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

[AlexModvechkin8]

My stance all year was that we needed to see what we had in the system. Laviolette had no interest in what that was. Therefore, he needed to go. It didn’t hurt my position that he happened to be a terrible coach as well. We needed to fire him. By letting him finish, we took the easy way out.

Now, we still don’t know. We let a year get away.

To outweigh older guys on bloated contracts, we need young guys on their first contracts. It’s math.

You want them to bring in guys, I get it. I just think it’s the wrong approach, and could prolong mediocrity.

The first part was just never an option though, right? Veteran team with a veteran coach and double digit UFAs at season’s end with a mandate to show they deserved to stay together. No part of this season was ever meant to be about development, it was meant to be a measuring stick of where the team as has been constructed for a number was in their lifecycle. Being disappointed they didn’t use it to see what they had in the system is like being disappointed that it rains when the weatherman told you it was going to rain. I don’t see how that is them taking the easy way out — they followed their plan exactly as it was laid out in the preseason

And to clarify, I don’t want them to bring in guys for the sake of bringing in guys. If there are trades to be made that make this team better now and in the future by acquiring guys with certain profiles then they should pursue them. If not they should do what they can to strip out the fat and fill those spots internally. I’ve said a big part of this process is them deciding how long this retool should and can take. Ted firing Tommy and saying it was because they didn’t make the playoffs for two consecutive seasons makes me a bit nervous, though I hope BMac has a longer leash than Sheppard given what he’s accomplished.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I wouldn't trade the 8th pick. Mostly because I don't know how aggressive to be to likely still be a first round underdog still somewhat on the wrong side of age curves. They need to give it a go and ideally jolt them back into competitiveness but is this blueline ready to support that? I'm not sure it is even if they were to do moderately well shuffling around top six pieces and in their coaching hire. It needs to be a broad, long game approach. If the standard is just being a bubble team then it may be pretty easy to move some things around and be in that mix. But if it's more about breaking into the top 3 of the Metro and being more than a first round underdog they'll need to be very disciplined and selective throughout. It requires keeping the powder dry if need be to maintain flexibility and assets for a bigger fish if they're not immediately available.

I'm generally skeptical a team in their circumstances should execute impatiently. Too much can get sacrificed without more lasting benefit. 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.

You’re pretty much always generally skeptical about the Caps aren’t you? Lol…

I probably would not trade 8 either unless it was for a clear and impactful upgrade, top line fwd/top pair D.

I disagree in that sweeping personnel changes can, have, and are about to be forced.

 

[Misery74]

The first part was just never an option though, right? Veteran team with a veteran coach and double digit UFAs at season’s end with a mandate to show they deserved to stay together. No part of this season was ever meant to be about development, it was meant to be a measuring stick of where the team as has been constructed for a number was in their lifecycle. Being disappointed they didn’t use it to see what they had in the system is like being disappointed that it rains when the weatherman told you it was going to rain. I don’t see how that is them taking the easy way out — they followed their plan exactly as it was laid out in the preseason

And to clarify, I don’t want them to bring in guys for the sake of bringing in guys. If there are trades to be made that make this team better now and in the future by acquiring guys with certain profiles then they should pursue them. If not they should do what they can to strip out the fat and fill those spots internally. I’ve said a big part of this process is them deciding how long this retool should and can take. Ted firing Tommy and saying it was because they didn’t make the playoffs for two consecutive seasons makes me a bit nervous, though I hope BMac has a longer leash than Sheppard given what he’s accomplished.

We disagree. We punted at the trade deadline, for the best. At that point, it was about playing for next year. So why keep a coach who was coaching for his next job?

To use an anology similar to yours, the bus crashed into the ditch at the deadline. Instead of trying to salvage something from the wreckage, management watched, while Laviolette threw a can of gas on the smoldering bus.

It was clear, after we folded our cards, the teams best interest, and Laviolettes best interest diverged.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

We disagree. We punted at the trade deadline, for the best. At that point, it was about playing for next year. So why keep a coach who was coaching for his next job?

To use an anology similar to yours, the bus crashed into the ditch at the deadline. Instead of trying to salvage something from the wreckage, management watched, while Laviolette threw a can of gas on the smoldering bus.

It was clear, after we folded our cards, the teams best interest, and Laviolettes best interest diverged.

I think the better analogy is the bus crashed into the ditch and then they let the guys on the bus and the bus driver try get it out of the ditch and back on the road before it got dark. Everyone in the room, Lavi, MacLellan all said the team was still trying to push for the playoffs after the sale but they weren’t going to let assets go to waste trying to get there.

What you’re saying is you expected the team to give up and for veteran players who are earning a paycheck or fighting for a paycheck to stop playing so kids can play and you expected the GM to fire the coach so a new coach would help make that happen. That’s not how it works in real life. A team with guys like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, etc wasn’t going to stop trying with two months left in the season and the Caps a few points away from making the playoffs even if we the fans think it would be more prudent.

 

[Misery74]

I think the better analogy is the bus crashed into the ditch and then they let the guys on the bus and the bus driver try get it out of the ditch and back on the road before it got dark. Everyone in the room, Lavi, MacLellan all said the team was still trying to push for the playoffs after the sale but they weren’t going to let assets go to waste trying to get there.

What you’re saying is you expected the team to give up and for veteran players who are earning a paycheck or fighting for a paycheck to stop playing so kids can play and you expected the GM to fire the coach so a new coach would help make that happen. That’s not how it works in real life. A team with guys like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, etc wasn’t going to stop trying with two months left in the season and the Caps a few points away from making the playoffs even if we the fans think it would be more prudent.

I never expected anyone to stop trying. I just think it made more sense to try with Snively, CMM, and even Jimi over Sheary and Smith.
With Iorio over Irwin.

Laviolette iced his guys, is that fair to say? Do we think the were the right guys? Or the best guys? I do not.

And, lastly, we were largely healthy down the stretch, and we were absolutely putrid.

 

[g00n]

Some shit is just not worth reading.

 

[MW6]

Would people here oppose offersheeting Alexis Lafreniere 6x5,25M? That's a 1st and a 3rd in 2024 in compensation. I doubt Rangers will be able to match that caphit. Both Lafreniere and McMichael would be cheaper than Kuznetsov if he was traded.

 

[Misery74]

Would people here oppose offersheeting Alexis Lafreniere 6x5,25M? That's a 1st and a 3rd in 2024 in compensation. I doubt Rangers will be able to match that caphit. Both Lafreniere and McMichael would be cheaper than Kuznetsov if he was traded.

I wouldn’t be trading any first round picks at this point.

 

[MW6]

.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Some shit is just not worth reading.

A' scrolling we will go...a' scrollin we will go...ooops there's that name again, keep scrolling down below. haha

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I’m for a patient rebuild not trading picks at this point. Ovy is going to break record with any lineup.

 

[MW6]

I wouldn’t be trading any first round picks at this point.

Weeell... It technically isn't trading.. but it's for a recent 1st OA pick so it's not exactly like they're mortgaging the future.
There's no denying his skillset but he's been inconsistent and is stuck behind Panarin and Kreider on the left side. He's been showing flashes of putting it all together since the change of the calendar year finishing the regular season with 21pts in his last 37 games (18 ev.str.pts) playing third line minutes with PP2 responsibilities. He hits, isn't turning pucks over, 51,6 cf%, playing with two other kids.. He hasn't lived up to the hype but he isn't a 1-trick pony either.

 

[YippieKaey]

Offer sheet everyone under 27, trade anyone but Ovi and go scorched earth for Ovies last years. My expectations after the last seasons are so low they can't really go wrong at this point.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Uhhhh.

Well Hi!!

This has all been helpful.

Last year was last year. Cannot fix or change it. Next year will be what it will be. I’m excited to watch the present and just see how it rolls.

Sounds dumb perhaps, but these days are about “the here and the now” for me, and I trust GMBM. Live in the moment.

So that’s where I sit.

Let’s GO!!

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Interesting interview from Tarik on the Junkies.

Seems to hint that it may be hard for the Caps to just take a wait and see approach on Backstrom as teams are typically built in the summer and that is a huge chunk of cap space. Hard decisions are coming indeed.

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-sports-junkies-249dd/episodes/brian-davis-bid-fairfax-county-teachers-relationship-with-student-tarik-el-bashir-70c3d

 

[Calicaps]

I’m for a patient rebuild not trading picks at this point. Ovy is going to break record with any lineup.

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?

 

[Peeri]

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?

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.

 

[Brian23]

Interesting interview from Tarik on the Junkies.

Seems to hint that it may be hard for the Caps to just take a wait and see approach on Backstrom as teams are typically built in the summer and that is a huge chunk of cap space. Hard decisions are coming indeed.

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-sports-junkies-249dd/episodes/brian-davis-bid-fairfax-county-teachers-relationship-with-student-tarik-el-bashir-70c3d

I am actually blown they'd have that conversation. Not that it's wrong, but that Ted would allow it.

If GMBM could just talk Nick into retiring, the whole outlook changes. I just don't think it happens, they won't buy him out, and I don't see anyway they can trade him even at 50% retained.

 

[g00n]

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.

 

[Brian23]

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

From the reading I looked at, it's not legal. The closets you can do is what we did with Orpik (trade him to someone who buys him out an resign him).

But I also don't think it's realistic. There's really no reason for Backstrom to give up his money to essentially get benched and still have to do the work. The only thing that's close to that that'd seem semi-reasonable is he's convinced to retire but Ted and Co give him a job/something to make up for "lost" money. Probably completely illegal, though the more I think about it the more I wonder how it could be enforced/proven.

 

[Misery74]

From the reading I looked at, it's not legal. The closets you can do is what we did with Orpik (trade him to someone who buys him out an resign him).

But I also don't think it's realistic. There's really no reason for Backstrom to give up his money to essentially get benched and still have to do the work. The only thing that's close to that that'd seem semi-reasonable is he's convinced to retire but Ted and Co give him a job/something to make up for "lost" money. Probably completely illegal, though the more I think about it the more I wonder how it could be enforced/proven.

The only way it would work I think is LTIR. He still gets his money, like Shea Weber.

 

[Brian23]

The only way it would work I think is LTIR. He still gets his money, like Shea Weber.

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.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

The Backstrom talk was prolly Hey Ted you know we are F'ed right?

But the LTIR could happen on its own. Im shocked he didnt get hurt after his comeback

 

[Misery74]

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.

Unless there are some complications, which make it difficult to play. I feel like LTIR is used quite a bit for cap circumvention, but you could be right.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Interesting interview from Tarik on the Junkies.

Seems to hint that it may be hard for the Caps to just take a wait and see approach on Backstrom as teams are typically built in the summer and that is a huge chunk of cap space. Hard decisions are coming indeed.

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-sports-junkies-249dd/episodes/brian-davis-bid-fairfax-county-teachers-relationship-with-student-tarik-el-bashir-70c3d

Interesting that Lavi called the meeting to officially part ways to get a jump start on his own search….