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

[hockeykicker]

 

[Kalopsia]

That's a relief. When they immediately reported that he was out for the game I was really worried it was Connor Brown part 2.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Ridley Simon]

Well, that didn’t take long

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Let the fury begin….

Very disappointing….knee jerk reactions FTL….

I mean Vrana and his strong defensive game are exactly what that line needs….sigh…

 

[MW6]

FW-Lines at morning skate was
Protas-Strome-Ovechkin (on the right side)
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Vrana-Lapierre-Mangipane
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

 

[um]

Let the fury begin….


Very disappointing….knee jerk reactions FTL….

I mean Vrana and his strong defensive game are exactly what that line needs….sigh…

Why do you have this idea that your third line wingers need to be defensive players?

 

[Chokingdogs]

* rubs hands together *

I’m looking forward to watching Vrana tomorrow night.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Why do you have this idea that your third line wingers need to be defensive players?

lol….it was sarcasm….because that line gave up some goals (coach called them out for exactly that with the -3 comment)….so he wants to fix that, sure bring in a guy known for little D lol….makes sense.

Honestly, big picture it’s inconsequential today….those bottom guys will have to battle it out all year. I support the competition.

 

[Langway]

Way more concerned with McIlrath than the forward changes. The top nine is what it is...a jumbled mishmash lacking that true pace-setting stud. It's going to be by committee until Lenny or Cristall pop in a big way (and even then from the wing that's a harder sell).

I guess Sandin-TVR could be considered the second pair? But not really. Sandin needs to step up offensively. Chychrun ought to cut off any possible PP time for Sandin but it's 5v5 in more of an insulated role where he needs to really make his mark. If he can't do that then IMO he's just holding Hutson's spot warm.

 

[StrikingDistance]

I like illrath getting a jersey. Thought he played well in the POs last year.

One thing is certain:

Carbs shaking up the 3rd line already sends a message to the team: perform well or get somewhere. Based on his post-game presser, I knew he would make changes.

I like it.

 

[zappa4ever]

we got a regular old Quick Draw McCarbs here
ok
assuming Milano + Vrana know full well of their situations
bring it, i guess

 

[crab]

Alexeyev should really be getting in, he looked good at the end of last season.

 

[PlushMinus]

Alexeyev should really be getting in, he looked good at the end of last season.

Against a team like Vegas McIlrath might be the better option. They're an experienced and strong team so an older, wiser D-man might be preferable. I was going to say size as well, but Alexeyev is a big guy - though not sure he plays as big as McIlrath (yet)?

WTF?? This on ESPN. I had to check if it was April Fool's Day:

Ovechkin shifts to right wing for Caps' 2nd game

Alex Ovechkin is set to play right wing in the Washington Capitals' second game of the season Tuesday against Vegas.

www.espn.com

 

[strungout]

What is the deal with the f***ing font they are using on the Caps site this year??

 

[BallardEra]

WTF?? This on ESPN. I had to check if it was April Fool's Day:

Carberry did talk about this as a possibility during camp.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

As I mentioned over the summer a few times, we have an opportunity to let Carbs experiment without getting freaked out.

Right now I'd try...

Ovi - Strome - Wilson
Miroshnichenko - PLD - Mangiapane
Vrana - CMM - Protas

Vrana with CMM as CMM plays 200 ft game well and Protas with CMM as the have had good chemistry.

 

[crab]

I think Vrana has the ability to actually be passable defensively. I don’t know if he will but he could.

Different scenario then Sprong who had no ability.

 

[PlushMinus]

Carberry did talk about this as a possibility during camp.

I did not know this - I do find it v bizarre though. Hasn't he played LW for 95+ percent of his career, if not more?

Of all the line combos and changes that could be made this seems like a really f***ing stupid one. But I'm a couch potato, not a coach, so there you go.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Alexeyev should really be getting in, he looked good at the end of last season.

Last season doesn't matter. Alexeyev in preseason was kind of meh. Short term Caps should be okay with McIIrath. Besides McIIrath has shown to have done good spot duty in the past.

As I mentioned over the summer a few times, we have an opportunity to let Carbs experiment without getting freaked out.

Right now I'd try...

Ovi - Strome - Wilson
Miroshnichenko - PLD - Mangiapane
Vrana - CMM - Protas

Vrana with CMM as CMM plays 200 ft game well and Protas with CMM as the have had good chemistry.

You messing with chemistry too much with those lines.

 

[SherVaughn30]

FW-Lines at morning skate was
Protas-Strome-Ovechkin (on the right side)
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Vrana-Lapierre-Mangipane
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

If Protas can be the 2nd coming of Kozlov for OV, then I like it. The thing is I still feel PLD is better for OV to setup his shot. I'm just not seeing HL as a 3C because he's meh back-checking. CMM is still the better option. Vrana in for Milano is a no brainer. Milano did not have a good preseason, so the only reason he was in the starting lineup was because of his new contract, me thinks.

 

[g00n]

Wilson-Ovie-Strome
a hobbit - PLD - fancy bird
Harvey Keitel - ??? - Ficus leaf
Gin - Juice - Snoop Dogg

EXPERIMENT

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Some of the 50th anniversary alumni are still in town, right? I'm ready to go avant-garde with these line combos.

 

[g00n]

Some of the 50th anniversary alumni are still in town, right? I'm ready to go avant-garde with these line combos.

I've gone full surrealism

Dali in net