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

[Ridley Simon]

His name is on the Cup (JS55). Mine is not.

I think that is all?

 

[ovikovy817]

Drop the puck.

It's the first year in a long time (iirc) that Caps have to wait 4 days before playing their first RS game.

 

[StrikingDistance]

His name is on the Cup (JS55). Mine is not.

I think that is all?

Whatever...initial statement is still true: Schultzy sucks. Him being on our 1st D pairing probably cost us more PO wins than I want to think about.

I don't care if he Forrest Gumped his name on a Cup.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

We made it! Welcome to opening night

Who kicks off the seasons GDT

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844732185041047852

View attachment 915179

Was supposed to have a game during the late slot on the Caps rink at MedStar on Thursday night. Evidently they’re having a lot of trouble keeping ice thick enough on the new 50th anniversary logo because it’s slightly more elevated than the rest of the surface. The ice got so thin that a skate cut through the red paint on the W during the game before ours and ours got cancelled. Rink crew was freaking out since they had no time to fix the logo before the alumni game.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Yeah, I guess the issue I can see is that depending on what you think Leonard's ceiling is, they have lines 2-4 of a cup winning team potentially but are completely barren of top line talent. When's the last time other than maybe Vegas that a team won the cup without a top 5-10 player on the team?

St. Louis, Kings, and Bruins maybe?

Ovechkin was still a top 5 player when they won, and I put Tkachuck around 10. So St. Louis and Vegas I guess. 2 out of the last 10?

 

[Kolzilla]

Did anyone see Adam Oates during the Alumni intro? I didn't, maybe he's still salty about being canned as HC.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Oh hey, another picture with me in it! Here was the view from on stage.

Where's Kalopsia?!

 

[SherVaughn30]

Just some lineup change thoughts/ideas.

OV-PLD-Wilson
Miro-Strome-Mangipane
Vrana-CMM-Protas
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

To me Miro already has the willingness at the NHL level to be physical along the boards and he has the shot. HL looks timid and doesn't have the build yet to be an NHL center. Watching PLD play with the Kings, he will look for/setup OV for shots to score goals. PLD did that for the Kings but there were times when Kings forwards would mess up his good passes. I like the CMM-PLD-Wilson line, but the Caps need someone to play the 3C spot, and I think CMM fits that right. Just thinking OV plays maybe 15 min a night with no shots, he needs a setup man. Miro/Vrana bring more speed/shot first mentality when inserted in the lineup.

 

[Kalopsia]

Where's Kalopsia?!

In the picture John Price posted, I'm the head directly to the left of Ted

 

[um]

Just some lineup change thoughts/ideas.

OV-PLD-Wilson
Miro-Strome-Mangipane
Vrana-CMM-Protas
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

To me Miro already has the willingness at the NHL level to be physical along the boards and he has the shot. HL looks timid and doesn't have the build yet to be an NHL center. Watching PLD play with the Kings, he will look for/setup OV for shots to score goals. PLD did that for the Kings but there were times when Kings forwards would mess up his good passes. I like the CMM-PLD-Wilson line, but the Caps need someone to play the 3C spot, and I think CMM fits that right. Just thinking OV plays maybe 15 min a night with no shots, he needs a setup man. Miro/Vrana bring more speed/shot first mentality when inserted in the lineup.

I’d like to see Lapierre get a shot at wing first, assuming the 3rd line keeps stinking.

 

[stephenball]

I’d like to see Lapierre get a shot at wing first, assuming the 3rd line keeps stinking.

I agree, I think I’d swap 24 and 29 before making other decisions. CMM gets a lot of crap, partially because we all hoped he’d be something that he just probably isn’t, but I think he’s going to have a long career as a 3C in the league, and it’s a good fit for him.

 

[Kolzilla]

I would rather have CMM as the 3C and Jimi at 2LW then reversed. I didn't get the logic of placing HL at 3C in the first place, especially given how out of place he looked this preseason.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

It’s one game….take a breath. I hope Carbs isn’t pulling the hook so prematurely….

And CMM looked pretty good at wing to me….

 

[zappa4ever]

Yeah Carbs isn't going panic mode for GM 2, lol (I assume he has a plan for the 1st 5 gms/10gms and things have to be pretty off to change it quickly)

who knows maybe Lapi had the shits and was nervous, whatever, if it happens gm2 + 3, then yeah, send Vrana in at 2LW (McM to 3C), give Lapi nacho duty for a gm or 2 and reassess

I'm guessing pre-gm1 the depth chart in terms of benching was this:
(most likely to least likely)
13F Vrana
12F Milano
11F Raddysh
10F Lapierre
09F Protas
08F McMic

maybe Lapi has already moved up to a tie w/Milano since gm1, guess we'll know in a few gms who sits so V gets his 1st chance

 

[pman25]

I’d probably just roll the same lines again, maybe swap in Vrana for Milano. Then swap Lapierre/McMichael if it’s not working for a game or two. But give these combos more of a chance I’d say

 

[stephenball]

I feel like for now Raddych is safe, that line has looked nice, I’m digging him and Duhaime.

 

[MW6]

I like to see the Caps swap Mangiapane for Kakko closer to the deadline. Pending UFA to help Rags push for the cup and it gives Caps a potential top-6 winger with 1st line potential who really could use a change of scenery.

 

[DWGie26]

I’d definitely keep the lines together for another game or two including leaving Vrana on the bench. Let these guys have a couple of games to gel.

I’m not suggesting it right away, but swapping Mangiapane and Protas could solve a couple of things. Pro has the eyes and battle to get the puck and find OV. Second center there is good as well. Mangi being on the third line will get some skill to support HL and whoever is on left.

 

[g00n]

Just bought a Tom Wilson jersey through the official store. Paid with paypal. Did not expect this but got the price of the jersey back in bonus bets for Fanatics Sportsbook, which I had not yet downloaded.

If you haven't signed up for a sporstbook before (including a verified deposit method) it might include a few extra steps, but for me it took like 2 minutes to set up.

Most sportsbooks expire bonus bets in a week or two and make you use the entire bet in one shot or $50 increments, but this one can be broken up in any amounts (you have to manually change them in the bet slip which is kind of annoying) and they don't expire until late December.

Good deal.

 

[crab]

The “4th” line of Duhaime-Dowd-Raddych is really the 3rd.

From what I have seen in the preseason and first game Duhaime and Raddych aren’t close to not getting a jersey.

I would expect Milano out next game for Vrana. Lapierre will be given a longer leash but he should be next.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Just bought a Tom Wilson jersey through the official store. Paid with paypal. Did not expect this but got the price of the jersey back in bonus bets for Fanatics Sportsbook, which I had not yet downloaded.

If you haven't signed up for a sporstbook before (including a verified deposit method) it might include a few extra steps, but for me it took like 2 minutes to set up.

Most sportsbooks expire bonus bets in a week or two and make you use the entire bet in one shot or $50 increments, but this one can be broken up in any amounts (you have to manually change them in the bet slip which is kind of annoying) and they don't expire until late December.

Good deal.

Nice bonus there….

 

[um]

The “4th” line of Duhaime-Dowd-Raddych is really the 3rd.

From what I have seen in the preseason and first game Duhaime and Raddych aren’t close to not getting a jersey.

I would expect Milano out next game for Vrana. Lapierre will be given a longer leash but he should be next.

The 4th is really the 3rd has been the case since Eller left, maybe even before that.

It’d be nice to have a good 3rd line again, but there are worse problems. Don’t go making another Panik move