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

[ArmadilloThumb]

All that matters to me is Vrana is given a fair shot. I see no reason to believe that isn't the case.

And I think that it may be the favoir the Caps are doing here is that this is hopefully enough for him to sign with another NHL team after camp. I'd like to see him succeed, but he really has to kick it way up if it is to mean getting in the way of our youth.

Same goes for Mangiapane.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

It's remarkable how the next three games hold so much import for so many of our youth. Time for each to step up and grab the prize.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I think there is far too much being taken from a slice of preseason games.

CMM has to hit 50pts to be acceptable? Geez. How about refining his 2 way game (defense and face offs) and becoming a 40pt 3rd line 2 way center?

Isn’t he “kinda” there, already?

Lapierre did great last year. Will he slump? Possibly? Will he push forward? Probably?

Dismissing or promoting any players after THREE preseason games is looking to ride a roller coaster. It’s asking too much, right now.

 

[Devil Dancer]

I really hope the org doesn't send Lappi to Hershey based on a poor preseason. That guy did everything the team could ask for last year to make the team when games actually counted, in both the AHL and the NHL.

Sending him down to protect guys like Milano or Vrana sends the wrong message to everyone.

 

[HTFN]

I think there is far too much being taken from a slice of preseason games.

CMM has to hit 50pts to be acceptable? Geez. How about refining his 2 way game (defense and face offs) and becoming a 40pt 3rd line 2 way center?

Isn’t he “kinda” there, already?

Lapierre did great last year. Will he slump? Possibly? Will he push forward? Probably?

Dismissing or promoting any players after THREE preseason games is looking to ride a roller coaster. It’s asking too much, right now.

I think perhaps I wasn't clear:

McMichael doesn't need 50 points to be acceptable this season as a personal metric, but based on the strides Lapierre was making and assuming some things for sake of argument (no significant regressions, injuries, massive steps forward, etc.) I think he would need to get around there to stay ahead developmentally and secure his position in the organization. This whole thing is kind of baked around the idea that Dubois is here to stay and they won't be trading Strome any time soon, so my statement is solely about what McMichael would need to do to be comfortably in the game of musical chairs.

I don't see McMichael being Lars Eller effective as a strong 2-way 3C on the defensive side of the puck. I don't think he's bad, but I don't think 40 point shutdown match-up center is in the cards for him. Unless that changed this summer and he's taken super soldier serum, I think his best bet is as a refined producer and flirting with a 20+30 type of season. Honestly given how many times he fudged good chances last year that could hit 30+30+ if things go well for him. I could be wrong about the defense, he's a smart player and maybe this is the year he attacks the role but to me his best way forward is going to be flipping the switch offensively, working on his shooting and converting on more chances.

Obviously there are variables on variables here, but we were talking about long term and how to navigate his development in relation to the other centers on the team. No doubt, I've loaded this with a lot of assumptions but you... kind of have to in order to start projecting down the road, and that's why it's not a plan set in stone.

 

[g00n]

3rd line in this franchise's recent history kind of seems to be the position where you just dump guys who aren't top 6 fits and aren't your best 4th line grinders and there's no other rhyme or reason. They don't really build with a 3rd line "policy" or philosophy in mind, I guess.

Or maybe they do and it's just not apparent or coming to mind.

That said, if you have Lappy or CMM as your 3C you're more or less committing to a "throw in a few extra goals while giving the other lines a breather and try not to stink defensively" posture, right?

It's your wild card line. You're hoping for a bit of this and a bit of that out of it, and maybe some "development" when you can afford it.

Who gives you more of a chance for that? I don't see CMM becoming a tough shutdown guy, well, ever...but maybe he can find enough of a scoring touch and playmaking ability to complement just the right linemates at 3C.

That has to be your goal and probably his acknowledged ceiling in the organization right now given their positions with PLD and Strome as HTFN said.

Will CMM put up double digit goals playing primarily on the 3rd line with "spare parts" wingers? If not then what else is he bringing?

WRT Lappy, I haven't watched him closely for quite as long so can't make a fair assessment, but my sense is he has more upside and possibly more versatility if he can make it work at 6'0" and 180lbs against other mid-sixers in the league.

CMM has played 3x as many NHL games as Jimi despite being only 1 year older. Their draft positions are almost identical (25 and 22 overall respectively in consecutive drafts), their height and weight are the same, etc.

The Caps basically have doubles of this particular hockey card and at some point they will probably have to trade one unless something drastic happens.

 

[Oresy]

I think it's a good fit. He can play in the middle six and on PP2 and adds speed and offensive talent. He's not new to the league so he could be a very good 13F as well without risking his development.

If I had to guess I think Caps mgmt and maybe the coaching staff think Lapierre and Miro need one more year before writing their name in ink in the top six. Lapierre is also waiver-exempt so they can have him start in Hershey if that want to give looks to other guys.

Locks: Ovi, Strome, PLD, Mangiapane, Strome, Dowd, Duhaime, Raddyish, Protas, Raddysh
Locks unless traded: CMM, Milano
Bubble: Vrana, Lapierre, Miro
Might get a few games due to solid camp: Cristall, Rybinski
Cut/re-assigned/loaned: everyone else

So cut Tom Wilson? Yikes

 

[Kolzilla]

So cut Tom Wilson? Yikes

Don't get Twabby's hopes up....

 

[Langway]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839706310503477524

Pretty fire.

 

[Jags]

The Ovechkin-Lapierre-Protas line seemed to coincide with Lapierre being a more decisive player, maybe executing a better understood role, and he carried that into the NHL and AHL playoffs.

Definitely. Over the last 3rd of the NHL season, he was scoring at a 47-point pace at evens. He put it together, now it's just a matter of letting him get comfortable with a full-time NHL role.

But this season I need him to take a serious step up into the 50-ish point range to justify what he's just okay at given his position in the lineup.

I don't think there's a point threshold for McMike. He just signed a cupcake deal, so we have two years at a friendly, tradable number to either find a spot for him or move him for real value. No pressure.

 

[Calicaps]

Definitely. Over the last 3rd of the NHL season, he was scoring at a 47-point pace at evens. He put it together, now it's just a matter of letting him get comfortable with a full-time NHL role.

Yeah, the top-6 C logjam may not be great for his development. I don't see him as a 3C long term. I hope they find a way to put him in the right role.

 

[Marshall]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1839706310503477524

Pretty fire.

Subtle.

 

[strungout]

Is Vrana going to make the team?

 

[Hivemind]

Is Vrana going to make the team?

If I had to bet right now, he's going to be on a 2-way contract with the team. Not sure if he sees more games in the NHL or AHL.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Is Vrana going to make the team?

Probably not. Maybe 25% chance (unless injuries)

 

[Langway]

I think they sign him as an extra as scoring-line insurance depth. It's best for Miro to play in Hershey rather than sit as an extra. Sgarbossa is serviceable but underwhelming as a first or second top nine alternate and they're not desperate to keep another center around. Frank hasn't shown anything yet...Dube not a whole lot. Sutter in a more generic sense could be another reserve candidate but not a top nine guy. Same with Rybinski probably. So unless Cristall somehow gets an initial chance I'd bet on them wanting to at least keep Vrana around as depth.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think they sign him as an extra as scoring-line insurance depth. It's best for Miro to play in Hershey rather than sit as an extra. Sgarbossa is serviceable but underwhelming as a first or second top nine alternate and they're not desperate to keep another center around. Frank hasn't shown anything yet...Dube not a whole lot. Sutter in a more generic sense could be another reserve candidate but not a top nine guy. Same with Rybinski probably. So unless Cristall somehow gets an initial chance I'd bet on them wanting to at least keep Vrana around as depth.

Agreed 13th forward seems like his best chance…

 

[Lou Sassole]

I really hope the org doesn't send Lappi to Hershey based on a poor preseason. That guy did everything the team could ask for last year to make the team when games actually counted, in both the AHL and the NHL.

Sending him down to protect guys like Milano or Vrana sends the wrong message to everyone.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but I guess I just have a different perspective. The only message I think it sends to the team is they expect guys to come to camp ready to compete and demonstrate that they're ready to earn a regular job. Especially if you're waiver exempt. If he hasn't looked great in camp, and continues to look average in the remaining preseason games, then I don't think it sends a negative message to the rest of the squad to send a young guy to Hershey to work on his game. It will give him time to play important minutes(hopefully with Miro), under a great coaching staff, and figure some things out. It obviously helped him last year. Guys develop at different rates, and I'm a big Lappy fan, so I hope it all works out.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Is Vrana going to make the team?

I'd say yes. Given his history with the team here, his relationships with core players who will vouch for him. Unless he totally stumbles to the finish line I'm saying he's in.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Wow the Vrana fans are really overhyping Lappy’s “struggles”…..


He hasn’t looked great in camp? By whose evaluation? Or are you really saying in the two games? He may very well look great in practice.