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

[DWGie26]

So now we know. Cristal is back to WHL and Miro to Hershey for the right reasons which is they need big minutes, in all situations and they are better served to do that on their respective teams. I’m good with that.

now, there is the salary cap dance, which works like this. You want to be as close to the $88M cap as possible because every dollar you are short, you have to fill that up before you use LTIR. Here is how the Caps make that happen with Cristal and Miro out and Vrana without contract until Tuesday:

21 players including Oshie 5.75M on IR. Includes Mac and Alexyev. Lapierre will get sent down in a paper transaction to make the numbers right. Including all of the above we’ll be 168k short of $88M which is really good.

Then on Tuesday, Oshie goes to LTIR which frees up 5.75M (minutes 168k). Lapierre gets reassigned to Caps. Vrana signs contract which will likely be two-way or a one-way under 1.1M. But they are signing him to be a Cap and not a Bear. That should leave us $4.5M in cap space to use during the year. We will also have 49 contracts so we have 1 that we can use in any kind of trade or use for Leonard.

 

[Kalopsia]

Question for the global mods here: am I allowed to start a [Confirmed Signing] thread for Vrana on the main boards if my source is he came to my house and told me?

 

[Jags]

Unless Vrana finally learns how to play a 2 way game, it’s gonna end up just like it has with everyone he’s played for

I look at this more from the perspective of the coach. I trust Carbery on a call like this. He has access to all the info and has had adequate time to form an opinion. If he thinks V is ready for this chance, I'm good with it. (But I'm going to wince reflexively every time I see his name in a headline. At least for a while.)

 

[HTFN]

Yes to this! Dude has earned his shot.

I don’t understand this at all, he’s not a lifetime underdog, the man was a first round pick. Whether he should have been or not, different story, but he’s certainly been given shots.

He’s just not that good.

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

I don’t understand this at all, he’s not a lifetime underdog, the man was a first round pick. Whether he should have been or not, different story, but he’s certainly been given shots.

He’s just not that good.

He stuck with it, he rode the buses, he provided leadership for two championship teams, and he provides snarl to a team that can use it. I am happy for him. But yeah, if (or when) he gets caught flat footed and out of position, I will be eating crow.

 

[Random schmoe]

While I don't actually expect this to happen, the Caps could still 'call up' Cristall as soon as tomorrow. Nothing says that a CHL player has to be on the season opening roster for their 9 (or more) game stint.

Um, technically...

 

[Hivemind]

Bummed that Cristall didn't get at least a few NHL games. Didn't expect him to last past 9, but I wanted to see him get a cup of coffee to help him evaluate his real progress.

 

[Chokingdogs]

I'm hearing Caps might be offering Vrana 4x4

NHL news: Capitals in negotiations with Jakub Vrana

JTFC I hope that doesn’t happen.

 

[HeyMattyB]

I'm hearing Caps might be offering Vrana 4x4

NHL news: Capitals in negotiations with Jakub Vrana

JTFC I hope that doesn’t happen.

Don't worry. It didn't.

1 year, $775k, one-way.

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

vranahive we won

 

[OV Rocks]

My take on the opening night roster is building a team that they think can get off to a hot start. In theory you get that with “vets” (although our vets seem to sleep walk the first month anyways) as opposed to young guys like Miro and Cristall who need to adjust to the game.

The Caps started the season painfully slow last year 1-5 I think and Ovi had what 5 goals in 20 games. I think they want to avoid that start.

Miro will be the first call up for any Top 9 player. Cristall will get traded to a competitive junior team and be added to the roster in the spring, same with Leonard. At that point in the season those Caps will be in a spot to give them a few spot games here and there and they can be a part of a playoff push.

What’s the rush.

Fast forward a year from now and all 3 will be on the opening night roster which is really exciting.

 

[Chokingdogs]

PTL!!

Not bad, wish it was a two-way tho

 

[kicksavedave]

Welcome back, Jake!

 

[Misery74]

So now we know. Cristal is back to WHL and Miro to Hershey for the right reasons which is they need big minutes, in all situations and they are better served to do that on their respective teams. I’m good with that.

now, there is the salary cap dance, which works like this. You want to be as close to the $88M cap as possible because every dollar you are short, you have to fill that up before you use LTIR. Here is how the Caps make that happen with Cristal and Miro out and Vrana without contract until Tuesday:

21 players including Oshie 5.75M on IR. Includes Mac and Alexyev. Lapierre will get sent down in a paper transaction to make the numbers right. Including all of the above we’ll be 168k short of $88M which is really good.

Then on Tuesday, Oshie goes to LTIR which frees up 5.75M (minutes 168k). Lapierre gets reassigned to Caps. Vrana signs contract which will likely be two-way or a one-way under 1.1M. But they are signing him to be a Cap and not a Bear. That should leave us $4.5M in cap space to use during the year. We will also have 49 contracts so we have 1 that we can use in any kind of trade or use for Leonard.

View attachment 913198

Thanks to Backstrom, Oshie and Kuzy for clearing the deck.

Thank you LA, for not watching any tape of Darcy Kuemper.

This is the third best team in the Metro.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Hey, we're tied for 1st in the Metro currently!

 

[PlushMinus]

Hey, we're tied for 1st in the Metro currently!

Well - 2nd actually since the Devils are currently leading the league

 

[John Price]

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Well - 2nd actually since the Devils are currently leading the league

Bastards!!

 

[DWGie26]

PTL!!

Not bad, wish it was a two-way tho

They signed him to play in WSH not Hershey (or they wouldn’t have done it). They can still waive him and send him down although he could refuse to report. But for now he will be 13F.

Also, saw some stats from preseason. Jake’s numbers were incredible: From NovaCaps article:

Vrana recorded a goal, an assist, a team-high 11 shots on goal, .5955 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .6001 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .625 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in four preseason games in September.

 

[BackToTheBasics]

Early on in preseason, Carbery spoke highly about Mcilrath’s leadership and locker room presence as being a big reason for Hershey’s success over the last 2 seasons. That coupled with Oshie’s departure whose presence is going to be sorely missed in the locker room, it’s not really a shocker that he made the team.

 

[Ridley Simon]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843294833110364448

I still think it's so dumb to keep McIlrath over giving Cristall a few games.

EDIT:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843295763587293343

Yeah, so official now.

It’s probably not about keeping McIlrath. It’s prob bc Cristall simply was not ready.

Which I can believe.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Question for the global mods here: am I allowed to start a [Confirmed Signing] thread for Vrana on the main boards if my source is he came to my house and told me?

Pics or it didn’t happen!

 

[Kalopsia]

Pics or it didn’t happen!

They've already been posted. I'm the tall one in the pictures with Ovi and Vrana.

Ovi was actually the one who told us Vrana'd signed, he seemed pretty happy about it. The camera crew had been waiting in the cul-de-sac almost two hours because Ovi and Vrana were late due to the contract signing. If we'd known what they were waiting for we would've invited them in, but they didn't tell us any players were coming. We just thought they were gonna interview my dad for a video or something.

 

[stephenball]

I expected Cristall to get his games, but I’m not shocked at all, but I don’t totally disagree with it. If it had been almost a guarantee that he’s on the roster next year I’d say it’s a slam dunk. But I’m not even convinced he will be, they might feel like he needs a year in Hershey.

 

[DWGie26]

They've already been posted. I'm the tall one in the pictures with Ovi and Vrana.

Ovi was actually the one who told us Vrana'd signed, he seemed pretty happy about it. The camera crew had been waiting in the cul-de-sac almost two hours because Ovi and Vrana were late due to the contract signing. If we'd known what they were waiting for we would've invited them in, but they didn't tell us any players were coming. We just thought they were gonna interview my dad for a video or something.

That is amazing! Very cool tribute to those season ticket holders. Hope you’ll continue it on.