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

[ArmadilloThumb]

I don't think I've seen one negative comment about him here, so if he's hired and crashes and burns at some point nobody will be able to atodaso

It's not Rocket Appliances, more a gut thing when they interview potential coaches. I like Carberry, hope he passes the interview with Flying Carpets.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I'm not sure exactly how the CBA/league would assess this, but at some point if he has legit advice from a doctor that continued play will cause long term damage to the hip, is that sufficient for him to LTIR out the rest of his contract?

His health IS the number one concern here, and I don't know about why exactly other players have not been able to sustain comebacks, but it may be that outcome is inevitable with this condition.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I think Backstrom has earned the right to give it a go and I think they’ll give him every opportunity to earn a spot as high in the lineup as possible. It’s not like they can realistically move him. No one is taking that contract for less than a king’s ransom and a buyout would save very little against the cap.

I think the team needs to have a contingency plan if Backstrom is ineffective. It could just be as simple as plugging in McMichael or Protas into the 3C spot. But they need to have a quick trigger on changing things up if Backstrom falters. They can’t give him 40 games to find his form given that the team is going to struggle to make the postseason even if Backstrom does return to form. If after like 10-20 games he’s looking like the same version as last season I think we can pretty quickly conclude that this is who he will be going forward and that is not an NHL level player.

If he is ineffective? I think it is known he will be. There has literally (not figuratively) been another player in the NHL to have this surgery and return to have any measurable amount of success or longevity. You can sense BMac has the same perspective which is why he was like, I don’t know if it gets any better.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'm not sure exactly how the CBA/league would assess this, but at some point if he has legit advice from a doctor that continued play will cause long term damage to the hip, is that sufficient for him to LTIR out the rest of his contract?

His health IS the number one concern here, and I don't know about why exactly other players have not been able to sustain comebacks, but it may be that outcome is inevitable with this condition.

Absolutely I think that would qualify….

 

[twabby]

If he is ineffective? I think it is known he will be. There has literally (not figuratively) been another player in the NHL to have this surgery and return to have any measurable amount of success or longevity. You can sense BMac has the same perspective which is why he was like, I don’t know if it gets any better.

That would be my prediction as well, but what can they do about it if he’s pain free? A trade or a buyout is impractical so if he’s on the books then you need to at least give him a shot right? I realize it puts the team in a bind but that was the risk of giving him that contract to begin with.

I’m not saying pencil him in for a top 6 spot. I’d love to see them get a legit top 6 center to play alongside Strome and then force Backstrom to outplay someone including the young guys. A Carbery hire seems particularly attractive because he seems the most likely to put Washington’s young guys on level ground with Backstrom in a competition.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

That would be my prediction as well, but what can they do about it if he’s pain free? A trade or a buyout is impractical so if he’s on the books then you need to at least give him a shot right? I realize it puts the team in a bind but that was the risk of giving him that contract to begin with.

I’m not saying pencil him in for a top 6 spot. I’d love to see them get a legit top 6 center to play alongside Strome and then force Backstrom to outplay someone including the young guys. A Carbery hire seems particularly attractive because he seems the most likely to put Washington’s young guys on level ground with Backstrom in a competition.

I completely agree there is little they can do. My only point is that there is very little likelihood he becomes effective in any role at this point.

 

[YippieKaey]

Given the toll a career as a pro athlete takes on the human body pretty much any player 30+ has a legit reason for LTIR if they want to. It's surprising how f*d up a body can get from working out and taking that much punishment.

 

[Holtbyisms]

I completely agree there is little they can do. My only point is that there is very little likelihood he becomes effective in any role at this point.

Effective at all or effective for the cap hit he's got? I could see him becoming a decent 3rd line center and sucking up some PP time if he can have a regular off-season and training camp. That's best case scenario. I think if he can't clearly win that role coming out of preseason though we're in serious trouble. At that point how cutthroat will BMac be(or Ted allow him to be)? I guess time will tell but it's a difficult situation if we don't see a best case scenario situation unfold.

 

[twabby]

Effective at all or effective for the cap hit he's got? I could see him becoming a decent 3rd line center and sucking up some PP time if he can have a regular off-season and training camp. That's best case scenario. I think if he can't clearly win that role coming out of preseason though we're in serious trouble. At that point how cutthroat will BMac be(or Ted allow him to be)? I guess time will tell but it's a difficult situation if we don't see a best case scenario situation unfold.

Him being just good enough for 3C is a problem because that means McMichael and Protas don’t have a center spot. Unless they both ship Kuznetsov out and don’t bring in a replacement.

It’s a really tough situation which is perhaps why taking a step back this year and not being overly aggressive in retooling is an attractive option to me. Ship Kuznetsov out. Give Mantha a shot unless you’re getting positive assets for him this offseason. Only bring in a top 6 upgrade if it’s a true impact upgrade with term. Let McMichael and Protas get an opportunity up in the lineup. And then reassess and get aggressive next year when more options should be available including possibly their #8 overall pick being in the mix to crack the lineup and more clarity on Backstrom.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Effective at all or effective for the cap hit he's got? I could see him becoming a decent 3rd line center and sucking up some PP time if he can have a regular off-season and training camp. That's best case scenario. I think if he can't clearly win that role coming out of preseason though we're in serious trouble. At that point how cutthroat will BMac be(or Ted allow him to be)? I guess time will tell but it's a difficult situation if we don't see a best case scenario situation unfold.

Personal opinion, I don’t see him being a solid third line center. His skating at this point isn’t NHL level which makes him a potential liability as a center. I didn’t see him very effective on the PP towards the end of last year consistently but we shall see.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I think Miro has a good chance of contributing to the top 6 more and sooner than many expect. I hope GMBM et al are thinking the same and have him at least soft penciled in their future-year top 6 lineup projections.

That would mean filling out forward roles with short term talent that are complimentary fits. If Kuzy and Mantha are moved and Backstrom does indeed go LTIR there will be a lot of flexibility- and it is probably best to leverage that in stages.

Rough sketch for next year:

Ovi - Strome - Wilson
???? - CCM - Oshie
Milano - Protas - ????/Beck/Frank
????/Snively - Dowd - NAK

The ???? additions contract lengths should match up with arrival expectations for Lapierre, Suzdalev, and whatever haul we can get from this draft (which as you know I think we should do our best to maximize).

Maybe keep Mantha in that mix for next year if management thinks he can respond to a new coach in his Contract year (he could also be more valuable at next year's TD).

Point of this is to maximize flexibility next off-season. My gut tells me the youth can rise to the occasion - they can't over achieve if they don't have a chance. Get a true picture of the young talent so we don't pull another Stevenson/Siegs.

Haven't run the cap numbers but remember GMBM is always on the lookout for the next Kempny to fill the ???? spots.

One step back now, two cups later for Ovi (if we are peaking at the end of his contract he will want to play longer - he likes winning).

 

[Holtbyisms]

Him being just good enough for 3C is a problem because that means McMichael and Protas don’t have a center spot. Unless they both ship Kuznetsov out and don’t bring in a replacement.

It’s a really tough situation which is perhaps why taking a step back this year and not being overly aggressive in retooling is an attractive option to me. Ship Kuznetsov out. Give Mantha a shot unless you’re getting positive assets for him this offseason. Only bring in a top 6 upgrade if it’s a true impact upgrade with term. Let McMichael and Protas get an opportunity up in the lineup. And then reassess and get aggressive next year when more options should be available including possibly their #8 overall pick being in the mix to crack the lineup and more clarity on Backstrom.

Couldn't agree more. I'm off the retool train, have been since it was announced. Just don't see any way we can do it effectively this year. I'd be a seller again this deadline. Could probably have an easier time moving Kuzy there too if nothing materializes over the off-season.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Couldn't agree more. I'm off the retool train, have been since it was announced. Just don't see any way we can do it effectively this year. I'd be a seller again this deadline. Could probably have an easier time moving Kuzy there too if nothing materializes over the off-season.

Ovi will not be cool with such a plan.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Ovi will not be cool with such a plan.

Hopefully he will realize that stepping back for a year will be the best way to have him have Cup chances a few years down the road.

If they go with the young kids next year and the right mix of add-in complimentary guys they may surprise and be more competitive than you'd think. Which would make the step back more fun. The vibe was pretty down this year.

Fresh start vibe thing.

 

[Calicaps]

Hopefully he will realize that stepping back for a year will be the best way to have him have Cup chances a few years down the road.

If they go with the young kids next year and the right mix of add-in complimentary guys they may surprise and be more competitive than you'd think. Which would make the step back more fun. The vibe was pretty down this year.

Fresh start vibe thing.

He has stated in no uncertain terms over and over for years now that he will not be part of a rebuild. All the folks here who keep thinking that either that will magically change or the organization will pursue a rebuild in spite of his wishes are dreaming. Neither of those things will happen. GMBM says what he means and does what he says and this is what he's said consistently: the front office is prepared to move aggressively to retool, including getting younger and faster, this summer.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

He has stated in no uncertain terms over and over for years now that he will not be part of a rebuild.

What I was describing, in my eyes, is absolutely a retool. Getting rid of Kuzy and maybe Mantha is not a rebuild. If Backstrom goes LTIR that isn't a management decision, just something we deal with.

I could rephrase... bringing up the young Bears who are ready now and over the next couple of years and filling forward spaces with short term complimentary players to avoid blocking those young Bears (and whoever we draft this year that might be ready soon) isn't a rebuild. In that scenario we would have the means to bring back Orlov at something very generous for 4 years (if we want). And then you can trade picks and more developed young talent that is redundant to fill other needs with hockey trades in a couple of years.

A rebuild would be also trading Wilson, Kuemper, Carlson, Strome and Oshie now on top of just moving out Kuzy/Mantha.

Bottom line is I'm suggesting we don't fill those empty forward slots this off season with 7 year x $8 million 30 year olds who fall off in 3 or 4 years. That would doom us to a rebuild - what I'm hoping we do is a rolling retool as I see that opening up another serious contention window in a year or two. YMMV.

 

[um]

Couldn't agree more. I'm off the retool train, have been since it was announced. Just don't see any way we can do it effectively this year. I'd be a seller again this deadline. Could probably have an easier time moving Kuzy there too if nothing materializes over the off-season.

We don’t know if we need to sell till next deadline.

All I want is for our 1st round picks to be untouchable and the guys being brought in are young, except Orlov if it’s short term.

Also, Kuzy and Mantha can go.

 

[YippieKaey]

CMM and Lapierre should both be regulars in the lineup this year. Lapy at LW with CMM at center and Oshie on RW whilst Protas, Bäckström and Milano are on the 3rd line and then giving both those lines about equal playing time.

This team has no chance of winning the cup next year so it would be prudent to give the kids who have looked good a proper chance at playing. Given Bäckströms skating maybe he should be utilized as a playmaking winger whilst Protas handles the two way center part.

 

[OV Rocks]

Regarding Backstrom - I like to listen to Jeff Marek and he has said it a few times for a variety of guys who have had hip surgery. You can't judge them the first season back, (Backstrom 22-23) you have to wait to see them the year after (23-24). I think we all owe Backstrom that same mindset. Yes it would be nice to have his cap hit off but the dude is borderline hall of fame, was a beast for so many years and was huge in the cup run.

---Now if he is garbage after the 23-24 season then we can revisit.

I was able to watch Hershey play in Hartford and have followed along with their run, I think a few other folks on this site have too and would agree, Lapierre is invisible out there. Based on this run he isn't even close to where McMichael is, where Protas is, where Malenstyn is, where Snively is, and Iorio on the back end is another guy way ahead on the progression. I do not want to see Lapierre in a Caps jersey next year, in fact, I am leaning more towards move him while he has value unlike a Lucas Johansen.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Regarding Backstrom - I like to listen to Jeff Marek and he has said it a few times for a variety of guys who have had hip surgery. You can't judge them the first season back, (Backstrom 22-23) you have to wait to see them the year after (23-24). I think we all owe Backstrom that same mindset. Yes it would be nice to have his cap hit off but the dude is borderline hall of fame, was a beast for so many years and was huge in the cup run.

---Now if he is garbage after the 23-24 season then we can revisit.

I was able to watch Hershey play in Hartford and have followed along with their run, I think a few other folks on this site have too and would agree, Lapierre is invisible out there. Based on this run he isn't even close to where McMichael is, where Protas is, where Malenstyn is, where Snively is, and Iorio on the back end is another guy way ahead on the progression. I do not want to see Lapierre in a Caps jersey next year, in fact, I am leaning more towards move him while he has value unlike a Lucas Johansen.

The Hershey playoff run has not been kind to Frank and Lappy. Still I hope they get a good look at it in training camp after a summer off after almost 100 game season.

 

[twabby]

Caps getting their guy

 

[Langway]

Yay.

 

[John Price]

 

[Raikkonen]

Sorry to interrupt, but Friedman @ 36:00 into today's 32T says people consider Caps "the team to beat for Carberry."

Back to your discussion.

Ed - my snark is not needed here.

Too slow. Can't beat Langway, man.

 

[Ridley Simon]

At his age, what exactly are “his standards”? I think him being back playing and pain free at his age is his bar…..

If he’s next one or the top 3C’s on the roster. He will know it, as will the team.

This isn’t an “either or” here. He won’t be terrible or terrific. He will be in the middle — gray — area. Where in that area will he be, and would it be good enough to actually make the team?