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

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Just look at at the jumps Protas and CMM got a year after graduating Hershey and a full NHL season in the books.

Would be crazy to sour on Lappy after 8 games

 

[zappa4ever]

Carbs' presser today:
Chych - Day-to-Day, waiting on report, didn't rule him out for tmrw
Alexeyev - when asked about Alex in tmrw if Chych can't go "yeah, but also away today for personal reasons, so we'll see, will have clarity in next few hours"
Roy - is "getting real close, don't know about tmrw but he's right there"

encouraging? maybe everyone's ready Thurs, if not, sounds like Sat

 

[Ridley Simon]

Carbs' presser today:
Chych - Day-to-Day, waiting on report, didn't rule him out for tmrw
Alexeyev - when asked about Alex in tmrw if Chych can't go "yeah, but also away today for personal reasons, so we'll see, will have clarity in next few hours"
Roy - is "getting real close, don't know about tmrw but he's right there"

encouraging? maybe everyone's ready Thurs, if not, sounds like Sat

Or maybe no one is ready and we have to recall someone (Iorio?)

 

[zappa4ever]

Or maybe no one is ready and we have to recall someone (Iorio?)

I'd be fine with that too

Main point is everyone's close and no one's weeks away

 

[OV Rocks]

Any talk of moving Hendrix , those posters need a week break from all hockey. Sure he's in a slump, he may have a nagging injury, he may be tired from winning back to back championships at a young age - leading them in this most recent one, or he may just be in a funk....

Regardless of the why, you let him work through it and you don't trade kids who have proven they can play. I promise BMac and SC aren't remotely entertaining any idea of moving HL out, even for a second. Its a long season and players go throw slumps. This is a long game, not meant for the impetuous.

I certainly understand the side of not rushing him out, but also the Caps are in a spot where they don’t have a ton of attractive trade pieces to do anything significant (that doesn’t kill the roster) outside of HL. If you could significantly (SIGNIFICANTLY) upgrade the 3C or 2LW spot with HL as a part of the deal you do it.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I certainly understand the side of not rushing him out, but also the Caps are in a spot where they don’t have a ton of attractive trade pieces to do anything significant (that doesn’t kill the roster) outside of HL. If you could significantly (SIGNIFICANTLY) upgrade the 3C or 2LW spot with HL as a part of the deal you do it.

Or not…

 

[stephenball]

Absolutely don’t move Lapierre, it would be absurd to do it outside of some fantasy world return. He was good for us last year (a year where I know I wasn’t expecting to see him in a Caps jersey), including in the playoffs, went and was Calder MVP. He’s played less than 10 games in his sophomore season and people are already wringing their hands worried about if he has any place with this team? Seems silly to me, especially as we’re seeing Protas improve to the point where he’s substantially helping the first line and McMichael all the sudden being like, the stud forward on the team. Players take time, there’s growing pains and ebbs and flows in young guys as they work things out, and Lapierre’s place is in DC

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

There’s a center in Pittsburgh on the final year of his deal who is 4+2 in 11 games so far this season. Defensively responsible, plays in all situations, surprises you sometimes with his offense. Pretty good player and his name rhymes with Cars Smeller.

I’m just sayin’ if they need to solve the 3C spot and bring some stability to that line for the 2nd half of the season into the playoffs, they could do worse.

 

[Jags]

If you could significantly (SIGNIFICANTLY) upgrade the 3C or 2LW spot with HL as a part of the deal you do it.

Why? We're winning. 2LW? Our current 2LW is crushing it at the moment, and our 3C is in the same developmental spot that our 2LW, 1RW, and 2RW were in -- maybe even a little ahead of the curve.

We're winning despite some sputtering pieces, it's only been 8 games, and the guy we're talking about will most likely be fine. You stick it out with Lapierre because he's 22 years old, cost-controlled, and proven to be worth it.

Asset-wise, our team is in a very favorable position right now. WAY better than we thought we'd be even just a year ago. Let's please not f*** that up by being super-eager to fix something that isn't broken.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Im sure we will see lots of stupid trade ideas now that we have Cap space and decent prospects.
I think the culture building the b2b champs in Hershey did for our prospects cant be stated enough. We could have half our roster from those teams as early as next season and they all see to be a very close net group.

And for Lars Eller. Please no. He was washed when we dumped him 2 years ago. I think we have to take some bumps and let Lappy play out of his slump.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Logan Thompson will continue to give up 4+ goals a game until he gets some pads that don’t look like they were designed by Tony Deangelo

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

Last night’s game reminded me how little I miss Coach Lavs. He was SO bad with young talent. Watching McM, Protas, Vrana, etc thrive under Coach Carbs is very satisfying.

 

[StrikingDistance]

There’s a center in Pittsburgh on the final year of his deal who is 4+2 in 11 games so far this season. Defensively responsible, plays in all situations, surprises you sometimes with his offense. Pretty good player and his name rhymes with Cars Smeller.

I’m just sayin’ if they need to solve the 3C spot and bring some stability to that line for the 2nd half of the season into the playoffs, they could do worse.

Brought this name up a week ago. Bars Keller has looked pretty good...well, the only thing good on the current dumpster fire of a team.

 

[crazy8888]

Not sure why some people think that Lapi could get moved in a panic trade. This organization is one of the most patient in the league. McPhee is not here for a while, they wont make a dumb trade just to say they did. Look at Mcmichael, there were plenty of times where it looked like they would move on from him.

 

[PlushMinus]

That reminds me of a scene I saw earlier this season, after the Caps scored a goal (PP, maybe?) and Ovechkin was celebrating with them, and he was the 2nd smallest of the group.

Dubois, Strome, Wilson (or Protas?) were all towering over him. It was hilarious!

Also, when both Protas brothers are on the team I think you're prediction of an 80 point season is a real possibility!

 

[usiel]

Got three lines going well at the same time feels a bit greedy going over the top regarding the 3rd line. They'll get it sorted it out hopefully when one of the other lines goes into a bit of a slump.

 

[DWGie26]

Or maybe no one is ready and we have to recall someone (Iorio?)

Ethan Bear did not play for the Bears tonight. He might already be in Washington.

 

[Silky mitts]

7 teams are practically locked into the playoffs in each conference and the caps are one of them

Feeling pretty good about this 7/3 take I got laughed at for, these were the 14 teams I would have envisioned

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851704497963139554

 

[hockeykicker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851991935826719002

 

[qc14]

Last night’s game reminded me how little I miss Coach Lavs. He was SO bad with young talent. Watching McM, Protas, Vrana, etc thrive under Coach Carbs is very satisfying.

Rangers fans say the same thing about Lavi finally trusting/unlocking Lafreniere, Chytil, Miller -- he's been playing 22yo rookie 5th rounder Mancini (who imo was the best Rangers player on Tuesday) over multiple veteran options. You also didn't mention Fehervary, who Lavi trusted right away with almost 20 mpg as a 22yo rookie.

Doesn't take anything away from Carbery and how he's coaching the team but I think it is much more a function of McMichael and Protas not being ready 3 years ago and being ready now!

 

[hockeykicker]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852007889675632851

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

Rangers fans say the same thing about Lavi finally trusting/unlocking Lafreniere, Chytil, Miller -- he's been playing 22yo rookie 5th rounder Mancini (who imo was the best Rangers player on Tuesday) over multiple veteran options. You also didn't mention Fehervary, who Lavi trusted right away with almost 20 mpg as a 22yo rookie.

Doesn't take anything away from Carbery and how he's coaching the team but I think it is much more a function of McMichael and Protas not being ready 3 years ago and being ready now!

Fair enough, I suppose. But comparing how each coach did with Mantha and Vrana, I think Carbery comes out ahead on that basis.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851991935826719002

Sounds like his personal day off was because he was having a baby. No injury.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Our D now looks a lot like last seasons.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Rangers fans say the same thing about Lavi finally trusting/unlocking Lafreniere, Chytil, Miller -- he's been playing 22yo rookie 5th rounder Mancini (who imo was the best Rangers player on Tuesday) over multiple veteran options. You also didn't mention Fehervary, who Lavi trusted right away with almost 20 mpg as a 22yo rookie.

Doesn't take anything away from Carbery and how he's coaching the team but I think it is much more a function of McMichael and Protas not being ready 3 years ago and being ready now!

Yup this, they were young and not fully developed NHL players. Lavi doing just fine with the Rangers youth.