Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[qcal1427]

For the record, I'm not catastrophizing; as I wrote, that's a problem for the future. I just think it's a possibility and it's okay to acknowledge that it's a possibility.

Hutson is incredibly competitive and ambitious. Those are good qualities. And he's seeing his brother make an enormous impact on a playoff contender in his D+3 year. He's going to think he's capable of the same. (And he probably is.) It's hard to show you're worthy of more PP time if you can't get any in the first place. So if he sees no path to PP time though his D+4 year (assuming Carlson is re-signed and giving him an extra year because the Caps have a better D than the Habs), I could see him wanting to go someplace where he would have that opportunity. That doesn't mean it will happen, of course.

If a player thinks they can't succeed without PP time to the point that they won't sign because they wouldn't immediately displace a 37yo John Carlson ... see you later and don't let the door hit you on the way out

If Siegenthaler -- a guy who after leaving had one very good year, one very bad one, and two at a solid 3rd pair level -- is the worst case scenario, it's absolutely not something worth worrying about

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Players want to be here. But they also want playing time. See Siegenthaler, Jonas.

If Hutson knows he'll never get PP1 time, why sign here?

How would he “know” that if he hadn’t even competed for it yet? Play better than the guy in front of you.

I see him going back for another year, then pressing for an NHL spot immediately in 26-27.

Siege is a marginal player. Hutson is oozing #1 skillset.

 

[Ridley Simon]

If a player thinks they can't succeed without PP time to the point that they won't sign because they wouldn't immediately displace a 37yo John Carlson ... see you later and don't let the door hit you on the way out

If Siegenthaler -- a guy who after leaving had one very good year, one very bad one, and two at a solid 3rd pair level -- is the worst case scenario, it's absolutely not something worth worrying about

And let’s not pretend Siegs “left”!

They traded him, bc he couldn’t beat out a HOF player.

That could be the case for anyone in the franchise now?

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Will be interesting to see what Hutson does if we face the Habs and his brother in the playoffs.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Will be interesting to see what Hutson does if we face the Habs and his brother in the playoffs.

Even IF he signs, he won’t play. No chance, IMO.

 

[g00n]

I won't believe he's back until he can catch a chicken

 

[Ridley Simon]

I won't believe he's back until he can catch a chicken

LOL. I don’t know to love to laugh at your post. But Locker love won over

 

[Random schmoe]

So now the Caps are projected to have $14.13M in cap space next season, with 9 forwards, the 6 main defensemen, and both goalies signed.

Plenty of space to re-sign whoever we want.

Dowd at 3
Beau at 2
Lappy at 1.5 (RFA guess)

Add Leonard playing on his ELC, $1M for easy numbers.

Leaves $6.13M for 7th/8th D and a 14th forward.

Obviously, this also gives them a lot of room to acquire or sign someone as a UFA if the names above won't fit the team needs.

 

[DWGie26]

I think if you have a young, mega talented up-and-comer that looks line an NHLer - you better make sure he's indeed an NHLer. And I don't care who's solid and what have you. They can go and be solid somewhere else.

He has to earn it like everyone else. Nobody is gifted a spot. Earn it… OK

 

[Melkor]

Yeah but .. that means Cole would have to postpone his pro career for (checks notes)….another THREE seasons to get a chance to join Montreal?

Uhhh, how likely is that? “See you kid, after you graduate in 2028”?

Really?

Nah, it's possible that he just says "I don't want to wait before your old dudes get older and your 3rd pairing guys boost their trade value, i want to play in the NHL, I want to make money" and tells that to his brother. You think the possibility of that is zero? I don't.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Nah, it's possible that he just says "I don't want to wait before your old dudes get older and your 3rd pairing guys boost their trade value, i want to play in the NHL, I want to make money" and tells that to his brother. You think the possibility of that is zero? I don't.

Ok, but what leverage does he have?

He cannot force a trade, and he won’t be an FA until he completes 4yrs of eligibility in the NCAA’s.

I get your angle here. I do. But the player cannot do anything other than kvetch about it. Which doesn’t work well in pro sports.

The Caps do NOT have many holes — ergo they don’t need to “use assets” to fill them. So they won’t trade Hutson until they have to? Which would be at least 2 full years from now, when Cole is ending his junior season.

That’s a REALLY long game of chicken. With the team holding all the cards?

Do you REALLY believe this will/could happen? Or are we just arguing like we always do?

 

[Melkor]

Ok, but what leverage does he have?

He cannot force a trade, and he won’t be an FA until he completes 4yrs of eligibility in the NCAA’s.

I get your angle here. I do. But the player cannot do anything other than kvetch about it. Which doesn’t work well in pro sports.

The Caps do NOT have many holes — ergo they don’t need to “use assets” to fill them. So they won’t trade Hutson until they have to? Which would be at least 2 full years from now, when Cole is ending his junior season.

That’s a REALLY long game of chicken. With the team holding all the cards?

Do you REALLY believe this will/could happen? Or are we just arguing like we always do?

They don't have to but if he's obviously good enough to play in the league and doesn't because there's a logjam on the left side and they don't want to trade nobody, he's just gonna ask out and those years left until he hits FA are going to be just the wasted years of the kid's career and his wasted market value to boot. If he gets the spot before hitting the market, he still gonna keep it in mind how they've found excuses to delay his entry and things like that affect the decision making when it's time to re-sign.

 

[Calicaps]

What even is all of this? Do folks just crave drama? Hutson is poised to step into a premier franchise with the best young coach in the league in a great city, to learn from HOF caliber players, to be part of a stable of top-tier young talent, and to have a chance to play meaningful hockey and win from day 1.

Do folks really think he’ll opt instead to play on a losing team for years just so he can get an extra few minutes of ice every night?

I don’t.

 

[HTFN]

Nah, it's possible that he just says "I don't want to wait before your old dudes get older and your 3rd pairing guys boost their trade value, i want to play in the NHL, I want to make money" and tells that to his brother. You think the possibility of that is zero? I don't.

and maybe his brother tells him "buddy you definitely don't want that, some of the guys in this locker room clearly don't know what the f*** they're doing" and he doesn't do that?

What are we arguing here besides a baseless hypothetical just to catastophize? If he's too scared to compete for a role on the team like everyone else he can sit and think about that.

 

[RedRocking]

I won't believe he's back until he can catch a chicken

Glad to see this, and wish him well.

However - does anyone else prefer May in the booth? I don’t think he’s necessarily a long term solution - but I enjoy his straight forward analysis and frank commentary. He actually provides some insight into what’s happening on the ice. He’s not a blind homer, and will criticize the team when it’s deserved.

Locker mostly offers a salad of buzz words that have lost all meaning. He’s a great personality and vibe. And his friendship with Joe B always feels genuine and sincere.

But I’ve really preferred May’s time in the booth.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Glad to see this, and wish him well.

However - does anyone else prefer May in the booth? I don’t think he’s necessarily a long term solution - but I enjoy his straight forward analysis and frank commentary. He actually provides some insight into what’s happening on the ice. He’s not a blind homer, and will criticize the team when it’s deserved.

Locker mostly offers a salad of buzz words that have lost all meaning. He’s a great personality and vibe. And his friendship with Joe B feels genuine and sincere.

But I’ve really preferred May’s time in the booth.

Rarely watch the game with the volume on but I’ve caught some of May’s commentary here and there. It was a welcome change of pace even if he (obviously) isn’t as polished as locker. Seems like he’ll lose his train of thought and ramble sometimes, hopefully that’s due to inexperience and not a residual effect of his 91 fights as a Cap.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I sprinkled the comments all over post amongst the threads

Just like Leonard last season, Hutson is not allowed to participate in training camp without signing his NHL contract. It would be a big gamble for the kid.

I only brought up us playing his brother in the playoffs because I wanted to see what side he sits on if he wears a habs jersey or if he goes in wearing the caps.

from the interview posted today from Craig Patrick it seems we really want Leonard in the lineup as soon as possible will be interesting. Who gets knocked out


It’s fun to have two of the top prospects in the frozen four. I will hope the best for both of them.

 

[John Price]

 

[Calicaps]

I have to admit I've been disappointed in May a bit. It's probably just that he's not used to doing this much talking, but he stammers and meanders a lot. He's much better in-studio and between the benches. Not nearly as deft as Locker as filling the airtime. We'll see what happens.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I have to admit I've been disappointed in May a bit. It's probably just that he's not used to doing this much talking, but he stammers and meanders a lot. He's much better in-studio and between the benches. Not nearly as deft as Locker as filling the airtime. We'll see what happens.

Takes a lot of practice time….May just not there.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I have to admit I've been disappointed in May a bit. It's probably just that he's not used to doing this much talking, but he stammers and meanders a lot. He's much better in-studio and between the benches. Not nearly as deft as Locker as filling the airtime. We'll see what happens.

Different people fill different roles…. IMO.

May and Laughlin are so not the same. And why would they be?

I mean, this was all a “port in the storm” moment. Everyone is doing the best they can.

Age and wisdom help guide this

Edit — and I know you of all posters have wisdom. So I’m not talking AT you, but with you. Love me @Calicaps. Always have

 

[Calicaps]

Different people fill different roles…. IMO.

May and Laughlin are so not the same. And why would they be?

I mean, this was all a “port in the storm” moment. Everyone is doing the best they can.

Age and wisdom help guide this

Oh for sure. But I was interested to see how May would do, since Locker is gettin' up there and obviously has some health issues. Love them both and not wildly unhappy or anything. Just mostly surprised that May has seemed as stilted as he has. NBD

 

[MW6]

Where are people standing on going after a few more struggling, high upside/pedigree (top-5 OA-ish), change of scenery types of additions, that obviously comes with some risk (a la Dubois/Strome)?

Lafreniere, Kotkaniemi, McTavish, K.Dach, Nemec, Turcotte, Hayton, Wright/Berniers comes to mind.

 

[Hivemind]

View attachment 999714

Or.... my 4th Ovechkin jersey

 

[wickedwitch]

Oh for sure. But I was interested to see how May would do, since Locker is gettin' up there and obviously has some health issues. Love them both and not wildly unhappy or anything. Just mostly surprised that May has seemed as stilted as he has. NBD

Yeah, he's fine for a short-term emergency replacement, but I do not want him as the full time color commentator. I would start streaming the opposing teams feeds unless he improved dramatically.