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

[Capitals40]

Alright hear me out… But, he had a no show in 10

*whispers* Daniel Sprong should be their dumpster dive
*duck for cover as things are thrown at me

He was a no-show in 10 games in the playoffs this year. Maybe if we could get him cheap. I think Seattle will re-sign him this weekend.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Alright hear me out…

*whispers* Daniel Sprong should be their dumpster dive
*duck for cover as things are thrown at me

Honestly…I’d be down.

 

[twabby]

No, but there's a point where an idea has been exhausted and it's time to either come up with a different idea or come back to reality. You've done the "Let's trade Tom" thing. Time to retire the act and come up with some new bits.

I don’t have many more bits. It’s hard to come up with other scenarios to improve the team when the obvious one is just sitting there and no one is having it.

Toronto is going out and adding Ryan Reaves tomorrow. They’re looking like they might add Connor Brown. I highly suspect that they would not only straight up trade William Nylander for Tom Wilson, but that they would add a non-negligible asset to the trade as well. They’re clearly looking for toughness and grit. Negotiations with Nylander aren’t going great, and Treliving already has bad memories of Gaudreau leaving for nothing and Tkachuk leaving as well. There’s motivation from Toronto to make a deal.

Is this a trade you’d turn down? We’re not going to reach common ground if you’re turning down that trade. It works money-wise: Nylander only makes $1.8 million more than Wilson this year, Mantha is off the books next year which gives them room to extend Nylander. It works production-wise: Nylander has outscored Wilson every year of their careers. It works advanced-stat wise: Nylander is vastly more impactful than Wilson at driving goal differential. It works asset-wise: Washington would give up nothing in terms of futures. It works younger/faster-wise: Nylander is younger and faster. It works fit-wise: Nylander is an outstanding transition forward with the puck on his stick, a key weakness of the Capitals forward corps.

I’m not really interested in hearing that Capitals fans would be ok with moving Wilson on the right deal and then turning down that deal. It doesn’t square.

If you want another idea I guess trade Fehervary before the league finds out he’s not very good. Maybe they can eke value out there. But then again he’s only 23 and 7 years away from his prime so I guess you can’t trade him, especially after the stellar season he had this year.

I guess you could trade the 2024 first round pick and hope it’s enough for DeBrincat or someone of his ilk. I don’t know how the money works in that case unless you ship yet another asset out to move Mantha, for instance. I don’t particularly like the DeBrincat fit either, despite his skill level.

But it begins and ends with Wilson. Moving on from him now is strategically the best and most impactful move they can make. If you’re bored with me saying that, I guess be bored. You only have a few more days until he signs for like 8 x $7.5 million, so please bear with me until then.

 

[Jags]

You’re being rational lol. I’m just so damn frustrated watching the same thing every year.

I hear ya. But you can't act like this was the plan. The plan was to get Ovi to sign. Mission accomplished, and the promise was we'd stay competitive. Nick's issue wasn't a thing when he signed, and he got the money he was owed.

Then two good goalie prospects shit the bed, Nick's problems start, Oshie's issues start to become chronic, things take a downturn, Tom busts his knee, Kuzy responds petulantly and gives up, we had terrible injury luck this season, we find we have the wrong coach for this particular set of circumstances, and so on. Bing bang boom, we're suddenly circling a drain we thought was a couple years away.

Lots of things happened. Some independent of one another, some cascades and domino effects. And now we're locked in. Whose fault is it? No one's, really. You'd have needed a crystal ball to see that it'd crumble that fast.

They have no plan? Sure they do, but you'd rather they pull rabbits out of hats than simply concede that it's time for our club to rebuild, retool, whatever. It's gonna take some time. The whole league is feeling the crunch because of the cap not going up the way it should in forever. So there's no one to dump contracts on and what few spots are left are charging a fortune for the service.

What would you have them do?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think the best way to motivate Kuznetsov at this point is to say to him, "Have a great season and we'll trade you to a contender at the deadline. Play lights out and someone will want you and we'll take the best deal we can get. You get a Cup run, maybe two if they keep you around, and maybe a buyout and total freedom if they don't."

I don't think he returns to form and stays here. He clearly wants out. So let the out motivate him. "You want out? Earn it."

I doubt he really wants out now that a new coach is here and the hard ass is gone. He’s got another year to F off and give 75% effort if he wants to.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

View attachment 724395

This is what I heard 2 weeks ago….slow release TEB….

 

[Jags]

I’m not really interested in hearing that Capitals fans would be ok with moving Wilson on the right deal and then turning down that deal. It doesn’t square.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying we had this discussion a month ago. I've said to you about a dozen times that I'd trade him. Then you need to hear it again a week later and 6 days after that.

We've done this already. You've been having this same discussion with the same handful of people every day for weeks. Our GM is opposed. He seems adamant, and he's not known for misdirection. So what is there to talk about?

Screw it. Let's do it again. We're not trading Wilson, but Nylander makes us only 2 years younger. He'd be tough to fit under the cap this year, his next contract will be huge and the exact type of deal you're trying to avoid with Wilson right now (max term UFA at a huge number that might not be worth it 4 years in).

And you don't gain Nylander. You gain the difference between Wilson and Nylander, which is plus 30 points a year and minus some things you pretend don't exist and I don't wanna argue about.

So would I make that deal? Well, in this pointless Neverland scenario where you're so sure we'd get Nylander plus something else good? Sure. Why not? Can I get a side of magic beans with that, or is it extra?

I'm not sure Toronto does it straight up. That they'd give more seems doubtful to me. Other teams would be in the mix, many teams have more assets to give, and you'd still need to move MacLellan from "No f***ing way" to "Sure, let's trade him to a team in the East."

 

[um]

Considering how they aren't supposed to be talking to him, I wonder how that works

You mention big market teams and you get lots of clicks.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I hear ya. But you can't act like this was the plan. The plan was to get Ovi to sign. Mission accomplished, and the promise was we'd stay competitive. Nick's issue wasn't a thing when he signed, and he got the money he was owed.

Then two good goalie prospects shit the bed, Nick's problems start, Oshie's issues start to become chronic, things take a downturn, Tom busts his knee, Kuzy responds petulantly and gives up, we had terrible injury luck this season, we find we have the wrong coach for this particular set of circumstances, and so on. Bing bang boom, we're suddenly circling a drain we thought was a couple years away.

Lots of things happened. Some independent of one another, some cascades and domino effects. And now we're locked in. Whose fault is it? No one's, really. You'd have needed a crystal ball to see that it'd crumble that fast.

They have no plan? Sure they do, but you'd rather they pull rabbits out of hats than simply concede that it's time for our club to rebuild, retool, whatever. It's gonna take some time. The whole league is feeling the crunch because of the cap not going up the way it should in forever. So there's no one to dump contracts on and what few spots are left are charging a fortune for the service.

What would you have them do?

The only part I disagree on is Kuzy. They knew he was going to be inconsistent but still held onto him when they had a chance to move him. Also, if they were being practical they should have exposed Oshie for the expansion draft but I digress.

What to do now? I mean, BMac has a few more months to turn sh*t into gold but the odds don’t look good right now. They’ve put Ovi in a shitty situation (obviously not on purpose) and frankly I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to try to win a cup somewhere else before he retires. I guess I like plans and right now apparently the plan is to paddle in place which means no playoffs and bad draft positioning. It’s basically the purgatory for pro sports. I get we can come up with excuses for everything that has taken place but some blame for their current situation must belong to mgmt.

 

[The Instigator]

Alright hear me out…

*whispers* Daniel Sprong should be their dumpster dive
*duck for cover as things are thrown at me

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Poor Sprong…no love….

 

[Hivemind]

Milano kinda took Sprong's place, but I wouldn't hate a re-union. I do think Seattle will just get something done outside of the QO process tho.

 

[The Instigator]

Weren't we just not long ago discussing that Daniel Sprong was succeeding because of his limited role and his utilization?

BMac has said he's looking at adding to the top six, I'm not willing to strength-test Sprong's numbers in an increased role.

If we want to do what Seattle did and play him that way, there's more of an argument for that. However, he doesn't match what the Capitals historically like in their bottom six and there's players here I'd rather see fill bottom six roles.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Interesting issue in terms of roster spots too for young guys right now:

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov (please no) - Wilson

Mantha (wtf is he still here?) - Strome - ?

Milano - Backstrom - Oshie (slowest line maybe in the league)

Malenstyn - Dowd - NAK

I don’t see spots for young guys right now or am I wrong with my assumptions?

 

[Capagonia]

Having one year left might make him cheaper, but I'd be terrified to pay a high price for him only yo have him walk next summer. This isn't exactly a franchise headed in a promising direction and he doesn't have any connection to the team aside from Sandin, so why wouldn't he just ignore their offers and take his first crack at the open market? My guess is they'd have to give him a crazy amount of money to convince him to pass that up.

I would disagree that Sandin is his only connection to the team. He spent part of his youth here when his Dad was a Cap and is very close to Backstrom. I think it would be an appealing situation to him.

 

[Calicaps]

I think honestly at this point I’d rather watch different guys lose and at least have an honest plan forward. Right now it just seems there is no plan.

And watching a team put all of their hopes and dreams on the play of a 38 year old seems…unfair and sad to watch.

It seems there's no plan? Really? Or is it just that you're not privy to the plan? Because you're just on hf with the rest of us guessing at shit.

 

[Capitals40]

The only part I disagree on is Kuzy. They knew he was going to be inconsistent but still held onto him when they had a chance to move him. Also, if they were being practical they should have exposed Oshie for the expansion draft but I digress.

What to do now? I mean, BMac has a few more months to turn sh*t into gold but the odds don’t look good right now. They’ve put Ovi in a shitty situation (obviously not on purpose) and frankly I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to try to win a cup somewhere else before he retires. I guess I like plans and right now apparently the plan is to paddle in place which means no playoffs and bad draft positioning. It’s basically the purgatory for pro sports. I get we can come up with excuses for everything that has taken place but some blame for their current situation must belong to mgmt.

So, you were screaming trading Kuzy after the 2021-2022 season? I just want to know. Many on here have posted the same..should have traded him. I seriously doubt most thought this at the time. Maybe you did? I didnt't, so hats off to you if you did.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

So, you were screaming trading Kuzy after the 2021-2022 season? I just want to know. Many on here have posted the same..should have traded him. I seriously doubt most thought this at the time. Maybe you did? I didnt't, so hats off to you if you did.

I see all good sir. LOL

I wanted to trade Kuzy the first go around we went through this and haven’t stopped since. That being said I’m not paid the big bucks like BMac to have the foresight.

 

[twabby]

I'm not sure Toronto does it straight up. That they'd give more seems doubtful to me. Other teams would be in the mix, many teams have more assets to give, and you'd still need to move MacLellan from "No f***ing way" to "Sure, let's trade him to a team in the East."

They’re about to give 36 year old Ryan Reaves a multi-year deal from what it sounds like. You don’t think Toronto would overpay out the behind (pardon my language) for Wilson?

Putting on my NHL GM hat for a second: no one else in the league has Tom Wilson to offer to Toronto. Only Matthew Tkachuk is a comparable, and he’s certainly not going anywhere. I think if anything I’m undershooting the return Wilson would get from Toronto. Nylander plus a first round pick seems entirely within reason. I bet Toronto would even retain to make the money work too. I’m not even joking. And I’m sure there are other great deals out there too, that one just springs to mind.

I know it’s beating a dead horse. I really do. Like I said I apologize. By 12:01 PM tomorrow the ink will be dried on his new contract, I’ll make one final post saying how disappointed I am, and then I’ll go build some cool vehicles in Tears of the Kingdom to make me feel better. I’m currently working on a hoverbike with lasers but I haven’t got the balance quite right.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

TJ Hughes is at Caps development camp. Would love to be able to sign him eventually.

 

[usiel]

All this teeth gnashing the only thing that matters is what roster moves/lineups will help AO surpass The Great One.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

All this teeth gnashing the only thing that matters is what roster moves/lineups will help AO surpass The Great One.

Meh. I care more about winning than I do the record but sadly I’m in the minority.

Where do folks see Fever’s number coming in at? Anything above $2.2 and I’d re-think it.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Meh. I care more about winning than I do the record but sadly I’m in the minority.

Where do folks see Fever’s number coming in at? Anything above $2.2 and I’d re-think it.

Next 5-7 years are gonna be a rough ride then….

 

[usiel]

Meh. I care more about winning than I do the record but sadly I’m in the minority.

Where do folks see Fever’s number coming in at? Anything above $2.2 and I’d re-think it.

Hey I respect that opinion (bolded). My depths of despair, pre-Caps winning the cup, still has effects on me. With AOs age I just would love to see him cross the T and dot the I on his career with that type of acomplishment.

 

[twabby]

Meh. I care more about winning than I do the record but sadly I’m in the minority.

Where do folks see Fever’s number coming in at? Anything above $2.2 and I’d re-think it.

Evolving Hockey is projecting 2-3 years at somewhere in the $2.2 to $2.8 million AAV ballpark as the most likely outcomes.