read into preseason lineups, I will both be very interested and very annoyed if they give Lapierre time at Center but don't let McMichael play there.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

While there isn't much to read into preseason lineups, I will both be very interested and very annoyed if they give Lapierre time at Center but don't let McMichael play there.

My read is Lappy isnt making the team at center.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Same story, different season. The team is deep both at forward and on the blue line and should have good goaltending. The question will be if their highest paid players play like it or if they get paid a lot to get caved in most nights. If Backstrom is truly back, if Wilson and Oshie are fully healthy, and if Kuzy cares again they could make it interesting. If not then any move not involving core players is just rearranging the deck chairs as the ship slowly goes down and we’ll just have to root for Ovi to fill the net with pucks and for fun lottery ball bounces.

I actually don’t think they’re going to be terrible in a few years when Ovi is gone. It’s this and next season when their cap is tied up with the old guys that things could be tough.