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

[Holtbyisms]

Signed Cam Allen. Anybody who was at prospect camp notice him at all? Haven't heard a peep about him this dev camp.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1809693752266461571

 

[Kalopsia]

Signed Cam Allen. Anybody who was at prospect camp notice him at all? Haven't heard a peep about him this dev camp.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1809693752266461571

I thought he consistently looked good. I never remember him struggling, there just wasn't anything he particularly shone at to call out. I believe he was one of the skaters Wendy picked out as a "semifinalist" for the little one foot skating competition. He also got stuck on the probably the worst of the 3 on 3 teams, so kinda unlucky there.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Cam Allen's going to be my dark horse in the Caps prospects pool

Evidently Caps management feels the same.

FWIW, he was impressive at the 2023 scouting draft combine nhl fitness.

NHL releases Central Scouting Draft Combine fitness results

The 2023 NHL Draft Combine is in the books, and several top prospects have landed favorable results, including consensus No. 1 Connor Bedard.

nhlentrydraft.com

 

[MileHighCapsFan]

Agree….

Only 8, 19, and 74 out of this era IMO….

Only 8 and 19 for me.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Only 8 and 19 for me.

That’s fair, I think Carlson’s career numbers hold up under scrutiny.

 

[Rayquaza64]

I don’t see how Carlson’s number isn’t retirement when he’s quite frankly the best and most consistent defenseman in caps history, and we’d be lucky to get a defenseman even on his level in the next 50 years

 

[crazy8888]

There was a time when the Caps had an aol email address that Ted answered and I emailed about retiring Bondra’s number, he wrote back and said I was a clown

He was rude to
Me too when i wrote him a couple of times. Still saved those emails from like 18 years ago.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Protas the Younger seems to have some potential.

I thought the same thing, as signing a 3rd round rookie doesn't seem very common. Hopefully he tears it up in Windsor next season.

 

[Lou Sassole]

I don’t see how Carlson’s number isn’t retirement when he’s quite frankly the best and most consistent defenseman in caps history, and we’d be lucky to get a defenseman even on his level in the next 50 years

I'd say Langway and Stevens were both better, but I get your point and agree. He should have a Norris trophy, it was horseshit he didn't win in 2019-20.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'd say Langway and Stevens were both better, but I get your point and agree. He should have a Norris trophy, it was horseshit he didn't win in 2019-20.

Stevens was better but the bulk of his career was elsewhere. Carlson owns pretty much every major D stat for the Caps…

 

[Kalopsia]

Stevens was better but the bulk of his career was elsewhere. Carlson owns pretty much every major D stat for the Caps…

Already 1st amongst Caps defensemen in GP, G, A, and P. Overall he's 3rd in GP (will pass Backstrom for 2nd within two years), 3rd in A, and 5th in P. He's 36th all time in points by a defenseman, and I think he's probably inside the top 25 by the time his current contract ends. Played 25:38 a night as the 1D on the run to the team's first Cup. Hasn't played for any other clubs. I dunno how people think he's not earned having his jersey in the rafters.

 

[Random schmoe]

I've never actually seen this before ... Caps are apparently now at the maximum of 50 players under contract with the team.

Blues and Kraken are at 49, Pens are at 48. Columbus has the least with 37.

 

[Brian23]

Spencer Carbery shares first thoughts on Capitals’ logjam at center: ‘McMichael can easily, seamlessly go on the wing’

The Washington Capitals made several additions to their lineup this offseason, and none were more newsworthy than acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois from the…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

Nope, don't like that.

 

[Misery74]

Spencer Carbery shares first thoughts on Capitals’ logjam at center: ‘McMichael can easily, seamlessly go on the wing’

The Washington Capitals made several additions to their lineup this offseason, and none were more newsworthy than acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois from the…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

Nope, don't like that.

Here’s what you can take away from this, Jimi will be the best player on this team. Carberry knows this, and will facilitate.

Super excited for October.

 

[trick9]

Too many centers? Oh, the horror.

3 guys have earned their C slot already. Strome, Lapierre and Dowd. Let the other 2 fight it out, it's not really a big deal since whoever loses out is going to still get a top-6 wing spot. Both are familiar on the wing and through the season there will be injuries and struggles.

 

[Brian23]

Here’s what you can take away from this, Jimi will be the best player on this team. Carberry knows this, and will facilitate.

I think the takeaway is that you're reading into it what you want too.

 

[zappa4ever]

McMic hasn't really TAKEN the oppty yet and force Carbs to say he's our 2C or 3C

Let 'em fight it oot, this is the big boy league, win your spot

McMic needs a strong summer to take that next step to get tougher/quicker/better shot or be relegated to dime-a-dozen mid status

 

[Silky mitts]

Ovy played his best last year with Lappy on his line, I read that like CMM can play on Lappy’s wing if Lappy doesn’t look good opposite Ovy centered by Strome or PLD
I’m assuming Lapierre is more highly regarded by the Caps and focusing on Carbery’s implication CMM hasn’t been moved from C.

 

[Ridley Simon]

It’s just words from a coach. That’s all. I trust him to put the correct players in the correct places. It will all work out in the end, or it won’t. And if it doesn’t, it won’t be for lack of trying.

 

[Kalopsia]

Too many centers? Oh, the horror.

3 guys have earned their C slot already. Strome, Lapierre and Dowd. Let the other 2 fight it out, it's not really a big deal since whoever loses out is going to still get a top-6 wing spot. Both are familiar on the wing and through the season there will be injuries and struggles.

Making a massive gamble on PLD just to make him fight it out with our 33 point 3C for a center spot seems insane to me. The only path to PLD being remotely worth that contract is if the Caps can rehab him as a center and get him back to what he was in Winnipeg as a low-end 1C.

To me, McMichael's very clearly the odd man out to the point that a competition really isn't necessary. Strome with two straight 60 point seasons is obviously locked in to a top 6 center spot. Dowd is locked into another to play the shutdown role again. Then between PLD, Lapierre, and McMichael you've got two guys who, if they hit their realistic ceiling, will radically alter the trajectory of this franchise, and one guy who, if he hits his realistic ceiling, is an ok 2C or a strong 3C. The Caps have shown this offseason that they know they need to gamble on upside, and that means McMichael moves to wing, even though he struggles there.

 

[Corby78]

Number that should be up already - 12
Numbers that should be up no question soon - 8, 19, 74
Debatable IMO - 37, 70

 

[Ridley Simon]

I don’t think we need to sweat all of this.

I do fully agree that PLD needs to be a top 6C. He and Strome.

That said, Lapierre should be a top 6F as well. CMM would “seem” to be the most capable of being that 3C. I don’t think Lapierre’s game is 3C material (1C or 2C), so he can play wing w Strome. And/or Strome can play wing with him.

Ovechkin - PLD - Protas
Lapierre - Strome - Mangiapane
Milano - CMM - Wilson
Duhaime - Dowd - Raddysh
Sgarbossa

I personally think that’s our best 13, right there. IF Oshie can somehow play (and the team can shed salary to make it work?)

Ovechkin - PLD - Mangiapane
Lapierre - Strome - Oshie
Milano - CMM - Wilson
Duhaime - Dowd - Protas
Raddysh

But I don’t expect Oshie to play, unfortunately

 

[g00n]

I can see every player in that roster sliding all the way up to 1st and down to 4th line at every position, except Ovie is locked at 1LW and Strome/PLD will be some combo of 1C/2C. Maybe Dowd locked in at 4C but the TOI could make that a moot assignment.

Beyond that, who knows.

Not sure if that's good or bad. For flexibility and line adjustments it's clearly good. But it could also mean we don't really have a clear distinction among our top 6 and bottom 6 especially on the wing. That usually means you lack the top guys instead of the other way around.

 

[Calicaps]

Number that should be up already - 12
Numbers that should be up no question soon - 8, 19, 74
Debatable IMO - 37, 70

This is where I’m at too.

 

[bacchist]

I think 74 is kind of debatable, too. He's right on the cusp for me.